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KAPADIA : FEATURES BETWEEN JAINISM AND BUDDHISM
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Buddhism was a state religion and thus it got support from kings of ancient India. The most prominent among them are Devanāmpriya King Asoka, Ajatastru, etc. The Jainas too got support from kings like Sreņika Birnbisara, Kunika. Kharavela, Kalingarāja, Kings of the Northern and Southern dynastics of the middle ages, King Akbar Siddharaja. Kumarapala etc. The credit of winning over the favour of certain kings like Akbar and Kumarapala goes to the credit of Hiravijayaji and Kali-kālasarvajña Hemacandra. Ahimsa in Gujarat at least is due to the efforts of Hemcandra.
The organisers, so to say, of both the religions wandered on foot over the vast tract of land with a view to preach their religions. Buddha during the course of his wandering tours moved over cities like Rājagrha, Kausāmbi, Pataliputra, Magadha, Kasi, Kosala, Anga, Srāvasti Vaisäli (which was too much loved by Buddha)." Similarly Lord Mahavira wandered over cities mentioned below for the same purpose. They are : Magadha, Anga, Käsi, Vaisāli, Kośalā, Rājagrha, Srävasti. Apāpā, Videha, Vatsa, Saketa etc. It may be observed that out of 42 Caturmasas Mahāvīra spent 12 caturmasas in Vaisali. Tius this ancient city was highly liked by the two contemporary organisers of religions. It appears that both the teachers mostly wandered over the same tracts of lands at different periods with a view to preach their doctrines. This reminds us of our modern election campaigns. But there was no bitterness. People were absolutely free to follow what they liked and preferred. There was freedom of thought in the highest degrce.
Out of the three Pitakas the Abhidharmapitaka deals with metaphysics, the Vinayapitaka deals with the code of behaviour for the monks and the nuns and the Suttapitaka deals with the doctrines. In the case of the Jaina scriptures the Acărangasütra deals with the code of behaviour for the monks and the nuns, the Uttaradhyaya and the Tattvarthasūtra deal with metaphysics and philosophy and a few of the other Jaina canonical works deal with doctrines. In general the code of behaviour for the monks and the nuns in both the religions is (in general principles) agreeing with one another. The Buddhist monks put on a yellow garment while the Svetambara Jainas put on a white garment and hence the name those who clad in white garments. The Buddhist monks lived in Vihāras, the Jaina monks live in upasrayas. Formerly both had to stay in forests or in a place outside the city so that they may be away from the worldly life. The Nuns too lived in both the religions separately with special rules of conduct meant for
11. See Mahaparinibbanasutta: nagapalokitum Vesaliyam apalokitva.
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