Reconsidering the date of Nirvna of Lord Mahavira

Author(s): Sagarmal Jain
Publisher: Z_Shwetambar_Sthanakvasi_Jain_Sabha_Hirak_Jayanti_Granth_012052.pdf

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Aspects of Jainology Volume VI
Ajātaśatru's accession to the throne Mahavira's age must be about 50 years, because his Nirvāṇa is supposed to have taken place in the 22nd year of Ajätaśatru Kunika's rule. By deducting 22 years from his total age of 72 years, it is proved that at that time he was 50 years old (see Vira Nirvăņa Samvat aur Jaina Kala Gananā, pp. 4-5). So far as Buddha's case is concerned, he attained his Nirvana in the 8th year of Ajātaśatru's accession to the throne. This is the hypothesis of Buddhist writers. This hypothesis given rise to two facts. Firstly, when Mahävira was 50 years old, Buddha was 72 (80-8), i.e. Buddha was 22 years older than Mahāvira. Secondly, Mahavira's Nirvāṇa took place 14 years after Buddha's Nirvāṇa (22-8-14). It is worth mentioning here, that in the reference occuring in the Dīghanikāya (Samaññaphalasutta : 2:2 : 8), where Nirgrantha Jñāt,putra and other five Tirthankaras have been called middle-aged, there is no mention of Gautama Buddha's age, but he must be 72 at that time because this event took place during the rule of Ajätaśatru Kunika and Buddha's Nirvana took place in the 8th year of the rule of Ajātaśatru.
But contrary to the above-mentioned fact one finds another information in the Dighanikaya that Mahavira has attained Nirvāņa during Buddha's life-time. The reference from the Dīghanikāya is as follows (Pasādikasutta : 6:1 : 1)20
"I heard this once that the Lord was residing in a palace built in the mango orchard of the Sākyas known as Vedhaññā in sākya (country).
At that time Nigantha Nātaputta (Tirthankara Mahavira) had recently died at Pāvā. A rift was created among the Niganthas after his death. They were divided into two groups and were fighting by using arrows of bitter words at one another - "you don't know this Dharmavinaya (=Dharma), I know it. How can you know this Dharmavinaya? you are wrong in ascertaining, (your understanding is wrong), I am rightly ascertained. My understandint is correct. My words are maningful and yours are meaningless. The things you should have told first you told in the end and vice-versa. Your contention is mindless and topsyturvy. You presented your theory and withdrew. You try to save yourself from this allegation and if your have power, try to save yourself from this allegation and if you have power, try to resolve it. As if a war (-slaughtering) was going on among the Nigarthas."
The house-holder disciples of the Nigantha Nätaputta, wearing white dresses, also were getting indifferent,
distressed and alienated from the Dharma of Nigantha which was not expressed properly (durākhyāta), not properly investigated (duspravedita), unable to redeem (anairyāika), unable to give peace (ana-upasama-Sarvartanika), not verified by any enlightened (a-Samyak. Sambuddhapravedita) without foundation = a different stüpa and without a shelter."
Thus, we see that in the Tripitaka literature, on the one hand where Mahāvira has been described as middleaged, on the otherhand, there is an information about the death of Mahāvira during the life-time of Buddha. Since, according to the sources based on Jaina literature, Mahāvīra died at the age of 72, it is certain that both the facts cannot be true at the same time. Muni Kalyana Vijaya ji (Vira Nirvāņa Saṁvat aur Jaina Kala Gananā, 1987, p. 12) has called the theory of Mahāvīra Nirvana during the life-time of Buddha as a mistaken concept. He maintains that the incident of Mahāvīra's demise is not a reference to his real death, but to a hearsay. It is alos clearly mentioned in Jaina Agamic texts that 16 years before his Nirvana, rumour of his death had spread, hearing which many Jaina Sarmanas started shedding tears. Since the incident of the bitterargument between Makkhaligosala, a former disciple of Mahāvira, and his other Sramana disciples was linked with this rumour, the present reference from the Dīghanikāya about the dath of Mahāvira during the life time of Buddha is not to be taken as that of his real death, rather it indicated to the rumour of his death by burning fever caused by Tejoleśyā, hurled upon him by agitated and acutely jealous Makkhaligosāla after dispute.
Buddha's Nirvana must have taken place one year and few months after the rumour abour Mahāvira's death, therefore, Buddha must have attained Nirvāņa 14 years, 5 months and 15 days before Mahavira's Nirvăna.
Since Buddha's Nirvana took place in the 8th year of Ajātaśatru Kunika's accession to the throne, Mahavira's Nirvāna must have taken place in the 22nd year of his accession. Vira Nirvana must have taken place in the 22nd year of his accession (Vira Nirvana Samvat aur Jaina Kala Gananā, p. 4). Therefore, it is certain that Mahavira's Nirvana took place 14 years after the Nirvāna of Buddha. The fixation of the date of Buddha's Nirvana would definitely influence the date of Mahāvira's Nirvana. First of all we shall fix the date of Mahavira on the basis of the Jaina sources and inscriptions and then we will find out what should be the date of Buddha's Nirvana and whether it is supported by the other sources.