Dates of Principal Events in the Buddha's Life
By Prabodh Chandra Sengupta
Summary
This study investigates the chronology of the Buddha’s life by examining textual traditions and modern scholarship. Starting with the traditional Theravada dating of the Buddha’s life (563–483 BCE), the author surveys alternative chronologies proposed in Sanskrit, Tibetan and Chinese sources. He discusses problems posed by the lack of contemporary inscriptions and the reliance on later commentaries. The article analyses the dating of four key events: the Buddha’s birth, enlightenment, first sermon and Parinirvana. Using evidence from the Pali Canon, the Mahavastu and the Lalitavistara, the author argues that while precise dates remain uncertain, a reasonable chronology can be established through cross‑referencing genealogies of kings and the length of reigns mentioned in texts. He examines the chronological differences between the northern (Sarvastivada) and southern (Theravada) traditions and the efforts of modern historians to reconcile them. The study also considers astronomical references, such as lunar eclipses and planetary positions, as possible anchors. Ultimately, the author cautions that the historical Buddha should be understood within a broad time frame rather than tied to exact dates. Understanding the sequence and significance of events is more important than resolving every chronological discrepancy.
Conclusion
By surveying multiple textual traditions, this article demonstrates both the richness of Buddhist historical sources and the challenges of extracting exact dates from them. The author concludes that while a consensus chronology remains elusive, the general sequence of the Buddha’s birth, enlightenment, first sermon and passing can be placed within the fifth century BCE. He stresses that the ethical and philosophical significance of the Buddha’s life transcends precise chronology.