________________
24 THE CHRONOLOGICAL SYSTEMS OF GUJARAT Generally this event is dated prior to the reign of Vikramāditya, but it is also possible that the Śakas occupied Malwa for a second time 135 years after they lost it to King Vikramāditya. Dr. R. B. Pandey identified the King of thes. Sakas with Castana of Ujjain20.
In view of the recently discovered dates of Cāșt ina, the dates in the records of the Kşaharāta Kșatrapas who flourished prior to the Kārdamaka Kşatrapas can no longer be ascribed to the Saka Era and are now taken to be regnal years.
Before the recent discovery of the inscriptions of Cāştana dated years 6 and 11, it was generally held that the dates 41 to 46 in the records of the Kșaharāta Kșatrapas and the dates 52 to 320 in those cit the Kārdamaka Kşatrapas belong to the Saka Era, and that the Western Kșatrapas, particularly Kșaharāta Kșatrapas, were originally subordinate to the Kuşāņa emperors of North India. It was also noticed that the Kuşāņa power extended as far as Malwa by this time. Morever, the Kuşāņa kings beginning with Kanişka I are known to have used one continuous era of their own, very probably that era also seems to have commenced in 78 A. C. It was, therefore, very plausibly held by the majority of modern scholars that the so-called Saka era was originated by the Kuşåna sovereign kaniska [ and that it was adopted by the Western Kşatrapas who were originally feudatories of the Kuşāņa sovereigns.
But the recent discovery of the Andhru Inscription of the time of Cāstana dated (Saka) year 112!.
20. R. B. Pandey, Indian Pālaeography, p. 186 21. Dr. Shobhana Gokhale, 'Andhau Inscription of Caştana, Saka
11, Journal of Ancient History, Vol. II, pp. 104 ff..
Jain Education International
For Personal & Private Use Only
www.jainelibrary.org