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Date of Mahavira's Nirvana
Mahâvîra , Candragupta became king.” Now, the period between Candragupta's coronation and Vikrama's coming to the throne is found to be 255 years, and therefore it was calculated that the real date of Vira Nirvana is 255 + 155 = 410 years before Vikrama. This view was propounded by western scholars like Jacobi and Charpentier.
As against all these mentions there is quite a large number of references in Digambara Jaina works, older than the former, to the effect that the Vikrama era originated from the death of king Vikrama. In the Darsanasara of Devasena (10th Century), for example, we find the following verses :
छत्तीसे वरिससए विक्कमरायस्य मरणपत्तस्स। सोरट्टे बलहीए उप्पणो सेवडो संघो।। ११।। पंचसरा छब्बीसे विक्कमरायस्य मरणपत्तस्स। दक्खिणमहुराजादो दाविडसंघो महामीहो।। २८।। X X X X X X X X सत्तसए तेवण्णे विक्कम्स्यस्य मरणपत्तस्स। णंदियडे वरगामे कट्टो संघो मणेयव्यो।। ३८।।
In these verses we find mention of dates in terms of the Vikrama era for important events in the history of Jainism. In the first verse we are told that the Svetambara sect originated in Saurastra at Valabhi 136 years after the death of Vikrama. In the second verse the Dravida Samgha is said to have originated at Southern Mathura (Madura) 526 years after the death of Vikrama, and the third verse records the origin of Kastha Samgha at Nanditata village 753 years after the death of king Vikrama. Similarly, Vamadeva in his Bhavasamgraha records the time of the origin of the Svetambara sect as follows:
सषत्रिशे शतेऽब्दानांमृते विक्रमराजनि। सौराष्ट्र वल्लभीपुर्यामभूत्तत्कथ्यते मया।।
“136 years after the death of Vikrama, what happened in Saurastra at Valabhi, that I declare here.” Amitagati also in his Subhasita-ratna-sandoha records the time of the completion of his book in the following words :
