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571
thā4 and Dhammapada -Atthakathā5. One episode would at least appear at first sight to be exceedingly mean, though
eally it is not so. While, on the passing away of Mahāvira, the bearer of the news, one bhikṣu Cunda, was being conducted to the presence of Buddha by Ananda, the latter is recorded to have said, "Abusa Cunda ! This news will be worthy of presentation to the Lord when you meet him". (atthi kho, idam, Abusa cunda, kathāpábhatam bhagavantam dassanāya). At first sight, it would appear that the news was heartily welcomed by Ananda who, further, considered it to be worthy of presentation to the Lord. In one of my early articles, I have considered this observation threadbare. Elsewhere too, on hearing of the death of Sariputta, Ananda is recorded to have made a similar observation. From this it should appear that such was the vocabulary current in the Buddhist tradition even for a sad occasion; really it meant no insult.
In Pali literature, all references to Nigantha Nātaputta and the religion of the Niganthas are in the nature of an attack. This does not mean that the ideas and the doctrines of the two sects were poles apart from each other. Often it is found that those who are nearest to each other are again most critical of each other. Differences from a distance are pardonable, but not those which are round the corner. This is purely mental factor. Even today, this is not rare. The diverse Jaina sects are more critical of one another than they are of the Buddhist or any other.
Totality of Episodes
Only such episodes from the Tripitakas have been gleaned wherein Mahavira figures in some form. Even those passages have been collected wherein the members of the Nigantha order appear. Some of these have already been considered at various places in this book; but in the interest of totality or comprehensiveness, they have been
4. See items 34, 35 and 36 below. 5. See items 17, 18 and 40 below.
my article entitled "Pali Vangma ya me B an Mahāvira" in Bhikşu Smsti Grantha, Sri Jain Svetāmbara
Terapanthi Maha sabhā, Calcutta, 1960, Part 2, pp. 6-10. 2. S.B.E. Vol. XIV Introduction, p.XIV-XXIII.
