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THE CHRONOLOGICAL SYSTEMS OF GUJARAT
As regards the origin of the Simha era, the epigraphic records give no hint.
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The following points can be deduced definitely: (i) The era was specifically and invariably named the Simha era.
(ii) The Simha era commenced in 1113-14 A. C.
(iii) The era occurs only in the records pertaining to Sorath i. e. the Southern part of Saurashtra.
(iv) The Simha era is always mentioned along with some other era well-known to the people.
(v) The known dates given in the Simha era range from year 32 to year 151.
On examining the contents of the records dated in the Simha era, it is found that all these records refer to the sway of the then reigning kings of the Caulukya dynasty at Aṇahillapāṭaka. From the limited provenance of the records dated in the Simha era, it may appear possible that the era was started by the local king of Saurashtra and continued by his successors. But the history of the Cuḍāsama kings of Sorath indicates that no local king was powerful enough to start a new era of his own after the conquest of Saurashtra by the mighty sovereign Jayasimhadeva Siddharāja. Moreover the records dated in the Simha Era contain not even a single reference to any king of the local dynasty. If it be assumed that the Simha era was started by the local king of Sorath, it is inexplicable that the local governors of the Caulukya kingdom would continue the use of the era, newly established by the Cuḍāsamā king subjugated by Siddharaja shortly
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