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[ v ] We may reasonably refer this gap of a few years between Mahavira's nirvån and the accession to the throne by the first Nanda king, to Kunika and Udayee as they were reigning in the interim. This ascription of sixty years to the se two kings does not at all appear to be inconsiderable.
Chandra Gupta was succeeded by his son Bindusara and then came his grandson the great Asoka, King Priyadarshi of the inscriptions. Asoka was succeeded by his grandson Samprati, as his son Kunala was blind. Samprati was a great Jain monarch and a staunch supporter of the faith. He erected thousands of temples throughout the length and breadth of his vast empire and consecrated large number of images. I have not come across any inscription of his time although I have seen a considerable number of images which are said to have been consecrated by this king, The peculiarity of these images lies in the fact that all the images have got marks of pillow under the elbow. He is stated further to have sent Jain missionaries and ascetics abroad to preach Jainism in the distant countries and to spread the faith amongst people there.
