________________
136
month Vaisakha, combined with the constellation Visakha, which is Burmese for the 16th lunar mansion Vis 'akha in the 68th year of the Eetzana era.
(2) Renunciation (268) (Departure from the household life and initiation into ascetic life); On Monday the fullmoon day in the month of July i.e. Asadha (the Indian lunar month), combined with the constellation Ootharathana, which is Burmese for the 21st lunar mansion Uttrasadha in the 96th year of the Eetzana era.
(3) Enlightenment of Buddha (269). On Wednesday the full-moon day of Katson = Vaisakha, combined with the constellation Withaka = Vaisakha in the 103rd year of the Eetzana era.
(4) Parinirvana of Buddha (270): On Tuesday the full-moon day of Katson = Vaisakha combined with the constellation Withaka = Vaisakha, in the 148th year of Eetzana era.
According to the Burmese tradition, the Eetzana era began on Sunday which was the 1st lunar day of the waxing moon of the month Tagoo i. e. Burmese for the Indian month Caitra (271).
A research scholar Mr. M. Govind Pai has found out the corresponding English dates of the above Burmese (272) dates. According to his conversations the chronology date is as follows:
1. Birth of Buddha 30th March, 581 B. C.
2.
Renunciation of Buddha; 18th June, 553 B.C. 3. Enlightenment of Buddha: 3rd April, 546 B. C. 4. Parinirvana of Buddha: 15th April, 501 B. C. 5. Beginning of Eetzana era: 17th February 648 B. C.
Thus, it can be seen that the Burmese tradition is in perfect congruence with the chronological date of Buddha's life-events, which we have deduced in the last chapter.
It is really a surprising coincidence that the Burmese tradition and our approach arrive exactly at the same fact,