________________
GUPTA PERIOD
117
451
That a guild of weavers should in the course of a generation prosper so well that a considerable section of them could devote themselves to the leisurely pursuit of the study of astronomy, testifies to the fostering care of their trade of silk-fabrics, internally and perhaps even overseas.-(R. N. Dandekar, A History of the Guptas, p. 92).
This shows, also, that the profession of silk-weaving was one of the wellknown professions of the Lāța people and that these people were the devotees of the Sun.-(Vide, IA, XV, p. 194).
Mahārāja Indradatta of the Traikūțaka dynasty was succeeded by his son Dahrasena. The type of the Traikūțaka coins set by him evidently seems to have been adopted from the Kşatrapa coins which were current in Western India since long.
The diameter of these coins varies from 0.45" to 0.55" and it weighs 28 to 35.5 grains. The obverse bears the bust of the king facing right and is surrounded by Graeco-Roman characters which are obscure, as on the Ksatrapa coins.
The Traikūțaka coins, however, bear no dates. The emblem on the reverse consists of a three-peaked hill, the moon on its summit, a star on the right, a river below and a legend surrounding it. In the legend Dahrasena is styled Mahārāja as well as Parama-Vaisnava.-(Rapson, B.M.C. $ 136, 145, 151 ff., 198 ff.).
The Māthuri Vācanā of the Jaina canons that took place under the presidentship of Skandila Sūri did not tally with the Valabhi Vacan, presided over by Nāgārjuna Sūri in its entirety, as the two leaders Nāgārjuna and Skandila could not meet to settle the differences. So a worthy attempt to improve this situation was later on made by Devarddhi Gaội Kşamāśramana of Valabhi, who called a Council at Valabhi in Vira Samyat 980 or 993. He got written the scriptures. The first Council had, however, met at Pataliputra.
This momentous event is known as 'pustkārohana' or the 'Redaction of the Jaina Āgamas ( Canons)'. This was the third council that tried to restore and carefully preserve the Jaina Scriptures. It is dated as Vira Sam. 980 (A.D. 453) by the followers of Skandila Sūri, and Vira Sam. 993 (A.D. 466) by those of Nāgārjuna.-(H. R. Kapadia, History of the Canonical Literature of the Jainas, pp. 62-67).
Kālaka Sūri who was a 'Yuga-pradhāna' from Vira Samvat 983 to 994, once came to Anandapura (modern Vadnagar) and stayed there for the rainy season in Vira Samvat 980 or 993. At that time Dhruvasena, the third son of Bhațțārka Senāpati, came to this city and stayed there. After some time, Virasena, his eldest son died. So, to allay his sorrow, this Kālaka Sūri read l'ajjosavaņā-kappa in the presence of the Jaina Church, on the 4th day of
453-466
454 or 467
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