The accuracy of Buddhist era vindicated

Kumudu Gunathilaka

The fulfilment of the 2600th year of the dispensation of the Thathagatha falls on the full moon day of Vesak in 2012 A.D. (588+2012 = 2600). This is not only a historic occasion for celebration all over the Buddhist world. It also marks the beginning of a great renaissance, or a spiritual revival.

The birth of the Bodhisatva, the true Victor’s enlightenment, and the attainment of Supreme Bliss of the Thathagatha, are the three great events in the history of the Buddhist world. It is difficult to comprehend with our finite knowledge, the true nature of the great spiritual illumination, that took place on the full-moon-day of Vesak 2598 years ago, when the wandering prince became freed from the shackles of birth and death, and attained the realm of absolute wisdom, under the sacred ‘Esathu Bo’ tree. During the lifetime of the Thathagatha, the followers reckoned the Buddhist Era, from the attainment of Bodhi, with due preference to the year of inception of the dispensation from Migadhaya, in its true splendour. Subsequently, sometime after the attainment of the Supreme Bliss by the Master, the followers reckoned the Buddhist era from the year of Parinibbana of the Master.

Those who follow the Sanskrit tradition of the Northern sector-Nepal, Tibet, China and Japan etc. believe that the Master attained Supreme Bliss in 386 B.C., while the followers of the Pali tradition of the Southern sector - Sri Lanka, Burma, Thailand etc. believe it to be in 544 B.C., in keeping with the data given in ‘Deepavamsa’ and ‘Mahavamsa’ the two great chronicles of Sri Lanka. Scholars like Max Muller, William Geiger, V.A. Smith and many others who computed according to sources from many lands determine that, the year in question should be somewhere in 477,483 and 486 B.C. respectively.

Anagarika Dharmapala, one of the most erudite and authoritative personalities of his day on the sublime teaching of the Thathagatha, and history of the Buddhist civilization, commemorated the 2500th year of the dispensation of the Master, on the full-moon day of Vesak in 1912 AD (588 + 1912 = 2500), by placing of a memorial pillar at Saranath; translation of Pali Tripitaka into ‘Nagari’ language, for easy propagation of the Sublime teaching in its land of birth; and making formal steps for the formation of a Buddhist temple in London, to spread the sublime teaching of the Master in the West.

Traditions

The followers of the Northern and Southern traditions joined hands together, and ‘The World Fellowship of Buddhists, at its third world conference of 1954 held in Rangoon, agreed to accept the year 1956 AD as the 2500th year (544+1956) of the Parinibbana of the Thathagatha, irrespective of the differences in their chronicles. This great event of the Buddhist Era was celebrated on the Full-moon-day of Vesak, and throughout the whole year, all over the Buddhist world.

This great occasion was commemorated in Burma with the inauguration of a New International Buddhist University, and the fourth Buddhist Council too was conducted with the participation of other Buddhist countries. On successful completion of it, the new Pali canon was printed by them in several international languages. A Higher Educational Institution was established in Laos for the monks to learn the sublime teaching, and the Pali language. Cambodia too, set up a university for the monks. Thailand planted 2500 Esathu Bo trees, wherein a ‘National Centre for the Buddhists’ was erected. Sri Lanka translated the Pali canon into Sinhala language for easy reference of the practitioners. Korea, China and Japan also celebrated the occasion in a grand manner with others.

In the ‘Devatha Samyuktha’ of the ‘Samyuktha Nikaya’, the two ‘Suththas’ namely ‘Chando’ and ‘Suriyo describe two eclipses of the moon and the sun, occurred while the Thathagatha dwelt at Jethavanaramaya in Saranath; a monumental astronomical guide published in Vienna by Oppelzer in 1887, ‘Cander Finis Fernisse’ guide the astronomer to identify and trace these past heavenly phenomena todate, most accurately. A lunar eclipse occurred on 29/12/560 B.C., and a solar eclipse occurred on 14/01/559 B.C. Both were partially visible over ‘Savaththi’. This confirms the description given in the ‘Samyuktha Nihaya’. The results obtained from the astronomical guide confirm that, the two eclipses in question, had taken place 15 years prior to the widely accepted year of Parinibbana i.e. 543 B.C., when the Master was 66. If we take one of the dates given by the scholars i.e. 483 B.C. as the year of Parinibbana, with the astrological guide, these eclipses had taken place 76 years prior to that year. Prince Siddhartha was 9 years old at the time of the manifestation of the eclipses over ‘Savaththi’. This testifies that the year 543 B.C. was the accurate year of the Parinibbana of the Thathagatha. Dr. Abaya Ariyasinghe enlightened the public over the media about this finding few decades ago.

Buddhist traditions

The late Ven. Ananda Maithreeya Maha Thera well versed in both Northern and Southern Buddhist traditions, enlightened the public on this aspect through the media few decades ago. According to the Maha Thera the birth of prince Siddhartha falls on a full moon day i.e. Sunday of Vesak, in 623 B.C. (the 2478th year of Kaliyuga, kataka Lagna, Sinha Navamsaka, Veesa Nekatha at 11.04 a.m. in Kapilavasthupura, with the formation of planets Jupiter -1, Rahu -3, Moon -4, Mars -7, Saturn -8, Venus and Kethu -9, Mercury -10, Sun -11, with Nawamsaka - Jupiter -1, Kethu and Mercury -2, Saturn -3, Venus -6, Sun -7, Rahu -8, Mars -9 and Moon -10) According to the Maha Thera he confirmed these data, on consultation with eminent persons well versed in the subject, in India. These are in accord with the ‘Ka-Kayur’ and ‘Kumara Nadi’ consulted by him, thereafter Dr. Saddamangala Karunarathne, after inspecting the inscription of King Upathissa the first, confirmed that the said inscription carried the most ancient record of the Buddhist Era, and it attested that the Parinibbana of the Thathagatha occurred in 543 B.C.

Dr. Annie Besant and C.W. Leadbeater, both eminent occultists as well as psychics of repute, confirmed that prince Siddhartha was born in 623 B.C. attained spiritual illumination in 588 B.C; at the age of 36; and attained Supreme Bliss in 543 B.C. at the age of 81, on fulfilment of 45 years of strenuous service to all beings, who were ready for the sublime truth revealed. While searching through “Akasic’ records by psychic means, many previous existences of some of their colleagues, who were associates of the Thathagatha, during the period, they found these data.

Historic occasion

The fulfilment of the 2600th year of the dispensation of the Thathagatha falls on the full moon day of Vesak in 2012 A.D. (588+2012 = 2600). This is not only a historic occasion for celebration all over the Buddhist world. It also marks the beginning of a great renaissance, or a spiritual revival. The teaching of the Thathagatha is not the privilege of a limited sector of followers. The intrinsic message of the Master, belongs to all beings in the entire cosmos. It is the one and only way for the cessation of all suffering. It transcends Northern, Southern and all other traditions formed later. The true spirit of the sublime teaching of the Master, and its contribution since then, to the civilizations of past and present, can be ascertained, by a proper study of its growth from all points of view. The profound teaching of the Master, has been obscured and distorted by the later formations of over-zealous followers. Although, the principles differ in various schools, the dominating splendour of the personal example of the Thathagatha, stands above them all.

This is indeed a rare opportunity and privilege, bestowed upon those leading personalities to participate in the celebration of the 2600th anniversary of the dispensation of this great teacher of the first order, who shed enlightenment on the three realms of being. The Thathagatha left for us a universally esteemed teaching, which has so well contributed to the establishment of world peace, for the advancement of humanity.