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KAPADIA: FEATURES BETWEEN JAINISM AND BUDDHISM
From the brief kaleidoscopic review both these important religions of ancient India we can surmise with reason that they have gone a long way in contributing to the development of Indian religions and philosophical thoughts. Both have done their utmost in the preservation of ancient valuable books in their Vihāras and Bhāndāras. The Jainas have preserved every possible book or manuscript pertaining to any religion in their Bhāndāras. A flood of light can be thrown on ancient Indian culture and civilization from the study of this ancient monument. Both these religions which are Nivṛttiparayana silently contributed their mite in this sphere. Both the religions had the same aim. Social conditions were also the same for the both. As regards their doctrines and religious notions both were holding similar views. Like the Buddhistic Stupas the Jainas too had their Stupas, as for example, the Stupa of Mathura. Both have beautiful art of Murtividhänā. Both contribtuted much to the ancient art and architecture. Thus, the two sister religions had much that was common between the two. Both vehemently attacked the Vedic religion and their revolutionary attitudes brought about a healthy change in the outlook of the Vedic Hindu religion.
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Jainism and Buddhism have 24 Saviours. The Jainas call them Tirthankaras and the Bauddhas call them as Buddhas, Both had two main splits in their religion at an early date. Jainism enjoyed patronage from kings Cetaka, Satānika of Kausambi, Srenika, Konika, Maurya kings like Samprati, Kṣatrapa kings, was enjoying glory during the Maitraka period and the Gupta reign. Buddhism also enjoyed royal patronage. Both religions contibuted to the establishment of great seats of learning like Nalanda. Takṣasilā, Valbhi, Oddāntapuri, Jāgadala, Benaras etc. In Vihāras and Bhāndāras they preserved ancient Mss. Both developed and oriented fine art like music painting, sculpture, architecture, temple building, etc. Jaina authors wrote in Sanskrit, Ardhamägadhi, Apabhramsa, Old Gujarati, Marathi, Kananda etc.. while Buddhist authors wrote in Sanskrit, Pali, Apabhramsa11 etc. In Mahāyāna there was Mürti pūjā, the conception of Devas and Devis, Tantra and Mantra, so too in Jainism. Both contributed to Tarkasāstra, metempsychosis, rebirth and the doctrine of Karma. The outstading contribution of Jainism is the five Mahavratas and that of Buddhism the Pancasilas. Among the 24 Tirthankaras, Mahāvīra the last prophet. born in 599 B.C., was a contemporary of Lord Buddha who was born in 563 B. C. and thus they were contemporaries of Gosalaka
13. Srimati, Ambapali, with the Buddhists and Kosa, Candanabala, 16 Satis etc. with the Jainas are an instance in point. 14. Cf, the Dohākoṣas of Saraha and Kanha.
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