How Mahavira And The Buddha Are Different Historical Figures
Table Of Contents :
A historical personality is someone whose existence can be evidenced, verified, and proven through historical records, excavations, archaeological evidences or basically through more than a bunch of legends and sagas here and there.
On the other hand, a mythological figure is exactly what it is : a myth! And a myth is exactly what it is : unverifiable! The difference between historical and mythological would be same as the difference between say, dinosaurs and demons. Dinosaurs have saved their bones for us, that we can find and identify them through. Demons on the other hand, not so much.
So under the light of this understanding let's dive into some historical facts and records, and learn who these two historical personalities, we so often confuse to be each other, were.
Mahavira introduced the philosophy of Anekantvada (principle of non-absolutism) that refers to pluralism of existence. It teaches that truth and reality may differ when perceived from different points of views, and that no single view represents the absolute truth.
The principle of 'partial stand points' or Nayvada is also an offshoot of Anekantvada, reinforcing the Jain belief of existence of infinite points of view, each expressing a partial truth.
According to Moriz Winternitz, Mahavira may be considered as a reformer of a pre-existing sect of Jains called Niganthas that is mentioned in early Buddhist texts and Jainism existed well before Mahavira was even born.
Did you know Mahavira's Nirvana is one of the reasons why Jains celebrate Diwali? Read more : The Jain Side Of The Diwali Equation.
- Historical Vs Mythological
- Who Was Mahavira?
- Mahavira's Early Life
- Mahavira's Renunciation
- Mahavira's Nirvana
- Who Was the Buddha?
- Buddha's Early Life
- Buddha's Renunciation
- Buddha's Nirvana
Historical Vs Mythological
Before we jump into history and facts and findings, what needs to be prefaced is the difference between the adjectives 'historical' and 'mythological' and why Mahavira and the Buddha are historical and NOT mythological figures.A historical personality is someone whose existence can be evidenced, verified, and proven through historical records, excavations, archaeological evidences or basically through more than a bunch of legends and sagas here and there.
On the other hand, a mythological figure is exactly what it is : a myth! And a myth is exactly what it is : unverifiable! The difference between historical and mythological would be same as the difference between say, dinosaurs and demons. Dinosaurs have saved their bones for us, that we can find and identify them through. Demons on the other hand, not so much.
So under the light of this understanding let's dive into some historical facts and records, and learn who these two historical personalities, we so often confuse to be each other, were.
Who Was Mahavira?
Born around 599 BCE, Mahavira was twenty-fourth and the final tirthankara (reviver or spiritual teacher) of Jainism : one of the four major India-born religions, the others being Hinduism, Buddhism, and Sikhism.Early Life Of Mahavira
Born as a prince to the royal couple of Siddhartha (of the Ikshvaku dynasty) and Trishla (sometimes identified as Videhdinna or Priyadarshani), rulers of the Nata clan (hence also referred to as Nātaputta in the Buddhist text Sāmaññaphala Sutta) in Kundagrama, a historical kingdom in present day Bihar in India. His other names were : Vira, Ativira, Sanmati, and Vardhaman, each having a different story of attribution to Mahavira.
When Queen Trishala was pregnant with Vardhamana she had the 16 dreams depicted in Jain scriptures indicating that her unborn child was destined to greatness. His parents were followers of the 23rd Tirthankara, Parashwanatha. As a child Vardhamana was quiet but brave. He displayed acts of great courage several times during difficult situations. Being a prince he was brought up amidst much luxury yet nothing affected him.
When Queen Trishala was pregnant with Vardhamana she had the 16 dreams depicted in Jain scriptures indicating that her unborn child was destined to greatness. His parents were followers of the 23rd Tirthankara, Parashwanatha. As a child Vardhamana was quiet but brave. He displayed acts of great courage several times during difficult situations. Being a prince he was brought up amidst much luxury yet nothing affected him.
Mahavira's Renunciation
Mahavira lived the royal life until the age of 30, when after the death of his parents, Mahavira abandoned his family and home in pursuit of spiritual awakening, discarded all of his clothes, plucked his hair out, headed into the woods, and practiced complete silence and rigorous meditation to conquer his basic desires. He assumed a calm and peaceful demeanor and sought to overcome emotions like anger.
As the Jain texts such as Uttar-purāņa and Harivamśa-purāņa largely describe, at the age of forty-three He finally experienced perfect perception, perfect knowledge, perfect conduct, unlimited energy, and unobstructed bliss, he achieved the state of Kevala Jnana (omniscience or infinite knowledge) under a Sāla tree and became a Jina. He spent the rest of his life giving sermons to the masses by travelling throughout India, teaching them the self-realised five-fold path to the Moksha which were :
As the Jain texts such as Uttar-purāņa and Harivamśa-purāņa largely describe, at the age of forty-three He finally experienced perfect perception, perfect knowledge, perfect conduct, unlimited energy, and unobstructed bliss, he achieved the state of Kevala Jnana (omniscience or infinite knowledge) under a Sāla tree and became a Jina. He spent the rest of his life giving sermons to the masses by travelling throughout India, teaching them the self-realised five-fold path to the Moksha which were :
- Nonviolence
- Truthfulness
- Non-stealing
- Celibacy
- Non-accumulation
Mahavira's Nirvana
Around 527 BCE, at the age of seventy-two, at Pawapuri, in the current state of Rajasthan, Mahavira renounced his material body and as the Jain tradition holds, ended the endless cycle of birth and death. Mahavira was survived by his chief disciple Indrabhuti Gautam among others, and his unwritten teachings known as the the Agamas, only a small fraction of which survives today.
