Eras
Different regions of India have used various eras for their accounting years, ranging from Luni-solar to solar systems, Amanta and Purnimanta methods. These differences in practice arise from the adoption of distinct interpretations of Hindu science by various tribes and kingdoms.
When a segment of people migrate out of their home place to another, they continue to use their own era, calendar, notwithstanding that another era may be in use in the new place. In doing so, they tend to mix up the calendar and treat it from their own point of view. This is one of the main problems while ascertaining the antiquity of the past.
It is therefore difficult to point out
the kind of year, Solar or Luni Solar, arrangements of months and fortnights to
a particular era. However, one thing is certain: Luni Solar years follow the Chaitradi system, and Solar years follow the Meshadi system to their corresponding
solar reckoning.
Chedi or Kalchuri Era
Some inscriptions and plates were found at the beginning of the 19th century in central and western India, mentioning the reign of the Kalchuri dynasty. These artefacts, when studied by archaeologists, mentioned some dates, which did not correspond to the usual Saka or Vikram era, but referred to a different era.
Prof Keilhorn, Dr Bird, Capt Wilford,
Gen Cunningham, Dr JF Fleet, were a few who tried to interpret these artefacts
and coins of the Kalchuri dynasty to know the era's beginning. The earliest
attempt was made by Pandit Bhagwanlal Indraji; his dates were approximate.
The scholars ruled out the Gupta era or the Valabhi era, in the absence of characters and dates on coins, referring to them as’ Gupia-kala, Guptasya kala, Gupta-Nripa-rajya-bhukti, or Gupta Sam’
The first, and approximately correct, conjecture about the epoch of the era was made in 1859 by Prof Fitz-Edward Hall in his article on the Behra-Ghat inscription of Alhanadevi, dated Samvat 907, and the Tewar inscription of Jayasimhadeva, dated Samvat 928.
All these scholars presented their
estimated dates for the commencement of the era. Nearly a hundred-plus artefacts were
examined to arrive at a conclusive beginning date of the era. The challenge was
due to the practice of mentioning expired years and ignoring the intercalated
years.
The research and study established that the Kalachuri era commenced on the purnimanta Karttika, ie, the 6th October, In 248 CE.
However, this was in conflict with the earlier conclusion of the examination of other dates and artefacts. It was concluded that the era commenced on the Kartik month(Amanta System) in 249 CE.
The earlier dates come from artefacts found in Gujarat and Maharashtra, while the later dates were obtained from North India and Chhattisgarh.
A general system was to date events in the regnal years of the ruling king. When the Kalachuris established themselves in Chhattisgarh, they introduced an era which they had been using in their home province of Dahala for several centuries. It, therefore, came to be designated as Kalachuri-Samvat. The other name, Chedi-Samvat or Chedisasya Samvat, was also appropriate, for the Imperial family to which the Tuman branch, in Chatisgarh, showed allegiance, which was then ruling over the Chedi country.
Ruins of Mahadev Temple, in Tuman, Chhattisgarh.
The 1st day of the 1st current year of Chedi Year, corresponds to अश्विन शुक्ल प्रतिपदा of चैत्रादी Vikram Samvat,306 current(Saka 171 current 05 Sep 248 CE), months are पूर्णिमांत, अश्विनादी years. Chedi's current year 0 is equal to 247-248 CE.
The CE date is obtained by adding 248/249 or 249/250 (depending if the expired or current year is used ) to the Chedi Year.
Gupta Era
Dr. J.F. Fleet, while examining the inscriptions from the Gupta period, observed that the feudatories and successors of Chandragupt II and III had inscriptions with dates arranged in a continuous sequence. This led him to believe that these inscriptions were connected to a specific era. However, he was uncertain whether the dates belonged to the Gupta era or the kingdom. He found a reference to the alliance between the Guptas and the Lichchavis of Nepal, which was established around 319/320 CE. Based on this, he presumed that the dates were part of the Gupta era, although he had no evidence to support this claim.
Al Beruni did mention the ‘Gupta Kal’ in his book “Al Biruni’s India”, but could not authenticate it with any evidence. Though he mentions that the Gupta era was founded 241 years after the Saka era, this corresponds to 318/319 CE. He did not specify the start or the conclusion of an era.
Later, researchers and scholars did find evidence
of the existence of the Gupta era. Some of these are
- Date 61 is inscribed on the Mathura pillar inscription.
- Sarnath Buddha image inscription, of the reign of Kumargupta and Budhagupta
- Allahabad Posthumous Stone Pillar Inscription of Samudragupta
Allahabad Stone Pillar Inscriptions
Interestingly, only 7 inscriptions of the Gupta era have been found to mention “Samvatsar” in the records of the Early Gupta period, which give full details for calculation, regarding the heliacal-rising system of 12 /60 year Jovian cycle. This confirmed that the Jovian cycle was used, for calendric purposes, in the Gupta period.
The Gupta era years are current and follow चैत्रादी, पूर्णिमांत, of Saka 242 (current), corresponding to 319/320 CE.
Valabhi/Ballabhi Era
Next in chronological sequence, but slightly overlapping some of the preceding records, come the inscriptions of the Kings of Valabhi, ranging from 436 CE to 766 CE. Of the numerous copper-plate inscriptions of this family that have been discovered, apart from the full genealogical tree which they give, including twelve generations, they make known the historical fact that the Senapati Bhatarka, the founder of the family, successfully waged war against, and overthrew, a dynasty, tribe, or clan called Maitrakas, the Maitraka dynasty of Vallabhi: this resulted in the era being called the "Vallabhi" era in the Maitraka-ruled territory.
According to the inscriptions, the Gupta era was prevalent in Kathiawar and some neighbouring parts of Gujarat, at least as late as 766 CE. It was more of a continuation of the Gupta era, with the name changed to the Vallabhi era.
The beginning of the year was thrown back from चैत्र शुक्ल प्रतिपदा to the previous कार्तिक शुक्ल प्रतिपदा; hence, its epoch went back by five months, and is synchronous with the current कृतिकादी Vikrama year 376, corresponding to 318/319 CE. The months appear to be पूर्णिमांत अमंता. This is because Vikram Samvat was in use in the area around Gujarat, whose year began in theकार्तिक month
Map showing different kingdoms during 590 CE.
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References:-
- Bhartiya Jyotish Shastra- SB Dixit
- The Indian Calendar- Robert Sewell and SB Dixit
- Cowasjee Patells Chronology
- The book of Eras- Gen A Cunningham
- Indian Antiquary , Vol XII ,pp 155 Dr Bühler
- Prof F Kielhorn - Indian Antiquary Vol XIX
- The Kalchuris and Their Times, RK Sharma, 1980
- Inscriptions of the Kalchuri–Chedi Era, Vasudev Vishnu Mirashi,1955
- Age of Imperial Guptas, Prof RD Banerji, 1933
- Origin of the Gupta-Valabhî Era. G. Bühler
- Rise and Fall of Imperial Guptas, Ashwini Agarwal, 1989
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