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114
Hastina. In conclusion of the whole discussion, he writes (164): "On the basis of the above discussion, it can be said that adding the number 241 to a date in Saka era, we get the corresponding date in Gupta era. Also, the statement of Alberuni is substantiated by this extensive discussion. It can be definitely concluded that the Gupta era began 241 years after Saka era (i.e, in 319 A.D.)".
The above quotation shows how the date of Mahavira's Nirvana has become the base of the chronology upto the beginning of Gupta era. Dr. Upadhyaya, as shown above, has reached at the date of the Gupta era by starting from the date of Mahāvira's Nirvana Now, if we employ just the reverse process we reach back to the date of Mahāvira's Nirvana as 527 B.C. For, the beginning of Gupta era - 319 A. D. Interval between Mahāvira's Nirvana and the beginning of era - 846 .years..... Date of Mahāvira's Nirvana - 527 B.C.
527 B.C. Foten Mahāvira's Ne Mahāvira's
Astrological Calculations
The learned Acar yas of Terapantha have also accepted 527 B.C. as the date of Mahāvira's Nirvāna. They have supported their belief by the astrological calculations. According to the Jain scriptures, at the time of Mahāvira's death, an asterism of ashes (Bhas ma -graha) entered into the sign of Zodiac under which Mahavira was born (the birth-rasi) and it continued to stay for 200 years (165). According to the fourth Acar ya of Terapantha, Srimad Jayacarya, that asteris m left the sign of Zodiac of Mahavira's birth in the year 1531 of Vikrama era (166). Again, the scriptures have predicted that a comet (Dhumaketu) of duration of 333 years, will set in, 1990 years after Mahavira's death (167). According to Srimad Jayacarya (168), the comet left the sign of Zodiac of Mahavira's birth in the year 1853 of Vikrama era. On the basis of the above two astrological evidences, we reach 527 B.C. as the date of Mahāyira's Nirvana as follows:
Total duration of asterism of ash - 200 years. Date of its leaving the birth-rasi – 1473 A.D. Date of Mahāvira's Nirvana - 527 B.C.
