Common Indian Eras (Saṃvat) And Their Epochs

Summary: Across India’s vast historical timeline, several Saṃvat (era) systems were established to mark dynastic reigns, astronomical epochs and calendar reforms. Here, CE (Common Era) = AD, and similarly, BCE = BC.

| | |--------------------------------------------| | Kṛta / Mālava Saṃvat: 94 BCE | | Early Mālava reckoning that later became the basis of the Saṃvat/era traditions. | | (Incorrect) Vikrama Saṃvat: 57 BCE| | Commonly misdated version of the Vikrama Saṃvat instituted by the emperor Harṣa Vardhana Vikramāditya (592-647 CE), due to an error of reference.| | Śaka Saṃvat: 78 CE| | Introduced after the victory of the Śaka ruler Caṣṭana; later adopted as the official Indian national era.| | Kalacurī Saṃvat: 249 CE| | Instituted by the Kalacuri dynasty of central India and widely used in their inscriptions.| | Kali-Yuga Saṃvat #1 (Ujjain-School): 2448 BCE | | Established by Vṛddha-Garga of Ujjain tradition in 252 CE, derived from a fallacious Saptaṛṣi Cycle of 2700 years (27 Asterisms x 100 years each).| | Gupta / Vallabhī Saṃvat: 319 CE | | Began under Chandragupta I or Govinda III; prominent across western Indian records.| | Kali-Yuga Saṃvat #2 (Āryabhaṭṭa): 3102 BCE | | Established by Āryabhaṭṭa in 499 CE for his computational astronomy.| | Lāṭadeva (Sūrya Siddhānta) Saṃvat– 505 CE | | Epoch of the later recension of the Sūrya Siddhānta, followed by Siddhāntic astronomers. | | (True) Vikrama Saṃvat: 598 CE | | This is original Vikrama Saṃvat that was consituted at the ascendance of emperor Harṣa Vardhana Vikramāditya (592-647 CE) on the throne of Ujjain in 598 CE at the end of his 6-year Digvijaya (conquest of the quarters) across North India. This timing was mentioned by his famous court-poet Kālīdāsa in his book Jyotirvidābhāraṇa as elapsed years of Kali-Yuga. Since Kālīdāsa belonged to Ujjain school, this figure was to be interpreted as per Kali-Yuga Saṃvat #1 (Ujjain School, 2448 BCE) but has been continually misinterpreted as per Kali-Yuga Saṃvat #2 (of Āryabhaṭṭa, 3102 BCE). Hence, its epoch was erroneously shifted (3102-2448) 654 years in the past to 57 BCE. It's now restored to its true epoch. | | Aṃśuvarman Saṃvat: 607 CE (SS 529) / 578 CE | | Era referenced in early Nepalese inscriptions under King Aṃśuvarman. | | Kollam Saṃvat: 825 CE | | Kerala solar era marking maritime calendar reform and the founding of Kollam port. | | Newarī/Nepālī Saṃvat: 879 CE | | Civic era of the Nepal valley, still in local usage for official and ritual dating. |

References & Notes:

• "The Science of Time and Timeline of World History", 2017