The Early History of the Deccan (Parts I–XI) v1.c8.s13.39

v1.c8.s13.39

The followers of each faith naturally claimed that their own gospel was superior to the other. The monk Sthavirāchala of Ajanṭā, for instance, proudly points out that gods in Hinduism are subject to decay, that even Kṛṣṇa had to succumb to death and that Mahādeva could not escape from a curse, but that the Buddha on the other hand is ever immortal, ever free from fear and always guiding the destinies of the universe.¹ Hindus on their part advanced similar claims and maintained that the doctrine of the Void as taught by Buddhists was obviously unsatisfactory. These philosophical wranglings could have led to persecutions of the adherents of one faith by those of the other. The common people, however, had the good sense to realize that each religion was good in its own way and led to the same goal though by a different road. Each should follow the gospel that appealed to him most, without caring to see what others were doing.