________________
228
THE INDIAN ANTIQUARY.
[MAY, 1903.
The Date of the Buddha. Before I discuss in detail the period of Asoka the Great, whom I identify with the Grecian Sandracottus, the date of Gautama Buddha himself needs to be looked to afresh. Bishop Bigandet, in his Life of Buddha from the Burmese sources,' records the following dates of Sakya Simba in an era, which was commenced by "Anjana, king of Dewaha," on Sunday, New Moon, in the month of Tabaung (March), when 8640 years known as Kaudza had, expired: -
(1) Conception on the fall moon of July-August-Uttarathôn in 67 Anjana Era, i.e., S0th night of the month of Uttarashara, which is the 13th day of the 5th Chinese month, according to the Mabasthåvira School.5
(2) Birth, - in 68 (48 - Tibetan). Friday, Witbaka, wazing moon of May, i.e., 8th day of the 2nd half of Vaisakha, which corresponds with the 8th day of the 3rd month (Chinese).
(3) Great Renunciation, in 97 A. E., Monday, full moon of July, Uttarathôn. (4) Attainment of Buddhahood, 103 A. E, Wednesday, full moon of Katson (Withâka). (5) Nirvana (127 A, E. = 568 B. C.9).
(6) Parinirvana (denth), 148 A. E., Tuesday, full moon of Katsôn. I. e., the Parinirvann, according to general tradition, occurred on 15th of the 2nd half of Vaisakha= 15th of 3rd month with us. But the Sarvastavadins say, the 8th of the 2nd half of Kartika = 8th of the 9th month with us. Different Schools calculate variously from the date of Buddha; some say 1200 years and more ; others, 1300 and more; others, 1500 and more; others more than 900, but less than 1000 years have passed.10
From the era "Anno Buddhae," now corrent in Ceylon, Barmah and Siam, we find that 1898 A. D. corresponds with 2441 A. B., which shows that the Buddhists of the Southern School calculated the Parinirvana Era from B. C. 543. The Tibetans possess certain dates, Ag 564 B. C. for the Nirvana and 543 for the Parinirvipa, which were erroneously quoted by Ksoma Korosi as 576 and 546, and which strengthen the initial date of the sacred era of the Southern sect. Besides these, two dates in the Kaliyuga, viz., 2544 and 2565 According to the Sauramana (solar calculation), have been found for the two events, abovementioned in the Tibetan Scriptures. Now, since a solar year (Saurmana) consists of 365 days, 15 gha., 31 vi., and a Brihaspatya-mana (Jupiter's year) of 361 days, 11 gha., which appears to have been current in Mågadha, the difference of six years is easily explained away by the excess of the solar year of 4 days, 4 gha., 81 vi. ; that is to say, Buddha attained Nirvana in 2550, and Parinirvaņa in 2571 Brihaspatya, or ordinary Kaliyuga, which two figures, in the Christian era, are easily converted to B. C. 564 and 543.
The repetition of the several chronological statements in the different chapters of the Dipa vamss and Mahavamsa, the two well-known Singhalese chronicles, which betray little differences, - prove that they are traditional records, compiled from various sources, and hence support one another. From them I have compiled three chronological lists, shown below,
? Life and Legend of Gaudama, Vol. II. pp. 71-73. Bigandet's Gaudama, Vol. I. p. 18. • Month Aisala - Ashtra. Uttarathon. - S. Hardy: 15th Sukla Pakaba, Pahya constellation ; Lalita Vistéra.
• The other schools fix it on 23rd day of the month, which is the 8th of the 5th Chinese month. ---Beal's Western World, Vol. II. p. 15, and Life, p. 95. • Tuesday, full moon, Wesak, Nakat Wisa.- S. Hardy.
The SthAviras say 15th of the 2nd half of the same mooth, corresponding with the 13th of the 3rd month with the Chinese. - Beal's Records of the Western World, Vol. II. p. 24. .
• Full moon, Aisala, Uttarasala. -- S. Hardy. Pushya constellation ; Lalita Vistora, # Five Years of Theosophy.
10 Beal's Western World, Vol. II. p. 33.
