Indian Antiquary Vol 16

SR No.: 032508
Original Sutra Author: N/A
Author: John Faithfull Fleet, Richard Carnac Temple
Publisher: Swati Publications
Publication Year: 1984
Total Pages: 408
Language: English
Classification: Book_English
File Size: 18 MB

Page 156

142
THE INDIAN ANTIQUARY.
obviously essential, in order to compute them correctly, that we should know exactly which system they are recorded in; since, for instance, the thirteenth lunar or solar day of the dark fortnight of Ashadha represents, if treated as à southern date, an English day later by one complete lunation, or practically a month, than the English equivalent of it as a northern date. In the southern Vikrama year, the arrangement of the fortnights is the regular Amánta southern arrangement. But the year commences seven lunations later than the equivalent Saka year, and corresponding northern Vikrama year; viz. with the first day of the bright fortnight of the month Kirttika (October-November). Here, again, for purposes of computation, any date in a southern Vikrama year has to be treated as the same date in the equivalent Saka year. And a reference to the right-hand columns in the Table on page 143, will shew at once the way in which the years overlap; and will explain fully the necessity of determining the question with which we are concerned. By the epochs of the two eras, the proper equivalent of, for instance, southern Vikrama-Samvat 1320 is Saka-Samvat 1185; and this is also its actual equivalent for any date from Kârttika sukla 1 up to Phalguna krishna 15, both included; but, for any date from the following Chaitra śukla 1 up to Âśvina krishna 15, both included, the actual equivalent of VikramaSamvat 1320 is the following Saka-Samvat 1186. Consequently, if the Gupta-Valabhi year is to be treated as a southern Vikrama year, any such date as Gupta-Valabhi-Samvat 944, Chaitra śukla 1, up to Âśvina krishna 15, will give an English equivalent later by twelve complete lunations, or practically a year, or else any such date as Gupta-ValabhiSamvat 944, Kârttika śukla 1, up to Phâlguna krishna 15, will give an English equivalent earlier by twelve complete lunations, than the English equivalents if the year is to be treated as a Saka year.
The question, whether by any chance we can be concerned, in the Gupta-Valabhi era, at any period, with the scheme of the southern Vikrama year, is, if possible, still more an essential point, because the dates that we have
• Or, in the case of certain intercalations, later here, and in the other case earlier, by thirteen lunations, or
[MAY, 1887.
in the era, under its later name of the Valabhi era, come from Kathiawâd, where, as in the neighbouring provinces of Gujarât and the Northern Konkan, the national era is the Vi krama era, in the southern arrangement. In those parts there would of course be a tendency, sooner or later, to adapt the original scheme of the Gupta-Valabhi year to the scheme of the years of the local national era. And a distinct instance of this adaptation having been actually made in Gujarat, is furnished by the Kaira grant of Dharasêna IV. of Valabhi, published by Dr. Bühler in this Journal, ante, Vol. XV. p. 335ff. Its date is the year 330; the "second" month Mârgasira; the bright fortnight; and the second tithi or lunar day. And the interest and importance of it result from its shewing that, in that year, there was an intercalation of a month, which, according to this record, was Mârgasira or Mârgasirsha. Now. allowing for the moment, what I shall shortly prove, as closely as absolute certainty can be obtained, viz. that the true original scheme of the Gupta-Valabhi year is the scheme of the northern Saka year, and that the difference between the epochs of the two eras is two hundred and forty-one years, the month Margaéirsha of this record should belong to SakaSamvat 571, and should fall in A.D. 649. Gen. Cunningham, however," shews no intercalation in that year; but, in the preceding year, ŠakaSamvat 570, an intercalation of the month Kârttika, which would fall in A.D. 648; and this appears to be quite correct, in accordance with the regulation of intercalations by the actual place of the sun. Looking farther into the matter, Dr. Schram, as reported by Dr. Bühler, found that in A.D. 648 there certainly was an intercalated month, which, according to the present method would be Karttika, but according to the rule for mean intercalations, would be Margasirsha. So, also, Mr. Sh. B. Dikshit finds, by actual calculation from the Surya-Siddhanta, that, by mean intercalation, in A.D. 648 there was an intercalated month between the natural Mârgasîrsha and the natural Pausha, which would be named Pausha according to the present practice, but Mârgasirsha according to the verse Mésh-ádi-sthé savitari &c., that is quoted as belonging to the Brahma-Siddhanta. In practically a year and a month. Indian Eras, p. 158.
See page 109 above.