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Similarly, 1990 + 333 years after Mahavira's death, the comet left the birth-rasi, so that -
Total duration of comet - 2323 years. Date of its leaving the birth-rasi – 1796 A. D. Date of Mahāvira's Nirvāna - 527 B.C.
Traditional Era of Vira - Nirvana
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The era of Mahāvira's Nirvana, which is in vogue at present in the Jain traditions, is also based on the date 527 B.C. It is remarkable that this era is unanimously and uncontrovertibly accepted by all the sects of Jains. At present, in the year 1963 A. D., the era of Mahāvira's Nirvana is 2490, which is 527 years ahead of Christian era, as it should be.
Chronology of Mahavira's Life
After having decided the date of Mahāvira's Nirvāna, now we can easily chronologize the important events of Mahāvira's life as follows:
B.C. 599 569 557 527
Event Birth Initiation into ascetic life Attainment of omniscence Final emanicipation
Traditional Dates of Nirvana
It is not so easy to discover a unique date for Buddha's Nirvana as in the case of Mahavira. More than a millenium ago, there existed ambiguity about it and even today it persists to a great extent. Famous Chinese traveller Fa Hien, who visited India in 400 A, D., remarks (169). "Up to now, 1497 years have passed since the Nirvana of the Blessed One (Buddha)". Another wellknown Chinese traveller Hiuen-Tsang who toured in India in 630 A.D., wrote (170). "Lord Buddha lived for 80 years, There is a great controversy over the date of his Nirvana. Some believe that Buddha attained the Nirvāna on the fullmoon day of Vaisakha, while the Sarvastiva dins take the
