Answer

After Chandragupta Maurya and Acharya Bhadrabahu, the number of Digambar munis is traditionally understood to have gradually reduced over the following centuries, especially from around the 2nd century BCE to the early centuries CE.

So, in simple terms: within a few centuries after Chandragupta Maurya, particularly around the 2nd–1st century BCE onward, Digambar muni numbers began to decline noticeably.

Explanation

According to Digambar tradition:

• Chandragupta Maurya became a Jain monk under Acharya Bhadrabahu.
• A severe famine led Bhadrabahu and many monks to migrate south.
• During and after this period, maintaining the strict Digambar muni discipline became increasingly difficult.
• Over time, fully nude Digambar munis became fewer in number.

The decline was not a single sudden event in one exact year. It was a gradual historical process over several centuries.

Spiritual Understanding

In Jain Dharma, Digambar muni life is extremely demanding. It requires complete renunciation, non-possession, celibacy, strict ahimsa, and deep detachment from the body and worldly comforts. Because of this high standard, the number of such munis has often been small compared to lay followers.

Takeaway

The reduction in Digambar munis after Chandragupta is best understood as a gradual decline beginning a few centuries after him, especially around the 2nd–1st century BCE onward, rather than as one fixed-date event.