Jain Journal 1974 04

Author(s): Jain Bhawan Publication
Publisher: Jain Bhawan Publication

Page 58

196
JAIN JOURNAL
On consideration of this information, it immediately strikes one, that the scene of Vardahmana's activity is lain in the same part of India as Buddha laboured in, and that several of the personalities which play a part in the history of Buddha also appear in the Jaina legend. It is through the kingdoms of Kosala, Videha and Magadha, that Buddha is said to have wandered preaching, and their capitals Sravasti and Rajagrha are just the places named, where he founded the largest communities. It is also told of the inhabitants of Vaisali that many turned to his doctrine. Many legends are told of his intercourse and friendship with Bimbisara or Srenika, king of Magadha, also of the murder of the latter by his son Ajatasatru, who, tortured with remorse, afterwards approached Buddha ; mention is also made of his brother Abhayakumara, likewise Mankhali Gosala is mentioned among Buddha's opponents and rivals. It is thus clear that the oldest Jaina legend makes Vardhamana a fellow countryman and contemporary of Buddha, and search might be suggested in the writings of the Buddhists for confirmation of these assumptions. Such indeed are to be found in no small number.
Even the oldest works of the Singhalese Canon-which date apparently from the beginning of the second century B.C., and which at any rate had their final edition in the third,-frequently mention an opposing sect of asceties, the Nigantha, which the northern texts, written in Sanskrit, recognise among the opponents of Buddha, under the name Nirgrantha whom an old Sutra20 describes as "heads of companies of disciples and students, teachers of students, well known, renowned, founders of schools of doctrine, esteemed as good men by the multitute". Their leader is also named ; he is called in Pali Nataputta, in Sanskrit Jnatiputra, that is, the son of Jnati or Nata. The similarity between these words and the names of the family Inati, Jnata or Naya, to which Vardhamana belonged is apparent. Now since in older Buddhist literature, the title 'the son of the family N. N.' is very often used instead of the individual's name, as for example, the son of the Sakiya' is put for Buddha-Sakiyaputta, so that it is difficult not to suppose that Nataputta or Jnatiputra, the leader of the Nigantha or Nirgrantha sect, is the same person as Vardhamana, the descendant of the Jnati family and founder of the Nirgrantha or Jajna sect. If we follow up this idea, and gather together the different remarks of the Buddhists about the opponents of Buddha, then it is apparent that his identity with Vardhamana is certain. A number of rules of doctrine are ascribed to him, which are also found among the Jainas, and some events in his life, which we have already found in the accounts of the life of Vardhamana, are related.
20
The Mahaparinibbana Sutta in S.B.E., vol. XI, p. 106.