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THE LAST DAYS OF CHANDRAGUPTA
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Simhasena and repaired to Mysore where he died. Two inscriptions on the north bank of the Kaveri near Seringapatam of about 900 A.D., describe the summit of the Kalbappu Hill, i.e., Chandragiri, as marked by the footprints of Bhadravahu and Chandragupta Munipati.1 Dr. Smith observes :2 "The Jain tradition holds the field, and no alternative account exists." Chandragupta died about 300 B.C., after a reign of 24 years.3
If the Parisishṭaparvan of Hemachandra is to be believed Chandragupta had a queen named Durdhara who became the mother of Bindusara, the son who succeeded him on the throne. In the absence of corroborative evidence, however, the name of the queen cannot be be accepted as genuine.
1 Rice, Mysore and Coorg from the Inscriptions, pp. 3-4.
2 The Oxford History of India, p. 76. As already stated, Fleet is sceptical about the Jaina tradition (Ind. Ant., 1892, 156 f.). According to Greek evidence Chandragupta was a follower of the sacrificial religion (see p. 277 ante). The epithet Vrishala applied to him in the Mudrarakshasa suggests that in regard to certain matters he did deviate from strict orthodoxy (Indian Culture, II, No. 3, pp. 558 ff. See also C. J. Shah, Jainism in Northern India, 135 n, 138).
3
For the date of Chandragupta Maurya see Indian Culture, Vol II, No. 3, 560 ff. Buddhist tradition of Ceylon puts the date 162 years after the parinirvana of the Buddha, i.c., in 382 B.C., if we take 544 B.C., to be the year of the Great Decease; and 324 B.C, if we prefer the Cantonese date 486 B.C., for the death of the Buddha. The earlier date is opposed to Greek evidence. The date 324 B. C., accords with the testimony of Greek writers. The Jaina date' 313 B.C., for Chandragupta's accession. if it is based on a correct tradition, may refer to his acquisition of Avanti in Malwa, as the chronological datum is found in a verse where the Maurya king finds mention in a list of successors of Palaka, king of Avanti. Cf. I.H.Q., 1929, p. 402.
4 VIII. 439-443, For another tradition see Bigandet, II. 128.
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