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time, the practice of giving exaggerated figures of monks in previous times started in order to give prestige to their own order, and later, the canonists of Mahāyāna sect observed no restraint in giving such figures. This was a main cause of the decline of Buddhims. To create glamour for their own order and religion, the Buddhist bhikṣus started fabricating many cock-and-bull stories, but the Brāhmanas went further ahead than the Buddhists in this enterprise and ultimately inflicted a complete defeat on the Buddhist bhiksus "(3).
In this manner, Kosambi has put up the thesis that the accounts about the numerical strength of the Buddhist bhiksus are completely exaggerated. In his zeal, however, Kosambi may have somewhat overstated his position. It is quite plausible that the non-canonical literature of both the Jainas and the Buddhists have many exaggerated accounts; but it may not be fair to reject the figures about initiates as wholly imaginary. Man always lives in the midst of his environment and moves with the current. The age of Mahavira and the Buddha was one when religious consciousness must have been at its height. In this age, renunciation was considered to be the pinacle of spiritual behaviour. It was also an age of devotion. Lofty examples were set by the kings, princes and rich merchants who took to the spiritual path. In an atmosphere like this, it should not be particularly surprising that a large number of people renounced their homes at a time and became initiated as monks. Whatever that may be, we should strive to understand the accounts of the two traditions with due respect and sympathy, and with an open mind.
The accounts of initiations in the two tradition that have been restated below have neither been in chronic order nor have they been drafted in toto. Some of the more important accounts are presented at random.
Initiations in the Nirgrantha Order
1. Eleven Gañadharas - A Brāhmaṇa named Somila had started a grand sacrifice at Madhyma Pāvā. There was a great enthusiasm all over the city. Many renowned scholars from near and far came with their disciples to parti
| SR No. | 022804 |
| Book Title | Agama And Tripitaka Comparative Study |
| 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 |