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

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51
Although the classification is not clear, but it clearly indicates that even Ajivakas gave the place next to themselves to Niganthas , just as Nigamţhas put Ajivakas in identical place.
Who the Guru?
Impartiality is absolutely necessary in history and research, Sectarian prejudice must also be kept out. But neutrality and new conclusions can also be disastrous if they take the form of predilections. The te ndency for research with regard to Gośāla ka has increased during the last few years. About Ajiva ka order and Gosal aka, occi - dental and oriental scholars have brought out a lot of new material. But it is sad to note that, for the sake of new conclusions, some scholars are turning history upside down as far as Gośāla ka is concerned. Dr. Benimadhav Barua writes: 'It can be said that on the basis of information available from Jaina and Buddhist literature it cannot be proved that Gosālaka was one of the two deceitful disciples of Mahavira as made out by Jainas. On the contrary, it di sproves that theory. In other words, I wish to say that if historians ma ke some efforts in respect of this disputed question, they will have to admit that if, out of the two, one is indebted, it is the Guru and not, as held by Jainas, his fraudulent disciple. "(45) In the background of this conclusion, Dr. Barua also says: "Mahavira was, in the beginning, in the sect of Pārswanātha. After a year, when he became Acelaka (naked), he joined the Ajivaka order (46)." At the same time, Dr. Barua supports his theory by saying that Gośālaka had attained the state of Jina two years before Mahavira did so (47). Although Dr. Barua concedes that these are great experiments in imagination (48), his assumptions have definitely effected some people. The conclusions are being drawn accordingly, and that too with double insistence. Gopaldas Jiyabhai Patel writes: "Maha vira and Gos ala ka had lived together for six years. Therefore, in Jaina sutras, there must be particular introduction of Gosalaka. In sutras like Bhaga Sutrakrtanga, Upasakadasanga, etc. some brief and detailed accounts about Gosálaka are available. But in all those accounts so much effort appears to have been made to prove Gosālaka as characterless and as a disciple of Mahavira that generally it is difficult to accept those accounts as having any base. Beni ma dhav Barua has, to the best of his ability, made an