________________
174
225. Chronological Problems, p.41. 226. Op. cit., p. 19.
227. The content of Mahavamsa are as follows:
1. The visit of the Tathagata.. 2. The race of Mahasammata. 3. The first council. 4. The second council. 5. The third council. 6. The coming of Vijaya. 7. The consecration of Vijaya. 8. The consecration of Pandu Vasudeva. 9. The consecration of Abhaya,
See Giger Tr. of Dr. Mahavamsasa, p. VIII. 228. See, 'Inconsistencies' in Chapter III of this book.
229. The Tripitakas tell us that the six religious teachers
Purana Kassapa, Makkhali Gosalaka, Niganth Nataputta, Ajita Kesakambali, Sanjya Vellathiputta and
Pakuddha Kaccayana had already announced themselves as 'Tirthonkaras' and had started preaching their religions before the enlightenment of Buddha. Also, when Buddha attained the enlightenment, all of them were alive. Makkhali Gasalaka was the founder of the Ajivaka 'sect. When, just after having attained the enlightenment, Buddha was travelling from Gaya to Saranatha in the way he met an Ajivaka monk called Upaka. Buddha said to him, "I have attained enlightenment". But Upaka, being not convinced of this, paid no heed to him. Having said, "May be, perhaps, Upaka went away by another road. Vinaya Pitaka, Maha vagga, I, also see Buddhacarya by Rahul Sankrityayana, p.21 and Bhagvana Buddha by Charmananda Kausambi; p. 137. This incident makes it clear that at the time of Buddha's enlightenment, Makkhali Gosalaka had already become an eminent religious leader.
230. Anguttara Nikaya, Atthakatha, 2-4-5.
231. According to Rhys Devids, Buddha. passed his 4th
rainy-season in Mahavana (Vaisali): (Buddhism by Rhys Davids quoted by M. N. Shastri in Buddha: His Life, His Teaching, His Order p. 120). But the
