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THE GUPTA PERIOD
obtain the Christian years equivalent to the Gupta year we have to add 319-20 A.C. to the latter.21
As for the scheme of the Gupta era, Fleet has shown that in North India the years of the Gupta era commenced with Caitra Su. di. 1 and the months ended with Purnima.2 22 As the week-day is not given in the Junagadh rock inscription of Skandagupta, we are unable to determine the system of years and months in the Gupta era used in Gujarat during this period. But its years were Caitrādi in North India in this period and they were so in Gujarat during the Post-Maitraka period. Again in North India the months were Pūrṇimānta and during the Maitraka period in Gujarat also the months were Pūrṇimānta. From this it is quite probable that the same system would be applied in the case of the Gupta era used during the Gupta period.
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(ii) The Kalacuri Era
By this time another era was prevalent in South Gujarat. Only one date (year 207) of this era is found during this period. This date contains the year, the month, the fortnight and the lunar day.23 A number of
21. The equation between the Gupta era and the A.C. is 319 years from Caitra to Aśvina and 320 years from Kārttika to Phalguna.
22. Fleet, CII, Vol. III, p. 80
23. "Pardi copper-plate inscription of King Dahrasena" (V. V. Mirashi, CII, Vol. IV, No. 8)
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