Study of Jainism

Author(s): T G Kalghatgi
Publisher: Prakrit Bharti Academy

Page 94

Tirthankara Vardhamana Mahavira
1) The historical Buddha called 'S akya muni' was the last of the Buddhas in this eon. He began to prepare himself to this task thousands of years ago under the guidance of Dipankara, the first Buddha The Buddha was at that time a Brahmin young boy named Mégha, He bowed to Dipankara. And then said the Perfect one, Dipankara, "You shall be, young Brahmin, in a future period, after an immeasurable and incalculable time, in Kapilavastu, a tathagata by name Sakyamuni, an Arhat, a fully enlightened Buddha. 48
Similar incident has been mentioned in describing the gradual preparation of Mahavira, the twenty fourth Tirthankara, for the attainment of perfection. The first tirthankara. Rşabhu, thousands of years ago realised, by the Kēvala Jñana, that his grandson Marici would be the last tirthankara, Vardhamana Mahavira Rşabha, the first tirthankara said to his son Bharata that Marici, his son would be the last tirthankara, Vardhamana Mahdvira. There are many such parallel situations in the mythical content of the lives of both the prophets, Buddha and Mahavira. 47
2) The mother of Siddharta Gautama, like the mother of Mahavira dreamt in a dream that an elephant entered her body. We have referred to the incident of dream and the dream analysis in the earlier section.
3) It has been said that when Siddharta Gautama left his home taking the vow of renunciation, he first moved about like the Niggantha muni in the forest. We have discussed this incident with reference to Buddha's saying to the disciple, Sariputta. He then came to the conclusion that extreme indulgence in pleasure and extreme self-denial are both to be avoided. Buddha preached the middle path (madhyama marga)
4) The doctrine of ahimsā has played an important part in the Jaina and the Buddhist ethics. Buddha was compassionate and he was averse to causing slightest injury to any living being. For the sake of liberation, one should give up causing injury to the vitalities of living beings. 48 Buddha instructed his disciples to ses that the remains of the food after eating should be thrown devoid