Contemporaneity and Chronology of Mahavira and Buddha

Author(s): Nagrajmuni, Mahendramuni
Publisher: Today and Tomorrows Book Agency

Page 43

23
Dr. Jacobi's Second Approach
23 and Buddha inferred by Dr. Jacobi also gives rise to many inconsistencies. In the Bhagavati Sūtra, Gośālaka speaks of eight finalities in his last days and Mahāśilā-Kanțaka war was also one of them. We deduce from it that Gośālaka died after the Mahāśilā-kanțaka war had taken place. Again seven days before the death of Gośālaka, Mahāvīra had announced”. “I shall remain alive yet 16 years from today without any hinderance like a supremely puissant elephant.” In other words, even if we assume that MahasīlāKaaņțka war broke out immediately after Koņika's accession to the throne, there elapsed at least 17 years between Konika's accession and Mahāvīra's death. But this, by no means, goes beyond 15 years, according to the date fixed by Dr. Jacobi. Another inconsistency arising from Jacobi's findings becomes clear from the following event described in Jain literature :
Once upon a time, the king Śrenika asked Mahāvīra:
1. Tassavina vajjassa pacchānatthāaimāim attha carmaim pannavei,
tamjahā-carime pāņe, charime geye, carime natte, carime añjalikamme, carime pokkhalassa sam-vațţae mahāmehe, carime seyanae gandhahatthi, carime Mahāśila Kamtae Sāmgāme,
-Bhagvati Sutra, Sataka, XV. 2. Taenam samane bhagvam Mahāvīre Gośālam mamkhliputtam
evam vayāsī--ņo khalu aham, Gosālā ! Tava taveņa teenam anāiţthe samāne anto chanham māsāņam jāvakälam krissāmi ! Ahāṁ nam annáim solasavassäim jine suhatthi viharissãmi." Ibid,
Saiaka. XV. 3. For, taking 484 B.C., as the date of Buddha's Nirvana, Konika's
accession, which according to Dr. Jacobi took place 7 or 8 years before the Nirvāna of Buddha, falls in 491-2 B.C., and the date of Mahāvīra's Nirvāna is 477 B.C. Hence, the maximum possible
interval is 15 years. 4. Punarvijñpayāmāsa Jinendram magdhādhipah ! Bhagvan kevaljñānam kasmin uvycchedamesyati !!
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