Book of Indian Eras, with Tables for Calculating Indian Dates c10: VII.—Nirvâna of Mahâvira
Book of Indian Eras, with Tables for Calculating Indian Dates c10
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VII.—Nirvâna of Mahâvira
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The Jains make use of an era dating from the Nirvâna, or death of their last teacher Mahâvira. According to the Swetâmbara sect this event took place 470 years before Vikrama, or in B. C. 527. The Digambaras, however, make it 605 years before Vikrama. As the difference between the two dates is exactly 135 years, it seems probable that the Digambara date of 605 years before Vikrama should be altered to 605 years before Sâka, which would agree with that of the other sect. I have made many enquiries on this subject from learned Jains in Northern India, and the answer has been uniformly the same, “470 years before Vikramâditya.” This also is the date given by the Jains of Gujarât.* The same date is used throughout the Theravali of Merutunga, who says: “Before the commencement of the reign of Vikrama, Sri Vera’s Nirvâna took place 470 years.”† Colonel Miles also, in his account of the Jainas of Gujarât and Mârwâr, uses the same date.‡ Colonel Tod makes the era 477 years before Vikrama.
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∗ Dr. Stevenson’s Kalpa Sutra, Preface, p. viii, and note, p. 96.
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† Dr. Bhau Dâji, Bombay Asiatic Society’s Journal, IX, 149.
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‡ Royal Asiatic Society’s Transactions, III, 358.