Contemporaneity and Chronology of Mahavira and Buddha

Author(s): Nagrajmuni, Mahendramuni
Publisher: Today and Tomorrows Book Agency

Page 44

24
Mahāvīra and Buddha
“Who will be the last Kevalin (omniscent)?” Mahavīra, answering the king's question, said to him : "On the seventh day from today, this good named Vidyunmālī, will be conceived in the womb of the wife of Rşabhadatta, a businessman in your city Rājagțha. That child will be named as Jambū-Kumāra, and he will be the last Kevalin."
Now, all the Jain traditions unanimously accept the fact that when Jambū-Kumāra was 16 years old, he was initiated into monkhood by Sudharmā Svämil the successor of Mahāvīra, in the same year in which Mahāvīra died.2 This means that Jambū-Kumāra was conceived in the womb of his mother nearly 17 years before the Nirvāņa of Mahāvīra. At that time, king 'Śreņika' was alive. But as we have seen, the reign of Koņika began more than 16 years before the Niryāņa of Mahāvīra. Therefore, we infer that the end of 'śreņika's' rule and the beginning of Koņika's rule took place nearly 17 years before the Nirvāņa
Nāthapyakathayat paśya vidyunmāli surohyasau ! Sāmāniko brahmendrasya caturdevi Samāvstah !! Ahnomuşmät saptamehni cyutvā bhāvi pure tava! Sreșthi-rşabhadattas ya Jambu hutrontyakevali !!
- Parisişta Parva, cantos I, vy. 262-64. 1. Sudharmā Svāminah pâdānāpādainbhodhitārakān!
Pañcāngasprşta-bhūpithaḥ sa pranmya vyajijñapat !! Samsärasāgaratarim pravajyām parmeśvara i Mama sasvajansyāpi dehi dhehi krpām mayi !! Pañcamaḥ śriganadharo pyevamabhyarthitastada !! Tasmai saparivārāya dadau dikşāṁ yathāvidhi !! Ibid, cantos III, vv. 287-89, The total age of Jambu Svāmi was 80 years, out of which 16 years were spent in the household life, the next 20 years as a monk in non-omniscent stage, and the last 44 years in the omniscent stage. Also, he attained the Nirvana 64 years after Māhavira's Nirvāņa. It means that he was initiated into monkhood in the same year in which Mahāvīra attained the Nirvana.
2.