Chronological Systems of Gujarat

Author(s): Bharati K Shelat
Publisher: Pranav Shelat

Page 69

THE CHRONOLOGICAL SYSTEMS OF GUJARAT in Vindhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh where it was introduced with the extension of the Kalacuri power.43
(iii) The Saka Era
The Śaka era which was in common use during the Kșatrapa period in Western India including Gujarat was replaced by the Gupta era in about 400 A.C. It seems to have been extinct for about two centuries. However, we come across a few dates given in the Saka era in the 7th and 8th centuries of the Christian era. The earliest known date among these appears in a palm-leaf manuscript of Viseșāvaśyaka Bhāşya by Jinabhadragani Kșamāśramana. 44 The date fell in the year 531 (609 A.C.). The next date of the Saka year 598 (676–77 A:C.) marks the year of the completion of the Nandisūtracūrņi by Jinadasagani Mahattara.45 The third known date of the Saka year 679 (757 A.C.) is recorded in the Antroli-Charoli copper plates of the Rāstrakūta king Kakka 11.46 The next known date of the Saka year 700 (779 A.C.) marks the completion
43. Ibid., pp. xi, xxvi ff. 44. Pamca Satā igitisā sagaṇivakālassa Vaţtamāṇassa;
To Cettapuņņimāe Budhadiņasātimmi nakkhatte (Bhāratīya Vidhyā, Vol. III, pp. 191 ff.; Malavania, Ganadha
ravāda, Introduction, pp. 32 f., H. G. Shastri, MG, p. 493) 45. Sakarājñaḥ pamcasu varşaśateşu vyatikrāteşu aştanavatiņu
nandyādhyayanacurņi samāptā (B. J. Sandesara, Jain Agama
Sahityaman Gujarat, p. 74, n. i.) 46. Sakanrpakālātita samvatsara sataşaţke ekonāśityadhike amkatopi
sam 679 āśvayuja śuddha tithi 7 (line 36-37); Visuvasamkrāntau (line 29) (JBBRAS, Vol. XVI. pp. 105 ff.)