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INTRODUCTION
made a treaty with Seleucus Nicator and at whose court Megasthenes resided for some years as ambassador."
Page 204. "They all agree in holding that the primitive teaching must have been something different from what the earliest Scriptures and commentators thought it was."
If the philosophies of the Jains and the old Bud. dhists were the same with only difference in some external conduct of monks, especially in this that Nirgrantha saints were naked and the Buddhist monks wore clothes, then it is to be found out whether Mahavira began his preaching or not when Goutam Buddha left home and followed external conduct of a Digambar Jain Saint for some time.
Whether Lord Mahavira had commenced his preaching or not it is certain that knowledge of Jainism was prevalent before Lord Mahavira began his sermon. Buddha Charya P. 481 Samagama Sutta (M. N. 3-1-4) says "When Goutama Buddha was 77 years of age Mahavira attained Nirvana in his age of 72. It is evident from the Jain Scriptures that Mahavira did not begin his preaching before his age of 42. He preached during his last 30 years. It means that when Goutama Buddha was of 47 years of age, Maha vira's teachings were commenced. Goutama Buddha left home in his age of 29 and began his preaching after 6 years i.e., at the age of 35. It proves that the Preaching of Mahavira began 12 years after the commencement of the preaching of Goutama Buddha. Then whatever conduct of Digambar Jain Saints was
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