Chronological Systems of Gujarat

SR No.: 006798
Original Sutra Author: N/A
Author: Bharati K Shelat
Publisher: Pranav Shelat
Publication Year: 1987
Total Pages: 422
Language: English
Classification: Book_English
File Size: 6 MB

Page 76

THE MAITRAKA PERIOD
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.era64. The Cāhamāna King officiated as a feudatory of Nāgāvaloka. Kielhorn,65 D. R. Bhandarkar66 and Sten. Konow67 discussed the identification of Nāgāvaloka and the era of this date. The latter two scholars have established that king Nāgāvaloka, the overlord of the Cāhamāna king, should be identified with Nāgabhata I of the imperial Pratīhāra dynasty and that the date. should be ascribed to the Vikrama era.
Traditionally the origin of the Vikrama Era is ascribed to King Vikrama or Vikramāditya of Ujjain, who is renowned as the destroyer of the Sakas.. According to the current reckoning, the Vikrama era. seems to have commenced in 58 B.C. However, it is. doubtful whether this era was associated with the name of Vikrama during its early centuries.
As for the specific references to this era as the Vikrama era, it should be made clear at the outset that the name of Vikrama is found associated with this era not earlier than the 9th cent.68
The earliest reliable known reference to the association of the era with the name of Vikrama occurs in
64. The year is expressed in words as well as in figures in lines.
35, 36. 65. EI. Vol. IX, pp. 62 and 251 66. IA, Vol. XL, p. 239 67. EI, Vol. XII, pp. 197.ff. 68. The Dhinki plates of king Jāikadeva (IA, Vol. XII, pp. 155 f.).:
are dated in the Vikrama year 794 (737 A.C.), but on the scrutiny of the details of the date and other particulars the plates are found to be spurious (IA, Vol. XVI, p. 198; XIX pp. 369 ff.)