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Research and Conclusion
According to the Jain scriptures, at the time of Mahavira's death, an asterism of ashes (Bhasma-graha) entered into the sign of Zodiac under which Mahavira was born (the birthrāśi) and it continued to stay for 2000 years.1 According to the fourth Acārya of Terapantha, Śrimad Jayācārya, that asterism left the sign of Zodiac of Mahāvīra's birth in the year 1531 of Vikrama era". Again, the scriptures have predicted that a comet (Dhumaketu) of duration of 333 years, will set in, 1990 years after Mahavira's death3. According to Srimad Jayacharya, the comet left the sign of Zodiac of Mahavira's birth in the year 1853 of Vikrama era. On the basis of the above to astrological evidences, we reach 527 B.C. as the date of Mahāvīra's Nirvāņa as follows:
Total duration of asterism of ash--2000 years. Date of its leaving the birth-rāśi——1473 A.D. Date of Mahāvīra's Nirvāṇa--527 B.C.
Similarly, 1990+333 years after Mahavira's death, the comet left the birth-räsi, so that
Total duration of comet--2323 years.
Date of its leaving the birth-rāśi--1796 A.D. Date of Mahāvīra's Nirvāṇa---527 B.C.
maggie d
Traditional Era of Vira Nirvāṇa.
The era of Mahavira'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
1. Kalpa Sutra, vs. 129 (S.B.E. Vol. XXII).
2. Bhrama Vidhavamsanam, Preface.
3.
4.
Bańkaculia.
Op. cit.
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