Contemporaneity and Chronology of Mahavira and Buddha

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

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Research and Conclusion The Evidences of the Buddhist Tripițakas
The testimonies of the Buddhist Tripițakas are the most. evident, obvious and direct ones out of the various evidences, which come across while considering the contemporaneity of Mahāvīra and Buddha. Hence, it necesstiates a thorough and systematic analysis of these evidences of the Buddhist Tripițakas. We consider them here one by one.
The Event of Mahāvīra's Nirvāṇa in Tripitakas
The allusions of the Tripitakas in which the event of Mahāvira's Nirvāṇa is discussed, are as follows :
1. “The Exalted One (i.e. Buddha) was once dwelling among the Sakkas, at Sāmagāma. Now at that time, Nigantha Nātaputta (i.e., Mahāvīra) had just departed from life in Pāvā. After his death the Niganthas (i.e. the Jains) were divided into two groups. They making quarrels, making strife, falling into disputes were wounding each other with the weapons of the tongue, and were saying to each other...... 'You do not know this law of discipline’: I know this law of discipline'; 'You cannot know this law of discipline you are having false beliefs, I am having true beliefs'; 'My statement is meaningful, your's is not'; You uttered the matter to be spoken first; last' ; 'Your doctrine is lacking thoughtfulness, and hence, it is wrong'; 'You started the quarrel; you are unfit to be argued with'; 'Off with you! Stray you to be free from quarrel; 'If you can, end it. Thus the Niganthas of the Nātaputta were as if warring with each other.
“The disciples of the Niganthas who were wearing white robes and were householders were as much dis
1. Majjhima Nikāya, Samagama Sutta, 3/1/4.