Jainism from the View Point of Vedantic Acaryas

Author(s): Yajneshwar S Shastri
Publisher: B J Institute

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Jainism from the view point of Vedantic Acāryas
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We get traditional account of his date in Acāryacaritam (=A.C.) which is written in 17th or 18th century A.D. Tradition on the basis of Paurāņic reference believes that he lived in the 15th year of Kali age i.e. 3100 B.C. (A.C. pp. 34-35, 42-48; Kathiyababa, pp. 93-143), which does not seem to be reasonable. If this view is true then we have to accept that Nimbārka flourished prior to Bādarāyaṇa. Historians tell that, Bādarayaṇa composed Brahmasūtra not earlier to 200 B.C. Nimbārka who wrote commentary on Brahmasūtra of Bādarāyaṇa cannot be earlier to him. Another traditional source for date of Nimbārka is Guruparamparā of this tradition, which is prepared in the 15th or the 16th century A.D. Work of such late date, can not be considered as authentic to decide his date. This list is unable to provide any chronological or historical data concerning all the Acaryas of the tradition. Many of the Acaryas listed in Guruparampară have left no evidence about their existence nor their names have been mentioned in the works of their immediate followers.
Modern scholars, due to uncertainty of any historical evidence, are very much confused in deciding the date of Nimbärka. Several views are expressed by modern scholars in this respect. Some scholars think that Nimbārka lived after Rāmānuja and prior to Madhva. Some other scholars consider him to be postMadhva and still some place him even after Vallabha. Another group of scholars places him after Bhaskara. Some scholars considered him to be pre-Bhaskara. Some other scholars belonging to Nimbārka tradition believe