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INTRODUCTION
prevalent in India at the time when Goutama left home at 29 and began preaching at 35, was due to the teaching of some one previous to Mahavira. The Jaina Saint Devasena writes in his Darsanasara that Goutama Buddha became the disciple of Pihitasrava Jain saint, who was in the line of Lord Parsva Nath, the 23rd Tirthankara of the Jains. This proves that Parsvanath flourished before Mahavira. The period of 250 years is the interval time between the Nirvana of Parsva and that of Mahavira. When Mahavira was born, Parsva had attained nirvana only 178 years before.
As yet the name of Parsva has not been found in many inscriptions or historical records; therefore he may not be taken as a historical great man ; but it is perfectly proved that Jainism or the old Buddhism was prevalent before Lord Mahavira and Goutama Buddha began their teachings.
In my opinion there is not any difference between Jainism and Buddhism. Whether we speak of Jainism or Buddhism before Gautama Buddha we speak of one and the same thing. Gautama Buddha made easy the external conduct of the monks only. He maintained the same philosophy which was prevalent in Jainism or old Buddhism. This fact will be known to the readers if they study these books carefully. That there was Jainism before the preaching of Buddha was commenced, will be known from some of the opinions of the scholars, given below :
P. 25. 1. The life of the Buddha by E. J. Thomas (1927).
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