The Vīra Nirvāṇa Saṁvat: Ancient India's Oldest Calendar System Prof Anekant KumarJain In the rich tapestry of India's chronological traditions, one calendar system stands as a testament to the antiquity of Jain civilization yet remains relatively unknown in mainstream historical discourse. The Vīra Nirvāṇa Saṁvat, commemorating the spiritual liberation of 24th Tȋrthankara Bhagwān Mahāvīra, represents not merely a method of time-reckoning but a profound marker of cultural continuity that predates many of the world's most recognized calendrical systems. Recent archaeological discoveries and epigraphic evidence have brought renewed attention to this ancient era, challenging conventional assumptions about the development of systematic time-keeping in the Indian subcontinent. Historical Origins and Establishment Teerthankar Mahaveera attained Nirvāṇa (spiritual salvation) on the New Moon of Kartik Krishna month, coinciding with what is now celebrated as Diwali, in 527 BCE. The ...