Jainthology

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

Page 85

among the followers of Mahāvira that the birth nak satra of Mahāvira was Uttara Phālguni in the Zodic Constellation of Virgo (Kanyā Rāśi). From the same sources it is known that on the night of nirväņa the moon was in Svāti nakşatra in the constellation of Libra (Tula Rāśi). The day being Amavasya--the moonless night--the sun and the moon were in the same nakșatra i.e., Svāti. From these datas it is easy to calculate that the Uttara Phalghuni nak satra appeared on the eastern horizon just two hours before the sun rise and simultaneously the comet appeared with it, (this comet travels in opposite direction to the direction of the earth's revolution), and precisely this should have been the time of nirvana. It is more so because otherwise the Indra's prayer to Lord Mahāvira to hasten a bit or to delay his departure (nirvāņa) would lose all significance. While explaining paccūsa-käla samyamsi of Kalpa Sūtra its commentary Subodhikā states that Mahavira entered nirvāṇa 4 hours before dawn (caturghaţikā va seşāyām rātrāyām). But Agama Samavāyānga states that it held at the end of the night (antimarāyamsi). This concurs exactly with the time we have arrived at by scientific and mathematical calculation i.e., 11 hours before the sunrise. A sketch diagram given below will be able to show the position of different nakşatras on that night and the sun, moon and the comet.
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