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Jains, with which we are not concerned at present. Though Cunningham is so thoroughly convinced of this identity of the chief disciple of Mahavira with Gautama Buddha, that he does not hesitate to use this theory of Buddha being originally a disciple of Mahavira as one of the grounds for determining the date of Buddha's Nirvana “ within one or two years with absolute certainty " we are far from believing this surmise as prokable; nothing in the lives of both goes to show that they had ever come in great per: sonal contact with each other.
C
Shree Sudharmaswami Gyanbhandar-Umara, Surat
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