________________
The account
disciple was initially in the Jaina order. contains words like 'tonsure', 'white clad niganṭhas .
50. Astrologer Nigantha
There lived an astrologer Nigantha who had 500 followers, He lived on the bank of the Ganga. In the course of a discussion, the question came up, what is luck. But no answer was forthcoming. So he came near the Bodhi tree where Buddha had just been enlightened. He put the question to him. Said Buddha,
"One who has restraint, who praises hardship, is endowed with luck".
The Nigantha was impressed. He became a follower of Buddha.
Source: S. Beal Dhammapda, translated from Chinese, pp. 103-4.
Comment
621
51.
atu re.
There is no mention of any such event in Jaina literThis much is, however, established that before Buddha attained enlightenment, there were many senior Jaina monks who were well advanced. Besides, it has been rare for many Jaina monks to defect from their order; but the Buddhist literature is full of such stories. These stories, however, serve one purpose which is to establish the greater antiquity of Jainism and seniority of Mahavira over Buddha.
A Nigantha in dust
In some northern province, there lived 500 Brahmins. They had heard of a Nigantha who lived on the bank of the Ganga and who kept his body besmeared with dust. They set out to become his disciples. In the way, they became thirsty. Then a spirit gave them water and advised them not to go to the Nigantha but to Buddha. The Brahmins changed the course of their journey. and became his sramanas.
They went to Buddha
Chinese Dhammapda, Tr. by S. Beal, p. 54.
