Page:Sewell Dikshit The Indian Calendar (1896) proc.djvu/57

nomical works and in pañchâṅgs. In the latter sometimes its expired years, sometimes current years are given, and sometimes both. It is not often used in epigraphical records.^[1]

Saptarshi-Kala.—This era is in use in Kashmir and the neighbourhood. At the time of Alberuni (1030 A.D.), it appears to have been in use also in Multân and some other parts. It is the only mode of reckoning mentioned in the Râja-Taraṅgiṇi. It is sometimes called the "Laukika-Kâla" and sometimes the "Śâstra-Kâla". It originated on the supposition that the seven Ṛishis (the seven bright stars of Ursa Major) move through one nakshatra (27th part of the ecliptic) in 100 years, and make one revolution in 2700 years; the era consequently consists of cycles of 2700 years. But in practice the hundreds are omitted, and as soon as the reckoning reaches 100, a fresh hundred begins from 1. Kashmirian astronomers make the era, or at least one of its cycles of 2700 years, begin with Chaitra śukla 1st of Kali 27 current. Disregarding the hundreds we must add 47 to the Saptarshi year to find the corresponding current Saka year, and 24—25 for the corresponding Christian year. The years are Chaitrâdi. Dr. F. Kielhorn finds^[2] that they are mostly current years, and the months mostly pûrṇimânta.

The Vikrama era.—In the present day this era is in use in Gujarât and over almost all the north of India, except perhaps Bengal.^[3] The inhabitants of these parts, when migrating to other parts of India, carry the use of the era with them. In Northern India the year is Chaitrâdi, and its months pûrṇimânta, but in Gujarat it is Kârttikâdi and its months are amânta. The settlers in the Madras Presidency from Northern India, especially the Mârvâḍis who use the Vikrama year, naturally begin the year with Chaitra śukla pratipadâ and employ the pûrṇimânta scheme of months; while immigrants from Gujarât follow their own scheme of a Kârttikâdi amânta year, but always according to the Vikrama era. In some parts of Kâṭhiâvâḍ and Gujarât the Vikrama era is Âshâḍhâdi^[4] and its months amânta. The practice in the north and south leads in the present day to the Chaitrâdi pûrṇimânta Vikrama year being sometimes called the "Northern Vikrama," and the Kârttikâdi amânta Vikrama year the "Southern Vikrama."

The correspondence of these three varieties of the Vikrama era with the Śaka and other eras, as well as of their months, will be found in Table II., Parts ii. and iii.

Prof. F. Kielhorn has treated of this era at considerable length in the Ind. Antiq., vols. XIX. and XX., and an examination of 150 different dates from 898 to 1877 of that era has led him to the following conclusions (ibid., XX., p. 398 ff.).

(1) It has been at all times the rule for those who use the Vikrama era to quote the expired years, and only exceptionally^[5] the current year.

(2) The Vikrama era was Kârttikâdi from the beginning, and it is probable that the change which has gradually taken place in the direction of a more general use of the Chaitrâdi year was owing to the increasing growth and influence of the Śaka era. Whatever may be the practice in quite modern times, it seems certain that down to about the 14th century of the Vikrama era both kinds of years, the Kârttikâdi and the Chaitrâdi, were used over exactly the same tracts of country, but more frequently the Kârttikâdi.

(3) While the use of the Kârttikâdi year has been coupled with the pûrṇimânta as often as with the