Agama And Tripitaka Comparative Study

SR No.: 022804
Original Sutra Author: N/A
Author: Nagaraj Muni
Publisher: Today and Tomorrows Printers and Publishers
Publication Year: 1986
Total Pages: 804
Language: English
Classification: Book_English
File Size: 19 MB

Page 131

91
Mahavira had asked Abhaya Kumara to question Buddha regarding the propriety of the harsh words spoken by Buddha to Devadatta. The question to be asked by Abhya Kumara was framed thus: 'Can the Blessed One (Buddha) utter the words which are unpleasant to other?! If Buddha would have answered in negative, the cross-question was going to be: 'Then, why did the Blessed One utter harsh words to Devadatta?! On the other hand, if Buddha would have replied to the above question in affirmative, the cross question would have been; 'Then, what is the difference between a layman and the Blessed One ? ?
"Now, all these fragments of truth, supplied by the Buddhist texts, when joined together, at once manifest that the event of Mahavira's Nirvana must have taken place in between the event of utterance of harsh words by Buddha and that of the death of Sāriputta. Again, it is believed that Buddha died in the eighth year of Ajātas atru's reign. If this is true, Mahavira's death should have taken place not later than this period of Ajātasatru's reign, and not earlier than the commencement of his reign.
"Let us see, what conclusion we reach if we assume that Mahāvíra attained the Nirvana in the first year of Ajátasatru's reign. This would mean that when Mahāvira died at the age of 72, Buddha was 73 years old. Secondly, when Mahāvira attained omniscence at the age of 42, Buddha was 43, and when Mahāvira was initiated into the ascetic life at 30, Buddha was 31. Lastly, when Mahāvira was born, Buddha was one year old".
The conclusion drawn by Sri Ramppuria in the above passage holds good only if the belief that Buddha died in the eighth year of Ajātasatru reign, is true, But Sri Rampuria has himself based his calculation on the dubious, statement 'If this is true'. As already shown before, the above belief of Buddha's Nirvāna in the 8th year of Ajátasatru's reign is based on the erroneous chronology (131) adopted in the Ceylonese Chronicle, Mahavamsa (132). Thus, the whole mention of the above conclusion that Mahāvira was younger than Buddha, shatters down.
The second allusion giving rise to ambiguity with respect to Mahavira's seniority to Buddha, is described by Sri Romnuria as follows (133): When Buddha was lyind on the