Jainism in Buddhist Literature

SR No.: 011023
Original Sutra Author: N/A
Author: Bhagchandra Jain Bhaskar
Publisher: Alok Prakashan
Publication Year: 1972
Total Pages: 326
Language: English
Classification: Book_English
File Size: 12 MB

Page 37

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should be adequate to disprove the theory. The term was obviously used for a Jaina of any type104.
"Nigantha" or "Nirgrantha" was always used with reference to Digambaras in the earlier works. Its application to Svetambaras was a later development subsequent to their breaking away from the original school of Jainism in the early centuries B. C.
a, the commentator of the Sutrakttānga, says : "They are the Ajivikas who follow the doctrine of Gosala, or Boţikas (i. e, Digambaras. 105"). On the basis of this reference Hoernle righty concluded that the later Aiivikas merged with the Digambara Jainas. He says "Šilaska states that the reference is to the Ajivikas or Digambars. Seeing that, in his comment on another passage of the same work, he identifies the Ajivikas with the Terasiyas (Sanskrit-Trairašikas ). It follows that in śilanka's view the followers of Gosāla, the Ājivikas, the Terasikas, and the Digambars were the same class of religious mendicants. "206
Basham, too, appears to support this view when he says that the Ajivi ka survived in Madras, Mysore and Andhra until the 14th century A. D., and that the original atheism of Makkhali Gosāla merged with that of the Digambara Jainas.107
But, as a matter of fact, Silanka could not make a clear statement that the Ajivikas and Digambaras were the same. It seems that on the basis of nakedness, Halayudha, Silā ka etc. referred to the words which have the same meaning 106 Jainism and Buddhism
As both Jainism and Buddhism were taught within the same geographical area during the same historical period, a high degree of mutual ideological influence was inevitable. The wandering of the Buddha for six years in search of enlightenment also would have brought him into contact with Jainistic dogmas.
Some ideas are found to be common to both Jainism and Buddhism. Buddhism is based on the Four Noble Truths