Jainism and Mahavira

Author(s): Bhagchandra Jain Bhaskar
Publisher: Digambar Jain Sahitya Sanskriti Sanskaran Samiti

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After passing twentyninth Varsavasa at Rajagrha, Mahavira reached to Apapuri (may be Majjhima), the capital of Mallas where he spent his last Caturmasa. At the morning of the fourth month Kartika Krishna Amavasya, he left the mundane world and entered into salvation at the age of 72 years. At that time the king of Kashi, Licchavis of Kausala, nine Mallas and eighteen Ganarajas were present who celebrated the Nirvana Mahotsava by liting the lamps. The Samannaphalasutta of the Dighanikaya refers to this event. Date of Mahavira's Parinirvana
The date of Mahavira's Parinirvana, like the date of the Buddha, has been a subject of much controversy among the scholars. The Pali Canon has two main references which aive an idea of the age and death of Mahavira. The first reference to Mahavira as one who has long been recluse, old and well-sticken in years (Cirapavvajito, Addhagato, Vayonupatto)22. The other reference recorded is that when the Buddha was at the Ambavana of the Sakyas, Nigantha Nataputta had just died at Pava“. Ananda is supposed to have conveyed this news to the Buddha in a very pleasent mood.
Jacobi is perhaps the first savant who tried to determine the date of Mahavira. On the basis of the Hemacandra's Parisistaparvan which tells us that Chandragupta Maurya ascended throne 155 years after the death of Mahavira. Jacobi is of opinion that the death of Mahavira must have occurred in 468 B.C. as the Chandragupta's ascension took place in 313 B.C. (313 + 155 = 468 B.C.)24. Carpentier also supported this view20. They were of the opinion that the statement of the Pali Canon was spurious. Basham too is inclined to accept Jacobi's view. But he based his arguments on the Bhagawatisutra and a less favoured theory that the date of the Buddha's Parinirvana was held in 483 B.C. The Pali record in his opinion does not refer to the death of Mahavira at Pava, but to that of Gosala at Savatthi.
Majumdar and Raychaudhuri are of the view that Mahavira's
22 Dighanikaya, i 57 23 ibid. ii. 119 (Pasadikasuta), Majjhimanikaya, 1.244 (Sangamasutta); iii. Dighanikaya 24. SBE. Vol. xxii, intro. p. xxvii, 1884 25. Indian Antiquary, XLIII, 1914, 118 ff. Also see the Cambridge History of India, Vol. 1, pp. 139-140.
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