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Shaka era

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This article is about historical calendar era. For "Śaka calendar" of 1957, seeIndian national calendar.
Coin ofWestern SatraprulerDamasena.The minting date, here 153 (100-50-3 inBrahmi script numerals) of the Saka era, therefore 231 CE, clearly appears behind the head of the king.

TheShaka era(IAST:Śaka, Śāka) is a historical Hinducalendar era(year numbering), theepoch(its year zero)[2]of which corresponds toJulian year78.

The era has been widely used in different regions of theIndian subcontinentas well as inSoutheast Asia.According to theGovernment of India,it is referred as theShalivahana Era(IAST:Śālivāhana).

History[edit]

Mohar of Gorkhali kingPrithvi Narayan Shahdated Shaka era 1685 (AD 1763)

The origin of the Shaka era is highly controversial.[3]There are two Shaka era systems in scholarly use, one is calledOld Shaka Era,whose epoch is uncertain, probably sometime in the 1st millennium BCE because ancient Buddhist and Jaina inscriptions and texts use it, but this is a subject of dispute among scholars. The other is calledSaka Era of 78 CE,or simplySaka Era,a system that is common in epigraphic evidence from southern India. A parallel northern India system is theVikrama Era,which is used by theVikrami calendarlinked to Vikramaditya.[4]

The beginning of the Shaka era is now widely equated to the ascension ofIndo-ScythiankingChashtanain 78 CE.[5]His inscriptions, dated to the years 11 and 52, have been found at Andhau inKutchregion. These years are interpreted as Shaka years 11 (89 CE) and 52 (130 CE).[6]A previously more common view was that the beginning of the Shaka era corresponds to the ascension ofKanishka Iin 78 CE.[3]However, the latest research by Henry Falk indicated that Kanishka ascended the throne in 127 CE.[7]Moreover, Kanishka was not a Shaka, but aKushanaruler.[8]Other historical candidates have included rulers such asVima Kadphises,Vonones,andNahapana.[8]

According to historianDineshchandra Sircar,the historically inaccurate notion of "Shalivahana era" appears to be based on the victory of theSatavahanarulerGautamiputra Satakarniover some Shaka (Western Kshatrapa) kings. Sircar also suggested that the association of the northern king Vikramaditya withVikrama eramight have led the southern scholars to fabricate a similar legend.[9]Another similar account claims that the emperorShalivahana,[10][11]grandson of legendary emperor Vikramaditya defeated the Shakas in 78 CE, and the Shaka era marks the day of this conquest. This legend has been mentioned in the writings ofBrahmagupta(7th century CE),Al-Biruni(973–1048 CE), and others. However, it is an obvious fabrication.[3]Over time, the word "Shaka" became generic, and came to be mean "an era"; the era thus came to be known as "Shalivahana Shaka".[12]

Usage[edit]

The earliest known users of the era are theWestern Satraps,theShaka(Indo-Scythian) rulers ofUjjain.From the reign ofRudrasimha I(178–197), they recorded the date of minting of their coins in the Shaka era, usually written on the obverse behind the king's head inBrahmi numerals.[13]

The use of the calendar era survived into theGupta periodand became part ofHindutradition following thedecline of Buddhism in the Indian subcontinent.It was in widespread use by the 6th to 7th centuries, e.g. in the works ofVarāhamihiraandBrahmagupta,and by the 7th century also appears in epigraphy inHindu Southeast Asia.

The calendar era remained in use in India and Southeast Asia throughout the medieval period, the main alternative era in traditional Hindu timekeeping being theVikram Samvatera (56 BC). It was used by Javanese courts until 1633, when it was replaced byAnno Javanico,a hybrid Javanese-Islamic system.[14]It was adopted as the era of theIndian national calendar(also known as "Śaka calendar" ) in 1957.

The Shaka epoch is thevernal equinoxof the year AD 78. The year of the official Shaka Calendar is tied to theGregorian dateof 22 March every year, except in Gregorian leap years when it starts on 21 March. The Lunisolar Shalivaahana Saka continues to be used widely in Southern and Western India for many religious and some secular purposes such as sowing and agriculture.

See also[edit]

References[edit]

Citations[edit]

  1. ^Government of India (1955),"The Saka Era",Report of the Calendar Reform Committee,Council of Scientific and Industrial Research, New Delhi, pp. 255–256
  2. ^Like most Indian eras, the Śaka era uses expired, elapsed, or complete years, where a year must have elapsed before it can be counted. This is similar to the Western method of determining a person's age, whose first year must have been completed before that person reaches one year old. The uncounted first year of the era is numbered as year zero. This differs from Western eras which use current years.[1]
  3. ^abcRichard Salomon 1998,p. 182–184.
  4. ^Richard Salomon 1998,p. 181–183.
  5. ^Shailendra Bhandare (2006)."Numismatics and History: The Maurya-Gupta interlude in the Gangetic Plains".In Patrick Olivelle (ed.).Between the Empires: Society in India 300 BCE to 400 CE: Society in India 300 BCE to 400 CE.Oxford University Press. p. 69.ISBN9780199775071.
  6. ^Adalbert J. Gail; Gerd J. R. Mevissen; Richard Salomon, eds. (2006).Script and Image: Papers on Art and Epigraphy.Motilal Banarsidass.p. 193.ISBN9788120829442.
  7. ^Ladislav Stančo (2012).Greek Gods in the East.Karolinum Press.p. 18.ISBN9788024620459.
  8. ^abKrishna Chandra Sagar (1992).Foreign Influence on Ancient India.Northern Book Centre. pp. 135–136.ISBN9788172110284.
  9. ^D. C. Sircar (1965).Indian Epigraphy.Motilal Banarsidass.pp. 262–266.ISBN9788120811669.
  10. ^kamlesh kapur (2010).History of Ancient India.Sterling Publishers Pvt Ltd. p. 321.ISBN978-81-207-5212-2.
  11. ^RajendraSingh Kushwaha (2003).Glimpses of Bhartiya History.Ocean books. p. 184.ISBN9788188322404.
  12. ^P. V. Jagadisa Ayyar (1982).South Indian Shrines: Illustrated.Asian Educational Services.pp. 80–81.ISBN978-81-206-0151-2.
  13. ^Rapson, "A Catalogue of Indian coins in the British Museum. Andhras etc." p. CCVIII
  14. ^Ricklefs, Merle Calvin (1993).A history of modern Indonesia since c. 1300(2nd ed.). Stanford University Press and Macmillans. pp. 5 and 46.ISBN9780804721950.

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Sources[edit]

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