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other traditional works are valid only so far as they conform to the original canons.
The Evidences of the Buddhist Tripitakas
The testimonies of the Buddhist Tripitakas are the most evident, obvious and direct ones out of the various evidences, which come across while considering the contemporaneity of Mahavira and Buddha. Hence, it necesstiates a through and systematic analysis of these evidences of the Buddhist Tripiṭakas. We consider them here one by one.
The Event of Mahavira's Nirvana in Tripitakas
The allusions of the Tripitakas in which the event of Mahavira's Nirvana is discussed, are as follows:
1. "(138) The Exalted One (i. e. Buddha) was once dwelling among the Sakkas, at Samagama. Now at that time, Nigantha Nataputta (i.e., Mahavira) had just departed from life in Pava. After his death the Niganthas (i. e. the Jains) were divided into two groups. They making quarrels, making strife, falling into disputes, were wounding each other with the weapons of the tongue, and were saying to each other...... 'You do not know this law of discipline': I know this law of discipline'; 'You cannot know this law of discipline you are having false beliefs, I am having true beliefs'; 'My statement is meaningful, your's is not'; You uttered the matter to be spoken first; last'; 'Your doctrine is lacking thoughtfulness, and hence, it is wrong'; 'You started the quarrel; you are unfit to be argued with'; 'Off with you Stray you to be free from quarrel'; 'If you can, end it'. Thus the Niganthas of the Nataputta were as if warring with each other.
'The disciples of the Niganthas who were wearing white robes and were householders were as much disinterested in, disgusted with and indifferent to those Niganthas (monks) of the Nataputta (Mahavira) as they were with respect to the religion of Nataputta, which is not wellmeaning, not well-founded, unable to carry one to the Nirvana, unable to bring peace of mind, not expounded by an
