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OCTOBER, 1970
The learned author promises us a very comprehensive view on the subject. These he will present to us in three volumes, of which the first is under review. It deals mainly with History and Tradition. The other two volumes would deal with Literatures and Teachings and Doctrines and Dogmas.
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The book almost opens with an illuminating introduction by Pandit Sri Sukhlal Sanghvi. Then the book proper examines in its first chapter the earlier times from the birth of the Masters till the time they attained omniscience. Casually, the fallacy that these two were but one and the same, is discussed and summarilly dismissed. This point could perhaps quite conveniently have been disposed of in the introduction by the author. In fact, the introduction left something more to be desireda detailed examination of the Agamas and the Tripitakas themselves, both in their denotations and connotations. In this type of thorough and lengthy work 'Preface' and 'Introduction' have their separate utility.
As one progresses through the book certain enigmatic facts emerge :
(1) Striking similarity in the lives, teachings, followings, the times and the field of activity of the two Masters.
(2) They spent the whole of their long careers in close proximity of each other without having met ever.
(3) Almost complete absence of any mention of the Buddha and Buddhism in the Agamas.
The second chapter tells us about the contemporary religious leaders except the Mahavira, the Buddha and Gosalaka. The last named has the entire third chapter to himself.
It is a pity that so little is known about these contemporary Masters-almost next to nothing! Considerably more is known about Gosalaka, thanks to many references in the Agamas and also to the continued existence of the Ajivikas for quite some time. From the contemporary scene it appears that Gosalaka wielded greater power and influence than even the Mahavira and the Buddha.
Chapter four is devoted to the establishment of correct chronology. In this longest chapter the learned author has assembled a formidable armoury to vanquish once for all, the doubt about the Mahavira's precedence over the Buddha. He also establishes a chronology to the
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