Vaishali Institute Research Bulletin 3

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

Page 94

DATE (TITHI) OF THE STARTING OF ASOKA'S DHARMALIPI
85
Could we fit in the period between the 8th year in which the conquest of Kalinga took place and Asoka's mentality changed) and the 12th year ? If we try to do so, the period would not touch the 12th year in which the Dharmalipi programme started. Hence we reject this too.
Could we now think of fitting in the period between the first quarter of the 9th year and any suitable time of the 12th year ? In so doing again the 12th year is completely excluded. Hence this scheme also stands rejected.
We may now try a fourth alternative. Can we start from the fourth quarter of the 9th year ? If we do so, the period of inactivity 15 months ends in the first quarter of the 11th year. But the Sambodhi-yātrā had been undertaken in the 10th year according to RE VIII. Thus the Sambodhiyātrā is excluded in this scheme. Hence We are forced to reject this alternative as well.
After rejecting so many alternatives, let us try to fit in the period during the years 9-12 and start with the second third quarter of the 9th year. The period of inactiyity ends sometime in the third/fourth quarter of the 10th year in which the period of exertion starts, and the Sangha-upagamana, the Sambodhi-yātrā and some other events of the 10th year are thus easily accommodated. To this add the eight months of the early exertion period. It now comes to the second/third quarter of the 11th year. There are about nine months of the later exertion (or vivāsa) period which should now be added. The result would come up to the first second quarter of the 12th year and meets the point about the starting of the Dharmalipi programme in the 12th year.
We are thus satisfied now that the upāsakatva of Ašoka started in the second or third quarter of the 9th year and the issue of a śrāyaṇa and the first Dharmalipi ordered by the king while still on the tour of pilgrimage took place in the first or second quarter of the 12th year. This scheme of ours is in consonance with the references to two specific regnal years (10th and 12th) too. CONCLUSION ABOUT DATE OF ROYAL TOUR OF PILGRIMAGE
AND STARTING OF DHARMALIPI PROGRAMME
We now propose to offer a specific suggestion with regard to the starting of the royal tour of pilgrimage (called vivāsa) and that of a śrāvanacum-Dharmalipi programme ordered on the passing of its “256 nights', that is, on the 257th day of the tour. This tour of pilgrimage of Asoka is not properly publicised among scholars and authors because of fanciful interpretions in the past of 256' put generally at the end of MREI.
1.
For examples of fanciful interpretations of 256 indulged in by earlier scholars see D. C. Sircar, op. cit., pp. 71, 78.