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Rishibhashit: A Study
places62. Schubring and Upasak both believe Vajjiputta to be connected with Buddhist tradition63. In Buddhist tradition there was a separate sect of Vajjiputtaks who maintained a difference of opinion with general Buddhist monks on certain points. However, Prof. C. S. Upasak has put forward a doubt in accepting Vajjiputta as connected with Buddhist tradition. According to him the sect of Vajjiputta was formed at a latter period than the writing of Rishibhashit. But his doubt appears to be ill-founded, because the Vajjiputtiya sect mentioned in Buddhist tradition had already come into existence in the 4th-5th century B. C. Also, Vajjiputta was, in fact, contemporary of Buddha.
The emergence of Vajjiputtiya sect within the Buddhist organisation signifies that Vajjiputta must have been an influential monk in the Buddhist tradition and his disciples must have been large in number to have formed a sect under his own following. Buddhist literature also reveals that Vajjiputta was contemporary of Buddha and Mahavir. In Thergatha Atthakatha he has been shown as a Lichchhavi prince from Vaishali, who became so impressed with Buddha that he accepted Buddhism; and becoming a monk, started meditation in forests around Vaishali. The reason for his inclusion in Jain tradition, specially in Rishibhashit, may be that he belonged to the same clan, Lichchhavi, to which Mahavir belonged.
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The Vajjiputtiya monks have been considered as moderates in the Buddhist tradition. They had demanded for some moderations in the disciplines for the monks, viz.. snacks after meals, keeping gold coins etc. There is also a mention in Buddhist literature and inscriptions, of some sub-sects of Vajjiyaputtiya sect. The sub-sects are as follows:
1. Dharmottariya Nikaya : Although it was quite popular and had good following, there is no information about its principles.
2. Bhadrayanik Nikaya : Details can be seen in works like Mahavansha, Deepvansha etc.
3. Chhannagarika Nikaya : The literal meaning of Chhannagarika is those who live in covered abodes. The followers of this sect were those who practiced meditation in institutionalised buildings and not under trees or inside caves.
The Vajjiputta mentioned in Rishibhashit is the Vajjiputta of Buddhist tradition. He belonged to the Lichchhavi clan and was a contemporary of Buddha and Mahavir, He was still alive after Buddha's
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