Book of Indian Eras, with Tables for Calculating Indian Dates c11.10

c11.10

A novel theory has lately been put forward to account for the discrepancy by referring the Nirvâna to the time of Buddha’s attainment of Buddhahood under the sacred tree. As this took place when he was 29 + 6 = 35 years old, the difference is only 80 - 35 = 45 years, instead of 66 years. Mr. Curter, who proposes this explanation, appears to think that Sâkya obtained Buddhahood at 29 years of age. But he only left his home at that age, and had to sit for six years under the Bodhi tree at Uruvilwa before he attained Buddhahood.* The Buddhavansa (which he quotes) states vaguely that Gotama did not live to 100 years.