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Nigganthas (Jain). In the same Sutta's Atthahatha it is also said that this “Bappa” was an uncle of Buddha."
It may be mentioned here that Nigganthas means unattached, without possessions, an ancient name for the Jain community.
Buddhist texts refer to the existence of large numbers of Nigganthas (unattached ones) who followed the Samvara.
Prof. Jacobi notes:
"The Nigganthas are frequently mentioned by the Buddhists, even in the oldest part of the Pitakas. But I have not yet met with a distinct mention of the Buddha in any of the old Jain Sutras. As it is inconsistent with our assumption of a contemporaneous origin of both creeds, we are driven to the conclusion that the Nigganthas were not a newly founded sect of Buddha's time. This seems to have been the opinion of the Pitakas too, for we find no indication to the contrary in them.” (“On Mahavira and His Predecessors” in the Indian Antiquary, IX, 1880 158-163)
