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Mahāvīra and Buddha
which is Burmese for the 21st lunar mansion Uttrāṣāờha in the 96th year of the Eetzana era.
(3) Enlightenment of Buddha. On Wednesday the full-moon day of Katson=Vaišākha, combined with the constellation Withaka=Vaišākha in the 103rd year of the Eetzana era.
(4) Parinirvāṇa of Buddha? : On Tuesday the full-moon day of Kat son=Vaišākha combined with the constellation Withaka=Vaišākha, 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. 3
.:. A research scholar Mr. M. Govind Pai has found out the corresponding English dates of the above Burmeset dates. According to his conversions the chronology date is as follows:
1. Birth of Buddha 30th March, 581 B. C. * 2. Renunciation of Buddha : 18th June, 553 B. C. 2.3. Enlightenment , , : 3rd April, 546 B, C. 4. Parinirvāṇa
, : 15th, 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. :
1. Ibid., vol. I, p. 97; Vol. II, pp. 72-73. 2. Ibid., vol. II, pp. 69. 3. Ibid., vol. I, p. 13. 4. Prabuddha Karnataka, a Kannada Quarterly published by the
Mysore University, vcl, XXVII (1945-46), No. 1, pp. 92-93 ; The date of the Nirvana of Lord Mahāvira in Sri Mahäviru Commemoration Volume, vol. I, 1941-49, pp. 93-94.
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