Contemporaneity and Chronology of Mahavira and Buddha

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

Page 67

Muni Kalyana Vijayaji
of Dr. Jacobi as well as Muni Kalyana Vijayaji, which they advocated to prove Buddha's seniority to Mahāvīra.
Another remarkable point in the above article is that according to Shri Rampuria, there are only two allusions found in the Buddhist Piṭakas, which make the seniority of Mahāvīra a little dubious. Citing the first allusion, he writes: "The Buddhist scriptures clearly show that Mahāvīra was alive when Ajatśatru acceeded to the throne of Magdha.
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"Again, they also state that once Mahavira had asked Abhaya Kumāra (The minister of Magdha) to see Buddha and to have a discussion with him. The subject of discussion was connected with the following event.3
"Then Devadatta, rising from his seat, having arranged his upper robe over one shoulder, having saluted the Lord with joined palms, spoke to the Lord; "Lord, the Lord is now old, worn, stricken in years, he has lived his span and is at the close of his life; Lord, let the Lord now be content to live devoted to abiding in ease here and now, let him hand over the order of monks to me. It is I who will lead the order of monks."
"Enough, Devadatta, please do not lead the order of monks. And a second time......And a third time Devadatta spoke thus to the Lord: "Lord the Lord is now old, worn, stricken in years.........It is I who will lead the order of monks.
"I, Devadatta, would not hand over the order of
1. Ibid. p. 15.
2. Majjhima Nikaya, Abhaya Kumāra Suttanta.
3. Vinaya Pitaka, Cullavagga, VII, 3-41. Translated by Oldenberg, S.B.E., Vol, XVIII.