A History of Indian Literature v2.c20.s3.100

v2.c20.s3.100

We have fairly accurate information regarding the time when the Mahā-Purāṇa was written.² It is stated at the end of the work that it was consecrated on the 23rd June, 897 A.D. during the reign of the Rāṣṭrakūṭa-king Kṛṣṇa II Akālavarṣa by Guṇabhadra's pupil Lokasena. Jinasena, the author of the Ādi-Purāṇa, was a pupil of Vīrasena, and was highly honoured by King Amoghavarṣa I, who reigned from 815 to 877 A.D. According to this, then, the work was undoubtedly composed in the 9th century. Jinasena, the author of the Ādi-Purāṇa, is not, however, identical with Jinasena, the author of the Harivaṁśa-Purāṇa.³ An allusion to Guṇāḍhya's Bṛhatkathā in the Ādi-Purāṇa, is worthy of notice.⁴