Jaina Culture

Author(s): Mohanlal Mehta
Publisher: P V Research Institute Varanasi

Page 20

ANTIQUITY AND HISTORY
Jainas. The Buddhist canon refers to the death of Nățaputta at Pāvå: at a time when Buddha was still engaged in preaching. According to Hemacandra, Mahāvīra attained liberation 155 years before Candragupta's accession to the throne. This leads to a date around 549-477 B. C. for Mahāvīra and places his death slightly later than that of Buddha. Some scholars support this view.
There is no doubt that Päráva preceded Mahāvīra by 250 years. The Jaina canon clearly mentions that the parents of Mahavira were followers of Pārśva whose death took place 250 years before that of Mahāvīra (527 B C.). Since Paráva lived for a hundred years, his date comes to 877-777 B. C.
Mahāvīra was not the inventor of a new doctrine but the reformer of a Law already long in existence. The Uttaradhyayana-sūtra gives a good account of this fact. The following is the essence of this account : • There was a famous preceptor in the tradition of Lord Pārśva. His name was Kesi. Surrounded by his disciples he arrived at the town of Srávasts. In the vicinity of that town there was a park called Tinduka. There he took up his abode in a pure place.
At that time there was a famous disciple of Lord Mahāvira. His name was Gautama (Indrabhūtı). Surrounded by his pupils he, too, arrived at Śrāvasts. In the vicinity of that town there was another park called Kosthaka. There he took up his abode in a pure place.
The pupils of both, who controlled themselves, who practised austerities, who possessed virtues, made the following reflection :
'Is our Law the right one or the other ? Are our conduct and doctrines right or the other ? The Law taught by Lord Pārsva, which recognises only four vows, or the Law taught by Lord Mahāvīra (Vardhamāna), which enjoins five vows ?