Indian Antiquary Vol 46

Author(s): Richard Carnac Temple, Devadatta Ramkrishna Bhandarkar
Publisher: Swati Publications

Page 301

DECEMBER, 1917) NEW LIGHT ON THE GUPTA ERA AND MIHIRAKULA
297
NEW LIGHT ON THE GUPTA ERA AND MIHIRAKULA.
BY K. B. PATHAK. I propose, in this paper, to determine the starting point of the Gupta era with the help of Jaina authors who preceded Albêrûni, without relying in any way on the conflicting statements made by that celebrated Muhammadan writer, both as regards the origin and the epoch of the era so well known to the students of Indian epigraphy. I hope to be able to elucidate the problem, which has given rise to so much controversy, with greater precision and accuracy than have attended the efforts of those scholars, who have already discussed this interesting chronological question. There are four important passages in Jaina literature. Of their value as contributions to the study of Indian history it is impossible to speak too highly. The first passage is the one in which Jinasena says that he wrote in Saka 705. This has elicited an interesting discussion and taxed to the utmost the ingenuity and learning of scholars in their attempts to identify the contemporary reigning sovereigns mentioned therein. The second, third and fourth passages are prophetio, in which futuro events are announced. Some of these events are historical, though they are mixed up with many legendary details. In the second passage ? we are told by Jinasena that the Guptas reigned 231 years and were succeeded by Kalkirâja, who reigned 42 years, and that his successor was Ajitañjaya. The third passage is the one in which Jinasena's pupil Guņabhadra says that Kalkirâja was the father and predecessor of Ajitanjaya, that he was a great tyrant who oppressed the world and persecuted the Jaina community of Nirgranthas, and that he reigned 40 years and died at the age of 70. As regards the date of Kalkirája, we learn from Guņabhadra that the tyrant was born when one thousand years of the Dussa makala, commencing from the Nirvâņa of Mahavira, had elapsed, and when there occurred the union of a savivatsara with Magha-naksatra, that is to say, when there occurred a Magha-samvatsara. The fourth passage, which is an illuminating commentary on the second and third passages, is found in the Trilokasdra, in which Nemichandra reproduces some of these details of the story of Kalkirâja, and adds that the Saka king was born when six hundred and five years and five months had passed by from the Nirvana of Mahavira, and that king Kalkiraja was born when three hundred and ninety-four years and seven months had gone by from the rise of the Saka king, that is, when three hundred and ninety-four Saka years and seven months had elapsed. If we add 605 years and 6 months to 394 years and 7 months—we get 1000 years, the interval of time, according to Gunabhadra and Nemichandra, between the Nirvana of Mahâvira and the birth of Kalkirâja. The most interesting and important point, which is worth noticing here, is the fact that the date of Kalkirâja, who immediately succeeded the Guptas, is given in terms of the Saka era ; he was born when 394 Saka years and 7 months had gone by, and when, according to Gunabhadra, there occurred a Maghasamvatsara.
Before discussing the historical inferences which these facts suggest, we should know the dates of the three Jaina authors on whose statements we place our reliance. Jinasena wrote in Saka 705. He must have died about Saka 760, the latest date which can be assigned 1 Ants, volxv, p. 143.
2 Ibid. * Given at the end of this paper.
Also gives at the end of this paper.