Jainism in Buddhist Literature

Author(s): Bhagchandra Jain Bhaskar
Publisher: Alok Prakashan

Page 42

( 23 )
But he also remarked : ''But there is nothing to prove that Parsva was the founder of Jainism. Jaina tradition is onanimous in making Rşabba, the first Tirthankara (its founder)......
They may be something historical in the tradition wbich makes him the first Tirthan kara 10"
The Pali Canon refers to Nigantha Nataputta as an elder heretical teacher and is als familiar with some characteristics of Parávanātha tradition. Besides, Buddhist literature mention, Rşabhadeva, Padma, Canda, Puspadanta, Vimala, Dharma and Aristanemi, the Jaina Tirthankaras.
Rşabhadeva is called one of the Jaina Tirtha karas in Chinese Buddhist literature11 The Mailjurimülakalpais refers to him as Roabha-nir granthara pin, and the Dharmottarapradi pa18 mentions him along with the name of Vardhamana or Mahavira., It may be noted here that the names and numbers of Buddhas Paccekabuddhas, and Bodhisattvas in Buddhism appear to have been influenced by those of the Jaina Tirthaskaras. For instance, Ajita, the name of the second Tirthankara, has been given to the Paccekabuddha who lived ninety-one kappas14 ago. The Vepulla-pavvata in the time of Kassa pa Buddha appears to have been named after Supassa (Pali) or Suparsa, the seventh Tirthankara of Jainas. The people of Rājagaha were called Suppiya or the follower of Supassa at that time 5. Padma or Paduma, the sixth Tirthankara, is the name of the eighth of the twenty-four Buddhas18. It is also the name of a Pacceka-Buddha to whom Anupama Thera offered some akuli flowers17. Paduma is also referred to by the name of Cakkayatti of eight kappas ago18. Canda, the eight Tutharikara, is the name of a chief lay supporter of Sikhi Buddha.19 Pupphavati is the name of Benaras in the Jātaka.20 It would have been named after Puşpadanta, the ninth Tirthankara of Jainas. Vimala, a Paccekabuddha, has been named after the thirteenth Tirtha kara. A king who lived sixty-one kappas ago, has also been called Vimala 22. Likewise, Dhamma is the name of the fifteenth Tirthařkara of Jainas. A Bodhisatva who, was horn as Devaputta in a Kámāvacara Deva-world has also been.