Life in Ancient India as Depicted in the Jain Canons, with Commentaries: An Administrative, Economic, Social and Geographical Survey c5.s1.29

c5.s1.29

It must be mentioned that the credit of proving the existence of the Nigaṇthas before Nātaputta Mahāvīra on the strength of references in Pali literature belongs to Professor Jacobi.²⁶ It is stated in the Sāmaññaphala sutta of the Dīgha Nikāya that a Nigaṇtha is restrained with a four-fold restraint (cātuyāma-samvara). 'He is restrained as regards all water, restrained as regards all evil, all evil has he washed away, and he lives suffused with the sense of evil held at bay.'²⁷ Because of this four-fold restraint, he is called a *Nigantha* (free from bonds), *gatatta* (one whose heart has been in the attainment of his aim), *yatatta* (one whose heart is under command) and *thitatta* (one whose heart is fixed). The Pali texts contain the names of several disciples of Nātaputta, who are said to have entered into discussion with Buddha and at the end become his followers. Vappa, a Sākyan king and an uncle of Buddha, was a disciple of the *Niganthas*, who, convinced of the superiority of Buddha’s teachings, became his follower.²⁸ Similarly, could be cited the names of Asibandhakaputta,²⁹ Abhayarājakumāra,³⁰ Siha,³¹ Upāli,³² Dighatapassi,³³ Saccaka,³⁴ Sirigutta³⁵ and the women disciples such as Saccā, Lolā, Avavādakā, Patācarā³⁶ and others. The Devadaha Sutta in the *Majjhima Nikāya* contains a detailed analysis and criticism, attributed to Buddha, of the beliefs and teachings of the *Nāganthas*³⁷