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was introduced.[1] Its years are Kârttikâdi, its months amânta, and its epoch (the beginning of the Nevâr year 0 current) is the Kârttikâdi Vikrama year 936 current, Śaka 801—2 current, A.D. 878—79. Dr. F. Kielhorn, in his Indian Antiquary paper on the "Epoch of the Newâr era"[2] has come to the conclusion that its years are generally given in expired years, only two out of twenty-five dates examined by him, running from the 235th to the 995th year of the era, being current ones. The era is called the "Nepâl era" in inscriptions, and in Sanskrit manuscripts; "Nevâr" seems to be a corruption of that word. Table II., Part iii., below gives the correspondence of the years with those of other eras.
The Châlukya era. This was a short-lived era that lasted from Śaka 998 (A.D. 1076) to Śaka 1084 (A.D. 1162) only. It was instituted by the Chalukya king Vikramâditya Tribhuvana Malla, and seems to have ceased after the defeat of the Eastern Châlukyas in A.D. 1162 by Vijala Kalachuri. It followed the Śaka reckoning of months and pakshas. The epoch was Śaka 998—99 current, A.D. 1075—76.
The Simha Samvat.—This era was in use in Kâṭhiâvâḍ and Gujarat. From four dates in that era of the years 32, 93, 96 and 151, discussed in the Indian Antiquary (Vols. XVIII. and XIX. and elsewhere), we infer that its year is luni-solar and current; the months are presumably amânta, but in one instance they seem to be pûrṇimânta, and the year is most probably Âshâḍhâdi. It is certainly neither Kârttikâdi nor Chaitrâdi. Its epoch is Śaka 1036—37 current, A.D. 1113—14.
The Lakshmaṇa Sena era.—This era is in use in Tirhut and Mithila, but always along with the Vikrama or Śaka year. The people who use it know little or nothing about it. There is a difference of opinion as to its epoch. Colebrooke (A.D. 1796) makes the first year of this era correspond with A.D. 1105; Buchanan (A.D. 1810) fixes it as A.D. 1105 or 1106; Tirhut almanacs, however, for the years between A.D. 1776 and 1880 shew that it corresponds with A.D. 1108 or 1109. Buchanan states that the year commences on the first day after the full moon of the month Âshâḍha, while Dr. Râjendra Lâl Mitra (A.D. 1878) and General Cunningham assert that it begins on the first Mâgha badi (Mâgha kṛishṇa 1st).[3] Dr. F. Kielhorn, examining six independent inscriptions dated in that era (from A.D. 11 94 to 1551), concludes[4] that the year of the era is Kârttikâdi; that the months are amânta; that its first year corresponds with A.D. 1119—20, the epoch being A.D. 1118—19, Śaka 1041—42 current; and that documents and inscriptions are generally dated in the expired year. This conclusion is supported by Abul Fazal's statement in the Akbarnâma (Śaka 1506, A.D. 1584). Dr. Kielhorn gives, in support of his conclusion, the equation "Laksh: sam: 505 = Śaka sam: 1546" from a manuscript of the Smṛititattvâmṛita, and proves the correctness of his epoch by other dates than the six first given.
The Ilâhi era.—The "Târîkh-i Ilâhi," that is "the mighty or divine era," was established by the emperor Akbar. It dates from his accession, which, according to the Tabakât-i-Akbari, was Friday the 2nd of Rabî-uś-śânî, A.H. 963, or 14th February,[5] 1556 (O. S.), Śaka 1478 current. It was employed extensively, though not exclusively on the coins of Akbar and Jahângîr, and appears to have fallen into disuse early in the reign of Shâh-Jahân. According to Abûl Fazal, the days and months are both natural solar, without any intercalations. The names of the months and days correspond with the ancient Persian. The months have from 29 to 30 days each.