Vaishali Institute Research Bulletin 3

Author(s): R P Poddar
Publisher: Research Institute of Prakrit Jainology & Ahimsa Mujjaffarpur

Page 91

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VAISHALI RESEARCH BULLETIN No. 3
days (59x4-236) and 257 days would mean 8 months and 21 days (236+ 21=257).
V. We may now find out the duration of the early exertion period which comes to 8 months because 8 months and 21 days or roughly 9 months are to be deducted from 17 months.
COLLECTION OF DATA ON ASOKA'S EARLY PERIOD OF UPĀSAKAHOOD
If we want to know the exact date (tithi) on which the 257th day of the vivāsa fell and the practice of issuing Dharmalipis (e.g., MRE I) was started, we should collect together the data that we have in our possession by now and use them for obtaining the desired result.
Here are the data :
(A) From Minor Rock Edict I
1. The period of Aśoka's upāsakatva till the time when the Minor Rock Edict I was issued lasted for 'more than two and a half years' which we treat as 32 months (approximately).
2. Of this, the earlier stage of Aśoka's upāsakatva, not characterized by vigorous exertion on his part, lasted for 'one year', that is, '[a little over] one year' which we take as 15 months (approximately).
3. The second stage, when he was zealously exerting himself lasted for 'over one year' (meaning less than 13 years) which we take as 17 months (approximately).
4. Of this second stage, the early exertion period before Aśoka's being on viväsa or tour of pilgrimage lasted for 8 months (approximately) [By calculation].
5. The later exertion period (the vivasa period) during which Aśoka was on a tour of pilgrimage lasted for 256 nights', that is 257 days or 8 months and 21 days (found out by calculation) or approximately 9 months.
6. Aśoka's tour of pilgrimage started from the day when the relics of the Buddha were caused to be installed on the platform' for worship by him.1
7. While still on the tour of pilgrimage which up to this time lasted for 257 days, the king promulgated an edict containing the declaration (śrāvaṇa) made by him on this important occasion.
1.
"The Ahraura version of Minor Rock Edict I says how Aśoka set out on the long pilgrimage after installing the the Buddha's relics on a platform". (D. C. Sircar, op. cit., p. 65n).