Vikrama Era and Jainism

Summary

"This article explores the origins, historical relevance, and Jain association of the Vikrama Era (57 B.C.E.), highlighting its deep embedding within Jain literary, religious, and archaeological traditions. It centers on the legendary figure of King Vikramaditya of Ujjain and his connections to Jainism, alongside supporting evidence from literary texts, inscriptions, and archaeological excavations. A) Key Points i) Historical Background and Jain Tradition a) The Vikrama Era is believed to have been founded 470 years after Mahavira’s nirvana (527 B.C.E.) to commemorate King Vikramaditya's expulsion of the Sakas from Ujjain. b) According to Jain tradition and texts such as the Kathānaka-Vṛtti of Devendrasūri (1146 Vikrama Era), Vikramaditya was the son of Gardabhilla. Kalakacarya, a Jain monk, orchestrated Gardabhilla's defeat with help from the Sakas to rescue his sister Saraswati, later reclaimed from the Sakas by Vikramaditya. c) Jain preceptors like Bhadrabahu, Vajraswami, and Srigupta flourished during this period. ii) Jaina Textual References to Vikramaditya a) Multiple Jain and semi-Jain works reference Vikramaditya and the founding of his era, including: Kathā-Sarita-Sāgara, Brhatkathāmañjarī, Prabhāvaka Carita, Vetālapañcaviṁśati, Simhāsanabattīsī, and Vikrama Carita. b) The Vikrama Carita, as interpreted by Edgerton, and other Jain traditions, portray Vikramaditya as a devout follower of the Jaina teacher Siddhasena Divākara, who initiated a new calendar era after eliminating debts — described as samvatsara-parivartana (turning point in the era of Vardhamāna). c) The Digambara tradition places the start of the Vikrama Era 605 years after Mahavira’s nirvana, though Jacobi argues for 470 years as more accurate. iii) Archaeological Evidence: Vaddamanu and Krishna-Godavari Basin a) Excavations at Vaddamanu in Andhra Pradesh (1981–85) uncovered Jain architectural remains dated to 200–50 B.C.E. and 50 B.C.E.–50 C.E., distinct from Buddhist structures at Amaravati and Nagarjunakonda. b) Findings include stupas, Jain ellipsoidal structures, pillar inscriptions (e.g., Siri Sada), and coins bearing names of the Sada dynasty (Siri Sada, Mahasada, Sivanaka Sada, Asaka Sada) — descendants of Kharavela, a known Jain ruler. c) Vaddamanu yielded potsherd inscriptions referring to the Cedi lineage (e.g., Cedirājño Sātho), linking it to the Rasabha kings of Gardabhilla’s line. iv) Bhattiprolu and the Jain Tradition a) Bhattiprolu, near Vaddamanu, is another ancient Jain site. Local tradition holds Bhatti (Bhartrhari) and Vikramaditya as half-brothers, sons of Gardabhilla. b) Jainism in the region thrived during the Sada rule and is reflected in continuity of religious activity and shared motifs with Udayagiri and Khandagiri caves.\