Epigraphia Indica Vol 04

SR No.: 032558
Original Sutra Author: N/A
Author: E Hultzsch
Publisher: Archaeological Survey of India
Publication Year: 1896
Total Pages: 458
Language: English
Classification: Book_English
File Size: 20 MB

Page 82

No. 7.]
DATES OF CHOLA KINGS.
This dato falling in the month Aippadi (the solar Karttika), the equinox spoken of is that of the Tull-samkranti, 1.o, the autumnal equinox; and, as stated by Dr. Haltzsch, Dr. Fleet has already pointed out that, within the period to which Rajaraja's reign must be allotted, there are only two years in which a lunar eclipse took place at or near the autumnal equinox, A.D. 991 and A.D. 1010. For these two years the details of the date work out as follows :
In A.D. 991 (saka-Sarvat 913 expired) the Tull-sankranti took place on the 26th September, by the Sarya-siddhanta 8h.34m., and by the Arya-siddhanta 6h. 35.9m. after mean sunrise ; and accordingly, by the practice followed in Southern India, the 26th September A.D. 991 was the first day of the month Aippasi. On the same day there was a lunar eclipse, which took place 13h, 48m. after mean sunrise and was therefore visible in India, and the moon was in the nakshatra Bevati for 13h. 8m. after mean sunrise.
In A.D. 1010 (Šaka-Samvat 932 expired) the Tull-samkranti also took place on the 26th September, by the Suryasiddhanta 6h. 3m., and by the Arya-siddhanta 4h. 33.5m. after mean sunrise; and accordingly the 26th Septemher A.D. 1010 also was the first day of the month Aippasi. And on this day also there was a lunar eclipse, which, since it took place 2h. 54m. after mean sunrise, was not visible in India, and the moon was in Rêvati for 3h. 17m. after mean sunrise.
Both the 26th September A.D. 991 and the 26th September A.D. 1010 therefore would seem to answer the requirements of the case. But there is the important difference between them that the lunar eclipse of the 28th September A.D. 991 was visible in India, while that of the 26th September A.D. 1010 was not so. And considering that the eclipses quoted in dates, as a rule, are visible ones, it is highly probable that this here also is the case, and that the true equivalent of the date therefore is the 26th September A.D. 991 (in Saka-Samyat 913 expired). 8.-Inscription on a stone built into the roof of the GôpAla-Krishņa temple
at the village of Kaliyûr in the Tirumakadlu-Narasipur taluka. 1 Svasti [ll] Sakansipa-kal-Atita-samvatsara-satamga[1] 929nêya Parâbhaya
samvatsarada Chaitra-masada bahula-panchamiyu2 m-Adityavárad=andu.
"On Sunday, the fifth tithi of the dark fortnight of the month of Chaitra in the Parabhava year (which corresponded to) the year 929 since the time of the Saka king."
By the southern luni-solar system Paribhava was Saka-Samyat 929, the year given by the date, a sourrent year; but for that year the date is incorrect. For, the fifth tithi of the dark half of Chaitra of Bala-Samvat 929 current ended, by the amanta scheme, on Friday, the 22nd March A.D. 1006, and, by the parnimdnta scheme, on Wednesday, the 12th March A.D. 1007, in neither case on a Sunday. If the year of the date were Saka-Samvat 929 expired, which was the year Plavanga (not Parabhava), the corresponding days would be Thursday, the 10th April
1 See Ind. Ant. Vol. XXIII. p. 297.
According to Dr. Fleet, ibid. Vol. XIX. p. 71, the Tull-sankranti in A.D. 991 took place on the 25th September, at about 20 ghafle 54 palas after menn sunrise (for Bombay); but this is erroneous. By my Tables for the Arya-siddhanta, published ibid. Vol. XVIII. p. 207, the time of the Sankranti, expressed in days of the Jolian period, is 2083 289-2740, 1... 6h. 85-9m. after mean sunrise of the 26th September, A.D. 991; and by Professor Jacobi's Tables the Sankranti took place, also according to the Arya-siddh&ota, 16 ghafla 28 palas, 1.e. 6h. 35-m., after mean suorise of the same 26th September.
1 My list of dates from inscriptidos contains 89 regalar dates which quote lunar eclipses, and 39 regular dates which quote solar eclipses. The 89 lunar eclipses were all soithout exception visible in India. Of the 93 solar eclipses, 30 were visible, and 3 (of Bakr-Samvat 584 and 589, and of Vikrama-Samyat 1043) were not visible in India.
From Mr. Rice's transcript, Ep. Carn. Part L p 140, No. . The inscription consists of praises of Apranêy, a general and minister under Rajarajadêva.'
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