Jainism in Buddhist Literature

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

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The Mahavamsa, the best-known and most authoritative Ceylonese Chronicle in Pali verse, refers to the existence of Jainism in Ceylon even before the arrival of Buddhism. It is said there that Vijaya and his followers had to face the opposition of Yakkhiņis in their attempt to establish their kingdom in Lanka, After the passing away of Vijaya, Paṇḍuvasudeva, and Abhaya Paṇḍukābhaya captured the whole Island with the help of a Yakkhani named Cetiya who lived in the Dhumarakkha mountain near Tumbaramyana. Paṇḍukābhaya then settled his helpers, Yakkhas and Yakhiņis in various sides of the city of Anuradhapura, a capital of Lanka. He is also said to have handed over some cities to his relatives. He then made the appointment of hunderds of Candalas to work in the city and erected a cemetery for them. Estward of that cemetery Paṇḍukābhaya built a house for the Nigantha Jotiya. In the same reign there dwelt another Niganth named Giri and many other ascetics of various heretical sects. At the same place there was also built a chapel for the Nigantha Kumbhandaka. Towards the west from thence and eastward of the street of the huntsmen there lived about five families of hertical beliefs (nānapasandıkā150).
The five hundred families of heretical beliefs and the construction of Viharas to the Niganthas on behalf of the king of Lanka, Pandukābhaya, indicate clearly that Jainism was a living religion in Ceylon during his reign. Pandukābbaya's period, deduced on the basis of the date of Buddha's death as 544 B. C, is supposed to be 438-368 B, C. Jainism had apparently been introduced to Ceylon before Paṇḍukābhaya. It could have been even before the arrival of Vijaya. One may wonder whether a name like Arittha (i, e. that of Devanampiya Tissa's minister) had any connection with the Jaina Tirthankara of that name.151
Jainism continued to exist even after the establishment of Buddhism in the Island. Its existence during the first century B. C. is recorded in the Mahavamsa. It is said that after a battle with the Tamils, king Vaṭṭhagāmini Abhaya who was