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Mahāvīra's followers after his death at Pāvā- the fact was related to Buddha who evidently survived Mahāvíra. “From Buddhist accounts in their canonical works as well as in other tooks, it may be seen that this rival (Mahāvīra) was a dangerous and influential one, and that even in Buddha's time his teaching has spread considerably” (Buhler--The Jains). "Mabāvīra nust have been a great man in his way and an eminent leader among his contemporaries'', says Jacobi, and “Like his great rival Buddha he must bave been an emineptly impressive personality”, says Hoerple. According to the Buddhisi tradition, Mahāvīra was one of the most important of the six Tirthankaras of Buddha's times. These famous teachers, outside the pale of E rābminism were the Nigantha Nātaputta, Makkhali Gośāla (founder of the Ājivika sect), Sáñjaya Belatthiputta, Ajita Kesakambalin, Pārāna Kassapa and Pakudha Kaccayana. And the followers of Mahāvīra, called the Niganthas, are described in an old Budhist Sutta, the Mabāparinibbāna Sutta (S.B.E., vol. XI, p. 106 ) as "Heads of companies of disciples and students, teachers of students, well-known and renowned founders of schools of doctrine, esteemed as good men by the multitude".
3. References to mutual conversions between the two sects :--
(i) In the Mabāvagga, about Simha, the general
in-chief of the Licchavis of Vaiśāli, and a lay disciple of Lord Mahāvira who goes against his prohibition to see the Buddha and is converted by him.
1. B. C. Law-Historical Gleanings, p. 21-42—Influence
of the five heretical Teachers on Jainism and Buddhism,
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