Book Title: Jain Legend Vol 2
Author(s): Hastimal Maharaj, Shuganchand Jain, P S Surana
Publisher: Hastimal Maharaj Shugan C Jain P S Surana

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Page 314
________________ Kaliyuga, the best of the monks should not reside in the forests. It is appropriate for them to live in Jain shrines and particularly in villages. It is believed that the Digambara monks had given up living in forests in V.N. 472 and might have started living in Nasi (shrine); soon this also got distorted and after VS 1219, they started living in monasteries and such monks were called with respect as Bha rakas (administrator Monks). By V.N. 1285, the Caityav sa totally stopped the monks ceased to live in temples and began living in Up rayas (monasteries where Jain monks can stay temporarily). Royal dynasties during rya Skandila and rya N g rjuna time Candragupta-I When rya N g rjuna was the epochal- c rya, the reigning period of King Gha otkaccha of Gupta dynasty lasted till V.N. 846. After his death, his son Candrgupta-I ascended the throne and expanded the kingdom. Historians assume that the reign of Candragupta-I extended from A.D. 319 to 335 (V.N. 846 to 862). The famous historian of the west, Mr Fleet proved that in A.D. 319-320, Candragupta-I assumed the title King of kings or emperor ‘Mah rj dhir ja' and initiated the gupta calendar. In order to honor himself with the title of 'Mah ri dhir ja', first as a king, he should have already invaded and conquered the neighboring states of Magadha, which might have easily consumed a span of 4 to 5 years. Immediately after ascending the throne, a king defeating and conquering such vast area within two months and assuming the title 'Mah rj dhir ja' is beyond comprehension. In such a situation, after analyzing the facts, it appears that Candragupta-I might have ascended the throne a few years before 319-320 A.D., and this does sound reasonable and appropriate. So his coronation ceremony might have taken place between 310 and 315 A.D. and he might have extended his father's kingdom when still a crown prince. Historians consider r gupta as the founder of the Gupta dynasty and Candragupta-I was the founder of the Gupta Empire. According to the 314

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