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was 35 years old. Hence, we conclude that Mahāvira was 14 years older than Buddha. This conclusion nearly endorses our conclusion that Mahā vira was 17 years older than Buddha.
The Traditional Date of Chinese Turkestan
Our conclusion is also quite consistent with the traditional date of Buddha's Nirvāna, prevalent in Chinese Turkestan(247), and also known as "Khotan Tradition".
the Chinese empertinet Shih-Huang-11
1
96 B.C.)
This tradition places the King Asoka 250 years after the Nirvāna of Buddha by taking him as a contemporary of the Chinese emperior Shih-Huang-Ti. Some scholars, on the basis of the fact that Shih-Huang-Ti's accession took place in 246 B.C, have accepted (246+250 = 496 B.C.) as the date of Buddha's Nirvana (248). It may be noted that there is only a nominal difference of 6 years between this date and our conclusion. But, it seems that the interval of 250 years between Buddha's Nirvāna and Asoka should, in reality, be the one between Buddha's Nirvana and the famous third Buddhist council, that had taken place in the 18th year after Asoka's consecration, and according to historians, in 252 B.C. (249). Hence, the date of Buddha's Nirvana, on the basis of the above tradition should be 252 + 250 = 502 B.C which exactly coincides with our conclusion.
3.
Asoka's Edicts
The stone (rocks) and pillars inscribed by Asoka the great Mauryan emperor, are, in fact the foundation-stones and foundation pillars of Indian history. Many a doubtful facts regarding history were made undoubtful on the basis of the above inscriptions. The present conclusion regarding the date of Buddha's Nirvana is too corroborated by these edicts. The edicts are mainly divided in the following types:
5 Minor Rock Edicts 14 Rock Edicts 4 Minor pillar Edicts 7 Pillar Edicts 3 Cave Edicts 6 Misceallenous Edicts