Sankisa as a Jaina Tirtha
Summary
Sankisa, located in Farrukhabad district, Uttar Pradesh, is an ancient site identified with the historical locations of Kampilya and Kapithika, as per Sanskrit literature and Jaina traditions. The Chinese traveler Fa-Hian referred to it as Sankéya, while Hiuen-Tsang called it K7epi-7ha (Kapitthika). These names are synonymous, as confirmed by Mahidhara’s commentary on the Brhaddhatsaṃgraha and Panini’s Kaéikavrtti. The site holds significant religious importance in Jainism as the birthplace, site of renunciation, and location of Kevalajnana (supreme knowledge) for the 13th Tirthankara, Vimalanatha. Historical and archaeological evidence, including a surviving Jaina temple in Sarai village and a mound in Aghatia with a recovered ancient Jaina image, supports this identification. The name Aghatia is believed to be a corrupted form of ‘Agha-hata-sthina,’ linked to the destruction of evil karmas (aghas). Despite Buddhist claims over the site, Jain influence persists. The text also references historical documents and scholarly works that corroborate these findings, though some sources were unavailable during the paper’s initial presentation.
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Conclusion
This study establishes Sankisa as a significant Jaina Tirtha, historically identified with Kampilya and Kapithika, through textual and archaeological evidence. The research highlights the site's dual religious contention between Jains and Buddhists, as documented by Fa-Hian, while emphasizing its enduring Jaina legacy, including the survival of a temple in Sarai and the discovery of a Jaina image in Aghatia. The connection to the 13th Tirthankara Vimalanatha's renunciation and Kevalajnana underscores Sankisa's spiritual importance. The identification of Aghatia as a potential Agha-hata-sthina further reinforces the site's role in Jaina cosmology. This work contributes to understanding the historical and religious dynamics of ancient India, particularly the interplay between Jaina and Buddhist traditions in contested sacred spaces.