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Shri Mahavir Jain Aradhana Kendra
www.kobatirth.org
Acharya Shri Kailassagarsuri Gyanmandir
Introduction.
Nirvana as recorded by the two sects, being equal to that between the Saivat and Çaka Eras, makes it probable that the Vikrama of the Digambaras is intended for Câlivahana, who is always confounded with the older Vikrama. That the Cvetâmbaras date from 57 B.C. will be proved in the sequel. The tradition that 470 years elapsed between the Nirvâņa and the beginning of Vikramaditya's Era is embodied in many books of the Cvetâmbaras. The oldest evidence for it are those versus memoriales which form the basis of Merutunga's Vicâraçreņi, and specify the interval between Vikramâditya and the Nirvana by the number of years which are allotted to the intervening dynasties. I subjoin them here, and add the remarks of Dr. Bühler, who has first published them (Indian Antiquary II. 362).
jam rayanim kâlagao arihâ tittharkaro Mahâvîra!
tam rayanim Avamti-vai ahisitto Pâlago râyâ || 1 ||
saţthî Palaga-ranno paņavaņņa-sayam tu hoi Naiņdâņa |
attha-sayam Muriyâņam lisam cia Pûsamittassa || 2 ||
Balamitta-Bhanumittâ satthi varisâņi catta Nahavahane
taha Gaddabhilla-rajjam
terasa varisâ Sagassa cau | 3 | 1. Pâlaka, the Lord of Avantî, was anointed in that night in which the Arhat and Tîrthamkara Mahâvîra entered Nirvana.
2. Sixty are (the years) of king Pålaka, but one hundred and fifty five are (the years) of the Nandas; one hundred and eight those of the Mauryas, and thirty those of Pûsamitta [Pushyamitra].
3. Sixty (years) ruled Balamitra and Bhânumitra, forty Nabhovâhana. Thirteen years likewise lasted the rule of Gardabhilla, and four are the years of Çaka.
"These verses, which are quoted in a very large number of commentaries and chronological works, but the origin of which is by no means clear, give the adjustement between the eras of Vîra and Vikrama, and form the basis of the earlier Jaina chronology".
The sum of years elapsed between the commencement of the Era of Vikrama and the reign of the Mauryas as stated in the verses just quoted, is 255=4+13 +40 + 60 + 30 + 108. By adding 57, the number of years expired between the commencements of the Sarnvat and the Christian Eras, we arrive at 312 B.C. as the date of Candragupta's abhisheka. The near coincidence of this date with the date derived from Greek sources, proves that the Vikramit of the third verse is intended for the founder of the Samvat era (57 B.C.), and not for the founder of the Çaka Era (78 A.D.), because on the latter premiss Candragupta's abhisheka
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