Historical Geography of Ancient India c6.396

c6.396

This city witnessed *Svayaṃvara* ceremony of king Drupada’s daughter named Draupadī who chose of her own accord the five Pāṇḍava brothers as her husbands (*Mahābh.*, Ādiparva, Ch. 138; *Rāmāyaṇa*, Ādi., Ch. 23). It was hallowed by the five auspicious incidents in the life of Vimalanātha, the thirteenth Tīrthaṅkara, who was a son of king Kṛtavarman by his queen Somadevī. On account of the happening of these five incidents, namely, the descent, the nativity, the coronation, the initiation and the Jinahood, this city was also known as the Pañcakalyāṇaka. It also claimed Aṛṣamitra, the disciple of Kauṇḍinya and Gardavāli, the Jaina saint, who renounced the world and attained liberation here. Here in Kāmpilya Gāgali, the king of Pṛsthi Campā, was converted to Jainism by Gautama. According to some the renowned astronomer Śrī Varāhamihira was born in this city (*B. C. Law Volume*, Part II, 240).