Agama And Tripitaka Comparative Study

SR No.: 022804
Original Sutra Author: N/A
Author: Nagaraj Muni
Publisher: Today and Tomorrows Printers and Publishers
Publication Year: 1986
Total Pages: 804
Language: English
Classification: Book_English
File Size: 19 MB

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(including Mahavira) of Buddha had already earned fame and influence long before Buddha appeared on the scene. As a matter of fact, it is also not true, that Mahavira's name appears in the end everywhere in such lists, as argued by Muni Kalyana Vijayaji. We find several such references in the Buddhist texts where Niggantha Nataputta is not the last (104).
Mahavira Middle aged, Buddha - young
In order to support his view, Muni Kalyana Vijayaji has tried to misinterpret the Sammannyaphala Sutta of the Digha Nikaya. Presenting his argument, he writes (105): "The minister of the king Ajatasatru tells (106) him 'O king! This Niggantha Nata putta is having an assembly (of Bhikkhus) and a crowd (of followers), and is the pontiff of the order, a well known teacher, a famous leader and considered excellent by the multitude. He is long-ordained and middle-aged (107). This shows that Mahavira was middle-aged (i. e. fifty years old), while Buddha was old". Now, if we study the above chapter with its fullest context, we find that it clearly describes Mahavira as middle-aged, and Buddha as young. For, the minister, here, intends to narrate the merits of Mahavira, and the word 'middle-aged', when used to exhibit a merit, should imply seniority. Secondly, in the above chapter of the Digha Nikaya, all the other rival teachers of Buddha viz. Gos alaka, Sanjya Balatthiputta, etc. are also described as "long ordained" and, 'middle-aged-, while in. the context of Buddha, no such adjeciives are used. This also proves that Buddha was younger than all the six rivals of him.
In connection with the above occasion the Sammannyaphala -Sutta of the Digha Nikaya further states that the king Ajatsatru, after having heard from his ministers about the merits of all the teachers went to Buddha for passing his time in religious discussion. There he asked Buddha what the direct fruit of monkhood was, and also informed Buddha that he had asked the same question to the six religious teachers before. This was the first contact of Ajāts atru with Buddha, Are not all these facts enough to show that Mahavira and other five religious teachers were older than Buddha ?