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or Akelakas (i.e. naked) monks. Thus we see that while on one hand the Jains abated somavhat in their rigidity with regard to the duties of laymen their laws for ascetics are more severe than those of the Niganthas. From this discussion it would be clear that the Jains were not a new sect founded by Mahavira, but were the continuation, with some changes of the old Niganthas. At present there does not seem to be any great doubt about Pärsva being a historical person, and about his flourishing a long time, if not 200 years, before Mahavira, as stated by the Jains. The fact of the Niganthas having been already an important sect at the time when Buddhism took its rise, seems to have been clearly proved, from their frequent mention in the Buddhist book as well as from other independent contomporady evidences. Gosâlâ Makkhâli, who as we stw was the head of tbe third rival order of ascetics, and a contemporary of Buddha and
Mahavira, is said to have, socording to DardShree Sudharmaswami Gyanbhandar-Umara, Surat
www.umaragyanbhandar.com
