History and Doctrines of the Ajivikas: A Vanished Indian Religion c13.s2.1

c13.s2.1

While our knowledge of the events of Pūraṇa’s life is negligible, we have an account of his death which contains interesting features, and, existing as it does in more than one version, may have a basis of truth. The sources agree that Pūraṇa died by his own hand. The Buddhist accounts add that his death took place at Sāvatthi, after a great miracle contest in which he and his fellow heretics were worsted by the Buddha. The event was a popular subject for illustration by Buddhist sculptors and artists.⁵