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(iv)
fourth ärå (spoke) of the descending cycle.
In Kașāya-Pāhuda (1,56.75.2) and Tiloyapaņņatti (4.1474) too, we find the mention of starting of Dushamā ārā (spoke) before 3 years 8 months and one fortnight after the death of Lord Mahāvīra as under :१. एदाणि पण्णरस दिवसे हि अट्ठमासे हि अहिय पंचहत्तरि वासेसु सोहिदे वडढमाण
जिणिदे णिब्बुदे संते जो सेसो चउत्थ कालो तस्स पमाणं होदि । २. णिव्वाणे वीर जिणे वास तये अट्ठमास पक्खेसुं ।
गलिदेसुं पंचमओ दुस्सम कालो समल्लि यदि ॥
Thus the difference of 5800 years is justified between the death of Lord Rsabha and Lord Mahāvira, the first and the last tirtharkaras of Jaina Religion. Occurrence of Comet :
Kalpa Sūtra (128, 129, 130) mentions that wicked comet named Bhashma Rāshi entered in the Uttarā-phālguni nakshtra, the 12th lunar mansion, and birth planet of Lord Mahāvira in the same night in which (amāvasyā) he attained liberation, which brought disgrace for his disciples, and after expiry of 2000 years the disciples were respected again when the wicked star moved out of Uttarā-phālgunī planet.
If this shooting star (bhasma-rási graha). is recognised as Halley comet, its appearance is recorded since 240 B.C. to 1986 A.D. in Chinese record when it was last witnessed and if we back-calculate in its periodical appearances in the past, it might have been seen entering in the 12th lunar mansion for the first time in between 1760 B.C. to 1746 BC.
The famous astrologer Bhattotpala, the commentator of Varāhamihira's Brhatsamhita, has also recorded the movement of some shooting stars. According to him, orbital period of the Kaliketu is 300 years and 9 months, and after its visibility, Paitāmaha Chalaketu, or Kashyap Svetketu appear after the expiry of 1500 years. By this description it is justified that after the death of Mahāvīra the disciples who were neglected got the respect again after the expiry of 1800 years and 9 months, i.e., in the reign of Shālivahan Shak, the patron of Jainism.
The mention of Shak rulers :
Tiloyapannatti and Dhayalāțīkā mention five great Shak rulers in the 461 th year, 605 years and 5 months, 7995 years and 5 months, 9785 th year and 14793 th year after the death of Lord Mahāvīra as under:
