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44
M. A. Dhaky
SAMBODHI
4.
the nirvana of Gautama Buddha from B.C. 483 to c. B.C. 383. If this is proven valid, it would seriously affect the date of Mahāvīra who was contemporary of Buddha. At the opposite end, Arya Bhadrabāhu was contemporary of Candragupta Maurya and Arya Suhasti was of Maurya Asoka's grandson Samprati who, in Asoka's life time, and in emperor's late years, apparently had governed the Mālavadeśa and adjoining western territories. This would confirm Ārya Bhadrabāhu was contemporary of Candragupta Maurya. The practical time-bracket emerging for Bhadrabāhu's grand-preceptor Arya Sayyambhava would then be c. B.C. 375-345. Since the apostles Gautama and Sudharmā were the direct disciples of the Jina and, according to the tradition, had survived the Jina by some years, the sequential computation is best begun with the first patriarch in the hagiology, namely Arya Jambū. This is recorded in the medieval sources which may have before them some earlier tradition, written or oral. This is the date given at the end of the "Jinacaritra” portion inside that āgama. थेरस्स नं अज्जपभवस्स कच्चायनसगुत्तस्स अज्ज सिज्जंभवे थेरे अंतेवासी मनगपिता वच्छसगुत्ते ॥ थेरस्स नं अज्जसिज्जंभवस्स मनगपितुनो वच्छसगुत्तस्स अज्ज जसभद्दे थेरे अंतेवासी तुंगियायनसगुत्ते ।। Deva Vācaka's preceptor Dusya gani was the confrère of the grand preceptor of Devarddhi gani, this latter pontiff had presided over the Valabhi Synod II in either A.D. 503 or 516 in the time of the Maitraka ruler Dhruvasena I. Hence Deva Vācaka could have flourished between c. A.D. 425 and 460 and the central date for his Nandisūtra has been suggested here as c. A.D. 450. The hagiological for Deva Vācaka line is in the following order:
7.
Dusya gani
Sthiragupta
Deva Vācaka (active. c. A.D. 425-460)
Kumāradharma
8.
Devarddhi gani
(Valabhi Synod II, c. A.D. 503/516) This, regrettably, includes even the greatest German stalwarts of Nirgranthology ! The available niryuktis, as judged by their metre (Aryā), language (largely Mahārāstri Prakrit), content (much advanced dogmas, doctrinal notions, scholasticisms, and niksepa style of approach), also more relaxed disciplinary