Mahavira introduced the philosophy of Anekantvada (principle of non-absolutism) that refers to pluralism of existence. It teaches that truth and reality may differ when perceived from different points of views, and that no single view represents the absolute truth.
The principle of 'partial stand points' or Nayvada is also an offshoot of Anekantvada, reinforcing the Jain belief of existence of infinite points of view, each expressing a partial truth.
According to Moriz Winternitz, Mahavira may be considered as a reformer of a pre-existing sect of Jains called Niganthas that is mentioned in early Buddhist texts and Jainism existed well before Mahavira was even born.
Did you know Mahavira's Nirvana is one of the reasons why Jains celebrate Diwali? Read more : The Jain Side Of The Diwali Equation.
Who Was The Buddha?
Traditional belief is that he was born a prince in Lumbini, Nepal in the Terai lowlands near the foothills of the Himalayas. However, considerable archeological evidence now shows that he may have been born in Kalinga — now Orissa in India. the Shakya clan. His father, Suddhodana, was king of the Shakya clan. His mother was named Maya.Early Life Of The Buddha
There is no consensus on the date of his birth. The Theravada tradition suggests he was born in 623 or 624 BCE. Until recently, many religious historians have preferred birth dates ranging from 567 to 487 BCE. Various modern scholars have suggested dates from 420 to 502 BCE, both ways making him a contemporary or a younger contemporary of Mahavira.
He is sometimes referred to as Śakyamuni which literally means "the sage of the Śakyas." Naturally his parents assumed that he would succeed his father as king later in his life. At the age of 16, he was married to his wife Yaśodhara and at 29 they had a son, Rahula.
Shortly after his son's birth, he took four trips by chariot. On the first trip he was deeply disturbed by seeing an elderly, helpless, frail man. On the second, he saw an emaciated and depressed man suffering from an advanced disease. On the third, he spotted a grieving family carrying the corpse of a family member to a cremation site. On his fourth trip, he saw a śramaņa (a Jain monk) — who led a reclusive life of meditation, and was calm and serene.
Around 535 BCE, at about the age of 35, underneath a large tree — later known as the Bodhi tree (species Pipal or ficus religiosus). He attained enlightenment, and as the Buddhist traditions hold, became the Buddha.
He located five of his fellow seekers with whom he had earlier fasted, and rejoined them near Benares. He wandered around Northeast India for decades, teaching the Dhamma to all who would listen. His health began to fail when he was in this late 70s. After forty-five years of teaching, he died in a small town named Kuśinagara, at the age of 80, apparently of natural causes.
He is sometimes referred to as Śakyamuni which literally means "the sage of the Śakyas." Naturally his parents assumed that he would succeed his father as king later in his life. At the age of 16, he was married to his wife Yaśodhara and at 29 they had a son, Rahula.
Shortly after his son's birth, he took four trips by chariot. On the first trip he was deeply disturbed by seeing an elderly, helpless, frail man. On the second, he saw an emaciated and depressed man suffering from an advanced disease. On the third, he spotted a grieving family carrying the corpse of a family member to a cremation site. On his fourth trip, he saw a śramaņa (a Jain monk) — who led a reclusive life of meditation, and was calm and serene.
Buddha's Renunciation
Deeply affected by the monk's content appearance, at 29, he left his wife, child, luxurious lifestyle, and future role as a leader of his people in order to seek truth. He tried a couple of extreme meditative techniques he came across but these techniques produced a series of physical discomforts to him. Ultimately, he determined that a better path to achieve the state of Nirvana was to pursue a "Middle Way".
Around 535 BCE, at about the age of 35, underneath a large tree — later known as the Bodhi tree (species Pipal or ficus religiosus). He attained enlightenment, and as the Buddhist traditions hold, became the Buddha.
He located five of his fellow seekers with whom he had earlier fasted, and rejoined them near Benares. He wandered around Northeast India for decades, teaching the Dhamma to all who would listen. His health began to fail when he was in this late 70s. After forty-five years of teaching, he died in a small town named Kuśinagara, at the age of 80, apparently of natural causes.
Buddha's Nirvana
The traditional date of his death used by Theravadin Buddhists is 544 or 543 BCE . However, other dates have been suggested from 544 to 380 BCE. He did not choose a successor. Two and a half centuries later, a council of Buddhist monks collected his teachings and the oral traditions of the faith into written form, called the Tripitaka.
Interestingly the Buddha is not a specific person, but a title accorded and Gautam Buddha was only one of the Buddhas and not the only Buddha.
Interestingly the Buddha is not a specific person, but a title accorded and Gautam Buddha was only one of the Buddhas and not the only Buddha.
