Vajjabhumi
Encyclopedia
Vajjabhumi was a part of Rarh
in ancient times. It is located in what is now Birbhum district
in the India
n state
of West Bengal
. The more rugged western part of the district was known as Vajjabhumi, the country of the thunderbolt.
There is mention of the Rarh region in the Jain text Acaranga Sutra
. The last (24th) great Tirthankara Mahavira
had wandered through this land, referred to as the "pathless country of Ladha". The people of this region are referred to as ill mannered and dogs were set upon Mahavira. Some historians have opined that the people of Aryavarta
, were not knowledgeable about the areas beyond their territories and often looked down upon the people of those parts. In the religious text Bodhayan, it is mentioned that those who visited Vanga had to perform penance.
Rarh region
Rarh region of West Bengal is the region that lies between the Western plateau and high lands and the Ganges Delta...
in ancient times. It is located in what is now Birbhum district
Birbhum district
Birbhum district is an administrative unit in the Indian state of West Bengal. It is the northernmost district of Burdwan division—one of the three administrative divisions of West Bengal. The district headquarters is located at Suri...
in the India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
n state
States and territories of India
India is a federal union of states comprising twenty-eight states and seven union territories. The states and territories are further subdivided into districts and so on.-List of states and territories:...
of West Bengal
West Bengal
West Bengal is a state in the eastern region of India and is the nation's fourth-most populous. It is also the seventh-most populous sub-national entity in the world, with over 91 million inhabitants. A major agricultural producer, West Bengal is the sixth-largest contributor to India's GDP...
. The more rugged western part of the district was known as Vajjabhumi, the country of the thunderbolt.
There is mention of the Rarh region in the Jain text Acaranga Sutra
Acaranga Sutra
The Acaranga Sutra is the first of the eleven Angas, part of the agamas which were compiled based on the teachings of Lord Mahavira.The Acaranga Sutra discusses the conduct of a Jain monk...
. The last (24th) great Tirthankara Mahavira
Mahavira
Mahāvīra is the name most commonly used to refer to the Indian sage Vardhamāna who established what are today considered to be the central tenets of Jainism. According to Jain tradition, he was the 24th and the last Tirthankara. In Tamil, he is referred to as Arukaṉ or Arukadevan...
had wandered through this land, referred to as the "pathless country of Ladha". The people of this region are referred to as ill mannered and dogs were set upon Mahavira. Some historians have opined that the people of Aryavarta
Aryavarta
Āryāvarta is a name for Northern India in classical Sanskrit literature. The Manu Smriti gives the name to "the tract between the Himalaya and the Vindhya ranges, from the eastern to the Western Sea"....
, were not knowledgeable about the areas beyond their territories and often looked down upon the people of those parts. In the religious text Bodhayan, it is mentioned that those who visited Vanga had to perform penance.