________________
CHAPTER V PREVIOUS BIRTHS
We are provided with a similar discussion about the previous births of Bhavayan Mahavira nd Gautama Buddha in the Jaina and Buddhist traditions respectively, and there is a very extraordinary similarity between the two accounts We have it in the Jaina tradition that many many lives before the birth of Mahavira, the first Tirthankara Rsabhadeva had revealed about Tapasa Marici. This monk would be the last Tirthankara Mahavira. In the same way, we have it in the Buddhist tradition that many many kalpas before the birth of the Buddha, Dipankara Buddha had revealed about Tāpasa Sumedha, 'One day, he will be the Buddha'. The forecast about Mahāvira was made 25 lives before his birth as Mahavira, while that about the Buddha was made 551 lives prior to his birth as the Buddha.
TĀPAS A MARĪCI
Marici's vacillation - Marici was the son of Bharata. He was greatly impressed by the festivities organised by the gods and the demons on the occasion of the attainment of omniscience by Bhagavān Rşabhadeva, and he became a monk along with his 500 brothers, Marici was the master of 11 Angas, and day after day, he followed Bhagavān Rşabhadeva as his shadow. It so happened once that he was exceedingly tired because of terrific heat. His whole body was soiled by Sweat, and his body and clothes emitted a foul smell. Besides, he was very much thirsty. Because of heat and hardships, he last his patience, and he slipped out from the sramanu order and fell a prey to inferior thoughts. Thought he in his mind,
'I am the grandson of the first Tirthankara Bhagavān Rşabhadeva. I am the son of the first World-monarch Bharata who had conquered all the six regions (or Bharatavarsa). In the presence of the four orders,
