Their leader is also named; he is called in Pali Nataputta, in Sanskrit
Jnatiputra, that is the son of Jnati or Nata. The similarity between these
words and the names of the family Jnati, Jnata or Naya, to which
Vardhamana belonged is apparent. Now since in older Buddhist literature,
the title 'the son of the man of the family N. N.' is very often used
instead of the individual's name, as for example, 'the son of the Sakiya'
is put for Buddha-Sakiyaputta, so that it is difficult not to suppose that
Nataputta or Jnatiputra, the leader of the Niga[n.][t.]ha or Nirgrantha
sect, is the same person as Vardhamana, the descendant of the Jnati family
and founder of the Nirgrantha or Jaina sect. If we follow up this idea,
and gather together the different remarks of the Buddhists about the
opponents of Buddha, then it is apparent that his identity with Vardhamana
is certain. A number of rules of doctrine are ascribed to him, which are
also found among the Jainas, and some events in his life, which we have
already found in the accounts of the life of Vardhamana, are related.
In one place in the oldest part of the Singalese canon, the assertion is
put into the mouth of Niga[n.][t.]ha Nataputta, that the
_Kiriyavada_--the doctrine of activity, separates his system from
Buddha's teaching. We shall certainly recognise in this doctrine, the rule
of the _Kiriya_, the activity of souls, upon which Jainism places so
great importance.
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