In the traditional Jain view, Chattāri Maṅgalam is considered a very ancient “maṅgal‑pāth”, recited from the time of the early Jain saṅgha itself, together with Navkār Mantra and other basic sutras.

From the point of view of historical / textual evidence, we have to say:

1. Not found in the earliest inscriptions

- The very old Jain inscriptions (like Hathigumpha, early Mathurā etc.) clearly show “Namo Arihantāṇaṁ…” (Navkār) but do not yet show “Chattāri Maṅgalam, Arihantā Maṅgalam…” etc. - So, epigraphically, Navkār appears earlier than Chattāri Maṅgal.

1. Earliest secure appearance is in the Avashyaka‑literature

- As far as present scholarly knowledge goes, the earliest clearly traceable occurrence of the Chattāri Maṅgalam formula is in the Āvaśyaka‑tradition (Avashyakasūtra with its old cūrṇis/bhāṣyas), which are usually dated roughly around 5th century CE and later. - There it appears along with the other two related sutras: - Chattāri Maṅgalam … (four auspicious) - Chattāri Loguttamā … (four supreme) - Chattāri Saraṇaṁ Pavajjāmi … (four refuges)

1. Both Digambar and Shvetāmbara use it

- Shvetāmbara: Uses it regularly in Āvaśyaka, Pratikramaṇ, Chaityavandan etc. - Digambar: Uses the same basic wording in daily Mangal‑pāṭh / Bhaktis, often exactly: “Arihantā Maṅgalam, Siddhā Maṅgalam, Sāhū Maṅgalam, Kevalipaṇṇatto Dhammo Maṅgalam.” - Wording and pronunciation (Prakrit/Sanskritized) may vary slightly, but there is no major doctrinal difference between the two traditions about this sutra.

1. So, to summarize your question

- Earliest “traditional” origin: Believed to be from the time of Bhagwān Mahāvīr’s gaṇadharas (i.e., very early Jain saṅgha), as part of the oral maṅgal‑path. - Earliest “firmly documentable” reference with today’s evidence: In the Avashyaka‑literature and its commentaries, around 5th century CE onwards. - Before that, we have strong evidence for Navkār, but not yet for Chattāri Maṅgalam as a fixed four‑line formula.

Because our surviving sources are incomplete and many early texts are lost, scholars cannot point to a single, exact “first verse” or date beyond this.