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III THE PERIOD OF THE WESTERN KSATRAPAS
The next period in the history of Gujarat is the period of the Western Kṣatrapas. It begins with the reign of the Kṣatrapa kings of the Kṣaharāta family, who seem to have ruled over several regions including Gujarat prior to the establishment of the Kardamaka power in 78 A.C. The power of the Kṣaharāta Kings was lost to the Sātavāhana Kings of the Deccan. But Kṣatrapa kings of the Kardamaka Family shortly recovered the northern regions including Gujarat. Their dynasty held power at least upto cir. 306 A. C.2. It was succeeded by four small successive groups of kings, their relationship with the Kardamaka family being unknown. The power of the last group seems to have lasted upto about 400 A. C.3.
(i) The Saka Era
The sources of information about the dating system prevalent in the kingdom of the Western Ksatrapas are stone inscriptions and coin legends. The records of the Kṣaharāta Kṣatrapas are dated in years, months, fortnights and (lunar) days. The years mentioned in their known records range from year 41 to 46.5
1. Vide f. n. 23 below.
2. M. R. Majmudar, Chronology of Gujarat, p. 84
3. Vide f. n. 13 below.
4. M. R. Majmudar, op. cit., pp. 59 ff.
5. D. C. Sircar, Select Inscriptions, Book II, Nos. 58, 62
Only some stone inscriptions bear dates, while coins are found undated.
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