Mahavira his Times and his Philosophy of Life

Author(s): Harilal Jain, A N Upadhye
Publisher: Bharatiya Gyanpith

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It is mentioned in the Sãmagāma-sutta of the Majjhima-nikāya that while Buddha was sojourning in Sāmagāma, a Sramanic devotee, Cunda by name, came to him and conveyed the message that Nigantha Nātaputta (Mahāvira) just passed away in Pāvā and there has arisen a dispute (kalaha) among his followers. By this message, Ananda, the chief disciple of Buddha, had a doubt in his mind whether such a dispute would not arise in their Sangha after Buddha. He discussed this matter with Buddha as well. This very episode occurs in the Păsădikā-sutta of the Digha-nikāya. According to the Sargiti-pariyāya-sutta of this very nikāya the same report was conveyed to Buddha's Sarigha; and Säri-putta, a pupil of Buddha, called the bhikṣus, reported the news and warned them that such a situation of dispute should not develop after the nirvana of Buddha. In this context, Buddha congratulated Sāriputta on his proper instructions to the bhikṣus. This episode is a clear proof and leaves no doubt that Mahāvīra attained nirvāņa during the life time of Buddha. Further, there was some dispute among the followers of Mahāvira, the report of which caused some anxiety in the Sarigha of Buddha and some remedial suggestion was made in that direction. In this way it is proved beyond doubt that Mahāvīra was senior to and attained nirvāṇa earlier than Bhuddha; and these facts are consistent with the traditional dates of the nirvāna of both of them
8. Mahāvīra's Place of Birth It is stated in the Mahāpurānu of Puşpadanta (samdhi 1, kadavakas. 6-7) that Mahāvira , the 24th Jinendra, would be born to king Siddhārtha and queen Priyakāriņi of Kundapura in the Bharata-kşetra of Jambū-dvīpa. From this it is obvious that Mahāvira was born in Kundapura. There are no other indications about the region etc. here beyond that it was
8. For references and discussions on the date of the nirvana of Mahāvira and Buddha see Winternitz : A History of Indian Literature, (1, Appendix II Nirvana of Buddha, Appendix VI Nirvana of Mahāvira. Muni Nagaraja : Agama aura Tripitaka : Eka Anusilana, pp. 47-128
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