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Parsvanatha seems to have undergone some changes in the period between the Nirvana of Parsvanatha and the advent of Mahavira.
Parsvanatha enjoined on his followers four great vows: (1) Abstinence from killing living beings; (2) Avoidance of falsehood; (3) Avoidance of theft, and (4) Freedom from possessions. H. Jacobi has clearly perceived that a doctrine attributed to Mahavira in the Buddhist Literature, properly belonged to his predecessor, Parsvanatha, insofar as the expression Chaturyama Samvara is concerned. (Sbe, XLV, pp. xix-xxii.) The doctrine is that, according to Mahavira, the way to self-possession, selfcommand, and imperturbability consists of 'a four-fold selfrestraint', such as restraint in regard to all things, restraint in regard to all evil, and restraints imposed for the purification of sin and feeling a sense of ease on that account. (Die, II, pp. 74-75.)
Parsvanatha had a large number of followers around Magadha even in the days of Mahavira. Mahavira parents,
