Dear Jacques,

> Thanks for the clue Dmytro. Since Mahavira was a
> contemporary of the Buddha it is indeed interesting to
> know that.

Moreover, they preached in about the same area.

> But do you know when was the Jain Canon put
> to writing ?

In the beginning of CE.

http://www.jainworld.org/general/prem/jain_agam_literature.htm
http://www.jainworld.com/literature/jain_agams_indian_culture.asp
http://www.jainworld.com/literature/jain_agams1.asp

With Metta,

Dmytro