Historical Geography of Ancient India c6.549

c6.549

Upagupta who was the teacher of Aśoka, while at Mathurā, was invited at the Naṭavaṭa vihāra. The Upagupta monastery at Mathurā is very important in the history of Buddhism, as he succeeded in converting in this monastery many people.¹ Jainism was firmly established in this city. According to *Vividhatīrthakalpa* (pp. 50ff.) Mathurā came to be known as Siddhakṣetra on account of the perfection duly attained by the two sages. The people of Mathurā and ninety-six neighbouring villages installed Jain idols in their houses and courtyards (*Bṛhat Bhāgavata*, I. 1774ff.). This city was visited by Mahāvīra (*Vivāgasūya*, 6). Numerous inscriptions from Mathurā, which date mostly from the time of the later Kuṣāṇa kings i.e., after 78 A.D., afford sufficient proof that the Jain community was not only established but had become subdivided into small groups at an earlier period.²