Contemporaneity and Chronology of Mahavira and Buddha

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

Page 46

26
Mahāvīra and Buddha
of the Jain and the Buddhist texts in the light of history that Mahāvīra attained the Nirvāṇa decidedly certain years later than Buddha. Jacobi has made it clear by his deep research work that the war of the Licchavis and the Vajjis with Konika took place only after Buddha's Nirvāṇa and during the life-time of Mahāvīra. For, the description of the war is found only in the Jain Scriptures, though the Licchavis and the Vajjis are mentioned in both the Jain and the Buddhist texts.”
The above quotation shows that Pt. Sukh Lal ji has accepted Dr. Jacobi's view as it is. He has not deliberated over the subject independently. Often we all do so, when a particular subject is not ours or when we do not get an occasion to go deep into it, we generally accept the view of some scholar of that subject regarding it. It is also quite natural that many scholars are required to solve many problems. There is, then, always a mutual exchange of views between the different scholars of different subjects.
Pt. Sukh Lal ji has given importance to two thingsone is that while the Buddhist scriptures do not bear any description of the war of the Vajjis with Koņika, the Jain Scriptures do. But, as we have already discussed, this is not at all important in deciding the present issue.
The other thing is that the above war was precedent to the Nirvāņa of Buddha and antecedent to that of Mahāvīra. This view is based on the general belief that the Mahā-Parinivväņa Sutta contains only those events of Buddha's life that happened in his last days. The first event referred to by this Sutta, is the meeting of Vassakāra, the chief minister of the king Ajātsatru (Koņika) with Buddha. Their, Vassakāra lays forth a plan of victory over the Vajjis before Buddha. This event, therefore, is believed to have been associated with the last days of Buddha.