________________
Mahāvira Era
and the country of Pactyia, sailed down in the river towards the east and Sunrise to the seas. Then sailing on the sea westward, they arrived in the thirtieth month at that place where the king of Egypt despatched the Phoenicians, whom I, before, n entioned, to sail round Libya. After these persons had sailed round, Darius subdued the Indians and frequented the sea."
Naqsh-i-Rustum Inscription of Darius distinguishes the following three types of Shakas, all of whom were under him Sakah Somavargah, Sakah Tigrakhandah and Sakah Taradargah. The third type of Sakaḥ Taradargah, i.e. Shakas across the ocean were the sakas who lived in India and they were the Ksatrapas. They had favoured Jainism. Usa vadata Nahapāna seems to have taken to Jainism, Nahapāna is particulary mentioned as a separate king in Jain chronology.
Now Darius ruled C. 526 to 486 B.C. and the firs! Kalki ruled in 699 B.V.E. or 756 B.C. There after 445 years (60+155+40+-30-+60+ 100) Naravāhana begins his reign, just 175 years after the king Darius (died in 486 B.C.).35 9. Conclusion : Conclusively, it is clear that our chronology has been adjusted at different periods, perhaps omitting the kingless periods and setting right the prevalent intervals (between the two major events). It seems a case particularly followed in Jain chronology.
However it is now high time to reconsider and redress the chronology and reconstruct our ancient Indian History. The date of Ma hävira s Niryāna is definitely B.C. 1761 and Buddha Parinirvāna took place 23 years later i.e. 1738 B.C. and these days may be called the “light house'' for the reconstruction of our history.
FOOT NOTES
1. $997 Vol. XIII Nos. VI-VII, 1962 Bavāras, p. 10. 2. gają sît Herala gaadaa tai. पञ्चपञ्चाशदधिके चन्द्रगुप्तोऽभवन्नृपः ।।
-9f5fgroe ga, 5.338. 3. facTETT TSF70, 870-. 4. Epitome of Jainism, Appendix-A, IV. 5. Published by Asiatic Society, Calcutta. 6. अस्मन्निर्वाणतो वर्षशतान्यभय षोडशः ।
नवषष्टिश्च यास्यन्ति यदा तत्र पुरे तदा ॥ कुमारपालो भूपालश्चौलुक्यकुल वन्द्रमाः । भविष्यति महाबाहुः प्रचण्डाखण्डशासनः ।।
-त्रिषष्टिशलाकापुरुषचरित, पर्व १०, अध्याय १२, श्लोक ४५-४६.
