________________
16
MAHĀVĪRA. HIS LIFE AND TEACHINGS
the Licchavi General among the Jaina laity loom large among those intermediaries Both Mahāvira and the Buddha claimed to be scions of two ruling clans of Northern India, and both of them declared themselves as kriyāvādins or upholders of a doctrine of action Mahāvīra was senior in age to the Buddha; the former predeceased the latter by a few years. The synchronism between them is proved by the coincidence of certain historical facts When they had started their career as religious teachers and reformers, Srenika Bimbisāra was the powerful king of Magadha, and Anga became annexed to the kingdom of Magadha , the Vrji-Licchavis of Vaiśālī and the Mallas of Kusīnārā and Pāvā formed two powerful confederacies ; Prasenajit was the monarch of Kośala and Kāśi became annexed to the kingdom of Kośala. It is significant that the immediate Nirgrantha disciples of Mahāvīra argued a point of his doctrine thus 'Had it been possible to obtain bliss through worldly happiness, king Srenika Bimbisāra of Magadha would certainly have obtained it'
The Majjhima-Nikāya immortalizes the name of the Black Stone on a ridge of the Rsigiri, where the Nirgranthas practised a difficult penance, while a Jaina Image inscription records the name of Mount Vipula and king Sreņika. The same
