Saka era
- This is about the historical calendar era. For the "Saka calendar" of 1957, see Indian national calendar.
The Saka era (also known as the Shalivahana Saka era; Burmese: မဟာ သက္ကရာဇ်; Thai: มหาศักราช, rtgs: Mahasakkarat "Greater Era") is a historical calendar era, corresponding to Julian year 78.
Contents
History
The origin of the Saka era is highly controversial.[1] In ancient Sanskrit literature, the word "Saka" refers to foreigners who invaded and ruled north-western India. One theory is that the era was started by a Saka ruler; later legends state that it was started by an Indian king to mark the defeat of the Sakas.
The beginning of the Saka era is now widely equated to the ascension of the Western Satrap ruler Chashtana in 78 AD.[2] His inscriptions, dated to the years 11 and 52, have been found at Andhau in Kutch region. These years are interpreted as Saka years 11 (89 AD) and 52 (130 AD).[3]
A previously more common view was that the beginning of the Saka era corresponds to the ascension of Kanishka I in 78 AD.[1] However, the latest research by Henry Falk indicates that Kanishka ascended the throne in 127 AD.[4] Moreover, Kanishka was not a Saka, but a Kushana ruler.[5]
Other historical candidates have included rulers such as Vima Kadphises, Vonones and Nahapana.[5] One account claims that the legendary emperor Vikramaditya defeated the Sakas in 78 AD, and the Saka era marks the day of this conquest. This legend has been mentioned in the writings of Brahmagupta (7th century AD), Al-Biruni (973-1048 AD) and others. However,this is an obvious fabrication.[1]
Usage
Some of the early use of the calendar are, the Western Satraps, the Saka (Indo-Scythian) rulers of Ujjain, from the reign of Rudrasimha I (178–197) recorded the date of minting of their coins in the Saka era, usually written on the obverse behind the king's head in Brahmi numerals.[6] This is a rather uncommon case in Indian numismatics. Some, such as the numismat R.C. Senior considered that these dates might correspond to the Azes era instead.[citation needed]
The use of the calendar era survived into the Gupta period and became part of Hindu tradition following the decline of Buddhism in India. It was in widespread use by the 6th to 7th centuries, e.g. in the works of Varāhamihira and Brahmagupta, and by the 7th century also appears in epigraphy in Hindu 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 the Vikram Samvat era (56 BC). It was used by Javanese courts until 1633, when it was replaced by Anno Javanico, a hybrid Javanese-Islamic system.[7] It was adopted as the era of the Indian national calendar (also known as "Saka calendar") in 1957. The Saka era also remains in is also use in Java and Bali, Indonesia.[citation needed]
The Saka era is the vernal equinox of the year AD 78. The year of the modern Saka Calendar is tied to the Gregorian date of 22 March every year, except in Gregorian leap years when it starts on 23 March.
See also
References
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- ↑ Rapson, "A Catalogue of Indian coins in the British Museum. Andhras etc." p. CCVIII
- ↑ Ricklefs (1993), pages 5 and 46.
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