Siddhachalam NJ 1990 04 Mahavir Jayanti

Author(s): Siddhachalam NJ
Publisher: USA International Mahavir Jain Mission Siddhachalam

Page 26

in 1142 A.D. Thus Mahavira attained Nirvana in 1669-1142-527 B.C.
Dr. Jayaswal accepted 544 B.C for Buddha's Nirvan on the basis of ceylonese tradition, but it is no more confirmed by other evidences. According to the earlier Ceylonese tradition, the Mauryan emperor Asoka came to the throne 218 years after the Nirvana of Buddha. There is plenty of historical evidence to prove that Asoka came to the throne in 269 B.C or about that. Thus Buddha attained Nivana in 218+269-487 B.C. This is confirmed by a Chinese tradition too. In China in the town of Kaintan(?), attempt was made to record the memory of Buddha's Nirvana by series of points or cyphers. Every year one cycle was added. This addition continued up to A.D 489, and their total number was 975. Thus the Nirvan of Buddha took place in 975-489-486 B.C. Thus there is perfect agreement between the Chinese and Ceylones traditions. So this very date, namely 487 B.C. deserves to be accepted for the Nirvana of Buddha.
In the Pali Tripitaka itself there is plenty of evidence that Mahavira was senior to Buddha both in age and renunciation and that he attained Nirvana during the life
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time of Buddha
In the Sramanya-phala=sutta of the Digha-nikaya, in the Dahara sutta of the Smyutta-Nikaya and the Samiya-sutta of the Suttanipata there are enumerated six Tirthakas who flourished before Buddha. Their names are: Purana Kasyapa, Makkhali Gosala, Nigantha Nataputta (Mahavira), Samjava Belatthipjutta, Falkudha Kaccayana and Ajita Kesa-Kambali. All of them are said to have been honored by many, experienced, of long ascetic standing and senior in age; but these adjectives are not used on the case of Buddha. On the other hand, as contrasted with them, Buddha is descibed as younger in age and novice in nenunciation. Thus, it stands proved that Mahavira was senior to Buddha in age and had taken renunciation earlier than this. It is mentioned in the Samagama - sutta of the Majjhima - ni kaya that while Buddha was sojourning in Samagama, a Sramnic devotee Cunda by name came to him and conveyed the message that Nigantha Nataputta (mahavira) just passed away on pava 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
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arise in their Sangha after Buddha. He discussed this matter with 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 Pasadikasutta of the Dighanikaya. According to the Samgitipariya-sutta of this very Nikaya the same report was conveyed to Buddha's Samgha; and Sariputta, a pupil of Buddha, called the Bhiksus, 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 Sariputta on his proper instructions to the Bhiksus. This episode is a clear proof and leaves no doubt that Mahvira attained Nirvana during the life time of Buddha. Further, there was some dispute among the followers of Mahavira, the report of which caused some anxiety in the sangha of Buddha and some remedial suggestion was made in the direction. In this way it is proved beyond dout that Mahavira was senior to and attained Nirvana earlier than Buddha; and these facts are consistent with the traditional dates of the Nirvana of both of them.
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