Studies in South Indian Jainism

Author(s): M S Ramaswami Ayyangar, B Seshagiri Rao
Publisher: M S Ramaswami Ayyangar

Page 39

BHADRABAHU.
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The legend that Chandragupta abdicated his The Legend throne and died a Jain ascetic at Sravana Bel- Chandragupta. gola has been discredited by Dr. Fleet. Apparently the late Dr. V. A. Smith, in his first edition of the Early History of India, supported him. Referring to the death of Chandragupta, Smith himself says that Chandragupta ascended · the throne at an early age and, inasmuch as he reigned only twenty-four years, he must have died before he was fifty years of age. Thus there is an air of uncertainty about the time of his death.. Historians do not tell us how he met with his death. If he had died in the battle-field or in the prime of life, mention would have been made of the fact. To discredit the Sravana Belgola inscriptions discovered by Lewis Rice is to discredit the whole tradition and the legendary account of the Jains enshrined in Rājāvalikathe, and it is highly hazardous for the historian to go so far. Are we then wrong in believing with Lewis Rice that Chandragupta who had taken a Jain vow retired with the great Bhadrabahu to the Chandragiri hill?
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To sum up, Bhadrabāhu, the last Sruta Kevali, led a great Jain migration from the north to
Epigraphia Indica, Vol. III, p. 171, and Indian Antiquary, Vol. XXI, p. 156. ·
V. A. Smith, Early History of India, First Edn., p. 106. He has, however, changed his view as can be seen from the following extract from the recent edition of the same book, p. 146. "In the second edition of the book I ⚫ rejected the tradition and dismissed the tale as imaginary
history'; but, on reconsideration of the whole evidence and the objections urged against the credibility of the story, I am now disposed to believe that the tradition probably is true in its main outline and that Chandragupta really abdicated and became a Jain ascetic. Nevertheless, my present impression is that the tradition has a solid foundation on fact."
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