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32
Rishibhashit : A Study
papatik avalable today does not contain the chapter. It may have been deleted from there because the same details had already come into Jnata. In absence of any information it is difficult to surmise what was the subject matter dealt in this missing chapter.
Besides Jain literature both Vedic and Buddhist literature do not contain any mention of Tetaliputra. As such it appears that Tetaliputra was basically connected with Nirgranth (Jain) tradition only.
11. MANKHALIPUTTA
The eleventh chapter of Rishibhashit123 is about Mankhaliputta. It is natural to ask who this Mankhaliputta was. In Jain and Buddhist traditions mentions of Mankhali Goshal or Makkhali Goshal are available. The fifteenth Shatak of Bhagavatisutra124 presents details of the life and philosophical beliefs of Mankhali Goshal. In the Jain tradition details about Mankhali Goshal can be found in Upasakdasha,125 Avashyak-niryukti,126 Visheshavashyak-Bhashya,127 Avashyak-churni 28 and many other works besides Bhagavati sutra. According to the available details he was called Mankhaliputta because he was son of a Mankha named Mankhali, and Goshal because he was born in a goshala (cow hut). According to Jain tradition he met Mahavir during the second monsoon after Mahavir accepted monkhood, and remained with him for almost six years, Later they had a difference of opinion on the question of Niyativad. According to Bhagwati-sutra 24 years after Mahavir accepted monkhood Mankhaliputta Goshal declared himself to be a Jin or Teerthankar. Details on this episode are available in Bhagvati-sutra. But in my opinion this description is one sided and exaggerated. The only conclusion we may draw from these narratives is that Mankhaliputta Goshal established his own school independent of Mahavir, and it had a wide influence over the society, This sect founded by him later became famous as Ajivak sect.
In the Buddhist Tripitak 129 literarure also Makkhali Goshal has been recognised as one of the six teerthankars contemporary of Buddha. Besides this, in Thergatha130 also there is a mention of Makkhali Goshal. However, in the Atthakatha he has been said to have been born in the state of Magadha. Although other details in Jain and Buddhist description are not similar, both the traditions equivocally convey that Mankhaliputta Goshal was the founder of Niyativad and a prominent Acharya of his age. Pali Tripitak and Jain canonical literature contain detailed comments about his philosophical thoughts, Both accept him as follower of Niyativad.
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