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Northern Buddhists did not reckon the date of Buddha's death from 544 B. C., because if they had done so, 1813 A. B. would be (1813--544) 1269 A.D., in which year the first of Karttika budi fell on Sunday (27th October) and not on Wednesday. Then Cunningham points out that by adopting his proposed correction of 66 years, the date of the inscription would fall on 4th October 1335 A. D., which day was a Wednesday. The week day given in the inscription is of great use to Cunningham in determining within very narrot limits. the date of Chandra Gupta's accession and hence Buddha's Nirvana. As Dr. Bühler had already shown, the beginning of Chandra Gupta's reign must fall between 321 and 310 B, C., the limiting dates of Buddha's Nirvana which took place. 162 years before, will be (921 + 162) 483 B.C. and (310 +162) 472 B.C. Cunningham has calculated that between 321 and 310 B.C., there are only three years, B. C. 319, B, C. 316 and 309 B.C.,
Shree Sudharmaswami Gyanbhandar-Umara, Surat
www.umaragyanbhandar.com