Gahapatis and Jains

Nigantha Nataputta has been described by the Maddhima Nikaya as being in a large company of householders (gihi-parisaya), headed by gahapati upali of Balaka. Gahapati upali addresses the Nigantha as bhante and salutes him (abhivadeti). Soon afterwards he becomes a staunch devotee of the Buddha, so much so that he gives instructions that no alms should be given to the followers of the Nigantha Nataputta. However, when the latter comes to see him, upali addresses him with his customary bhante, but drops his usual mode of salutation. Nevertheless, he does not offer Nigantha Nataputta the best seat but keeps it for himself. The Nigantha takes this to be a deliberate insult.^[1] In another instance we find that the gahapati Citta, a loyal devotee of the Buddha, addresses the Nigantha Nataputta with bhante. However, he also does not salute him (abhivadeti), but exchange greetings (S.S.).^[2] The gahapatis are addressed as gahapati by the Jains.