Jain Journal 2001 04

Author(s): Jain Bhawan Publication
Publisher: Jain Bhawan Publication

Page 11

MISHRA: THE DATE OF MAHAVIRA
155
3. As is well-known, the story of Vikrama and the end of Saka
rule is of much later growth. Kielhorno long ago proved that the connection of the era commencing 57 B.C. with a king Vikramaditya of Ujjayini, who perhaps never existed, was not established till a very late date, the first mention of 'Vikrama Samvat' being made in an inscription at Dholpur of Samvat 898-A.D. 842. Hence any tradition which incorporates this story must be used with great caution.
(B) The second date of Mahavira's death, i.e., 467 B.C., is based on a tradition recorded by the great Jaina author Hemacandra (A.D. 10881172), who says that 155 years after the liberation of Mahavira Candragupta became king (Sthavirävalīcarita, Parisistaparvan VIII, 399). As pointed out by Charpentier10, who like Cunningham and Max Muller, believes that the Buddha's nirvana took place in 477 B.C. (and not in 487 B.Cias we believe), this date has some good points in its favour : 1. The Buddha (d. 477 B.C.) and Mahavira (d. 467 B.C.) become
contemporaries.
2. Ajatasatru becomes the contemporary of both the teachers. 3. This is in keeping with the Jaina tradition of Hemacandra that
there was a gap of 155 years between the death of Mahavira and the accession of Candragupta Maurya.
[Be it noted that according to the Jaina tradition the accession of Candragupta Maurya took place in 312 B.C., a date not regarded as correct by scholars for the accession of
Candragupta Maurya.] 4. According to the Jaina tradition, the Jaina pontiff
Sambhutavijaya died exactly in the year after Candragupta's accession, or 156 after Vira, which may after all perhaps be the very same year as Hemacandra says that the one hundred and fifty-fith year had passed (gata). Bhadrabahu, the successor of Sambhutavijaya, died fifteen years later. All Jaina tradition from Hemacandra downwards gives 170 after Vira as the year of Bhadrabahu's death. This would be 297 B.C., if the date 467 B.C. is accepted for Mahavira's death; and all Jaina tradition also brings Bhadrabahu into the closest connection with Candragupta in whose reign the date 297 B.C. falls.
9. Examination of Questions connected with the Vikrama Era' in Ind. Ant.,
Vol. 19, pp. 20-40, 166-187, 354-374; Vol. 20, pp. 124-142, 397-414. 10. Ind. Ant 1014.