________________
84
Mahāvira and Buddha
gupta's accession to the throne of Avanti, and not that of Magadha. It is also a historical fact that in 312 B.C. (ie. 10 years after Candragupta's accession to the throne of Magadha) Candragupta acquired the kingdom of Avanti. Thus, the Jain chronology and the historical chronology endorse each other and the date of Mahāvīra's Nirvāṇa is confirmed in 312+215=527 B.C.
The Vikrama Era
The above date of Mahāvīra's Nirvāṇa is also supported by the historical dates of Vikrama, Saka and Gupta eras. The ancient chronicles and works of Jain tradition state that Mahāvīra's Nirvāṇa took place 470 years before the
1.
The date 313 B.C. for Candragupta's accession, if it is based on correct tradition, may refer to his acquisition of Avanti in Malva, as the chronological datum found in a verse, where the Maurya king finds mention in the list of successors of Pālaka, the king of Avanti. -Political History of Ancient India, by Dr. H.C. Raychaudhuri The Jain date 313 B C., if based on correct tradition, may refer to his acquisition of Avanti (Malva). -An Advanced History of India, by Dr. R.C. Majumdar, Dr. H.C. Raychaudhuri, K.K. Datta, p. 99. Although the date 313 B.C. for Candragupta's accession is based on correct tradition it refers to his victory over Malva or Avanti, because the verse, in which this chronology is adopted, mentions Candragupta in the list of the successors of king Palaka of Avanti. -Shrinetra Pandey, op. cit, pp. 245-246.
Jain Education International
For Private & Personal Use Only
www.jainelibrary.org
