Historical Geography of Ancient India c8.161

c8.161

Campāpurī (Campā).—It was the capital of Aṅga and was formerly known as Mālinī (Matsya Purāṇa, Ch. 48). The Jaina Aupapātika Sūtra refers to it, as a city adorned with gates, ramparts, palaces, parks and gardens. According to it the city was a veritable paradise on earth full of wealth and prosperity, internal joy and happiness (B. C. Law, Some Jaina Canonical Sūtras, p. 73). Here the twelfth Jina named Vāsupujya was born, who attained Kevalajñāna (perfect knowledge) and nirvāṇa. Karakandu installed the image of Pārśvanātha in the tank of Kuṇḍa. He afterwards attained perfection. Kuṇika, son of king Śreṇika, left Rājagṛha on the death of his father and made Campā his capital.³ We get a beautiful description of sea-faring merchants of Campā from Jaina Nāyādhammakahā.⁴ It was variously known as Campānagara, Campāmālinī, Campāvatī, Campāpurī and Campā. It was frequented by Gośāla, the founder of Ājīvikism and Jamāli (Bhagavatī, 15; Āvaśyaka Cūrṇi, p. 418).