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Dr. Hoernle and Muni Jina Vijayji
Dr. Hoernle has also discussed this problem in the same way (94). According to him, Buddha died five years after Mahā vira's Nirvāna (484 B.C.). This makes Buddha three years senior to Mahāvira. The main bases of Dr. Hoernle's view are almost the same as those which are already discussed in the present chapter in context of other scholars and hence need no further discussion.
A well-known archaeologist Muni Jina Vijayji has accepted Mahāvira to have predeceased Buddha on the basis of Dr. Jayaswal's view (95).
MUNI KALYAŅA VIJAYAJÍ
An extensive effort has been made by a famous Jain historian, Muni Kalyana Vijayaji to solve the present problem. His work on the subject, titled, Vira Nirvana Samvat Aura Jaina Kalaganana is really a treasure book for the research-workers. He has presented an independent solution to the problem of chronology of Mahavira and Buddha. His conclusion is that Buddha predeceased Mahavira by 14 years 5 months and 15 days. In other words, Buddha was 22 years older than Mahavira. The dates of the Nir.vana given by Muni Kalyana Vijayaji is as follows:
Buddha's Nirvana ......... 542 B.C. (May) Mahāvira's Nirvana ......... 528 B.C. (November)
The date of Mahāvīra's Nirvana - 527 B.C. (96), which is accepted by Muni Kalyāna Vijayaji, is based on a reliable tradition as well as direct evidences. Muniji has proved this date by citing various authorities and giving many reasons.
Muni Kalyāņa Vijayaji has tried to prove that Buddha attained the Nirvana nearly fifteen years before Mahavira's Nirvana. He has argued that the story related in the Samagama Suttanta, that Buddha had heard about the Mahavira's death, is not correct. According to Muniji, the event should have happened thus: When Mahavira'was seriously injured by the Tejo -lesya of his Ajivaka rival, Gośálaka,
