Historical Geography of Ancient India c6.265

c6.265

Hastināpura.—It was the ancient capital of the Kurus, situated on the Ganges in the Meerut district of the United Provinces. It has been traditionally identified with an old town in Mawāna tahsil, Merat.² It was ruled by King Dhṛtarāṣṭra. The Pāṇḍus were reconciled to the aged Dhṛtarāṣṭra, who retired to the forest after remaining at Hastināpura for fifteen years, and he and his queens finally perished in a forest conflagration. Parikṣit, grandson of Arjuna, was the ruler of Hastināpura. He was highly intelligent and a great hero. He was a powerful bowman. He possessed all the noble qualities of a dutiful king. During the reign of Nicakṣu, son of Adhisīma Kṛṣṇa, this city is said to have been carried away by the Ganges, and the king is said to have transferred his residence to Kauśāmbi.³ The *Mārkaṇḍeyapurāṇa* (LVIII, 9) and the *Bhāgavata Purāṇa* (I. 3. 6; I, 8. 45; IV, 31, 30; X, 57, 8) refer to the Gajāhvayas, who were connected with Hastināpura, the Kuru capital. This city is also called Gajāhvaya according to the *Bhāgavata Purāṇa* (I. 9, 48; I, 15, 38; I. 17, 44; III, 1, 17; IX. 22. 40; X. 68. 16). Ṛṣabha, the first Tīrthaṅkara, was an inhabitant of Hastināpura. He installed Bharata on the throne. He divided his kingdom among his relations. King Hasti founded Hastināpura on the bank of the Bhāgīrathī according to the *Vividhatīrthakalpa*. This city was often visited by Mahāvīra, the founder of Jainism.⁴ The *Harivaṃśa* (20, 1053-4) and the *Bhāgavatapurāṇa* (IX, 21, 20) lend support to this fact. Hasti or Hastin had two sons, Ajamīḍha and Dvimīḍha. Ajamīḍha continued the main Paurava line at Hastināpura. He had three sons, and they originated separate dynasties.⁵ For further details, vide B. C. Law, *Some Jaina Canonical Sūtras*, p. 172.