Contemporaneity and Chronology of Mahavira and Buddha

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

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Mahāvīra and Buddha
putta must have been informed of the reality by the people of Pāvā.
If there had been even a single reference in the Jain Agamas contradicting the fact stated in the above three allusions viz. Mahāvīra predeceased Buddha, it could have created a doubt over the credibility of these allusions. But, because we do not get any such contradictory description in the Jain Agamas, we should not doubt the veracity of these allusions. Secondly, had there been a fourth allusion in the Buddhist Tripitakas, stating something about Buddha's predeceasing Mahāvīra, it would have been necessary for us to ponder over the above three allusions seriously. But in absence of any such contradictions, it would not in the least be inequitable to accept these allusions, which are unequivocal in themselves, as the valid testimonies for the discovery of truth.
The Events of Mahāvīra's Seniority in Buddhist Tripitakas
Besides the above quoted three allusions, the Buddhist canons are replete with numerous allusions which show that Mahāvīra was older than Buddha. Most of the scholars, so far, have mainly discussed the aforesaid three allusions only. Only God knows why they have lost sight of other relevant allusions wherein it is explicitly stated and even Buddha himself accepts that he is the youngest of all the religious leaders of his time. We quote here three such allusions1: "Thus have I heard :
The Exalted one was once staying near Savatthi, at the Jeta Grove, in Anathapindika's Park. Now the king, Kosalana Pasenadi, came into the presence of the Exalted
1. Samyutta Nikaya, Dahara Sutta 3/1/10 (Cf. The Book of the Kindred Sayings, Tr. by Mrs. Rhys Davids, vol. 1, pp. 93-96.)