Chronological Systems of Gujarat

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

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THE CHRONOLOGICAL SYSTEMS OF GUJARAT
use of the era does not figure at all under that name. even in Malwa during the Gupta regime.
Though the exact significance of the name Kęta in association with this era is not definitely explicable, it is clear that the era was formerly known as the era of the Mālava-gana and that the later name Vikrama denotes a popular king of Ujjain. Vikramāditya of the Gardabhilla dynasty may have been the leader of the Mālva-gaņa, which expelled the Sakas from Ujjain and the republican leader may have been mistaken as. a monarch in later times. Brāhmanical traditions about king Vikramāditya of Ujjain, also probably contributed to the popularity of King Vikrama. However, it is difficult to account for the conspicuous non-association of the name of Vikrama (even as a leader) for several centuries.
The Vikrama era is extensively used at present almost all over Northern India except Bengal as well as in Western India.
According to the reckoning which is current since long the epoch of the Vikrama era is 56-58 B.C.75 The first current year of the era corresponds to 57-56 B.C. Its years begain with Caitra Sukla in North India, 75. The first year of the Vikrama era is believed to have started
alier year 3044 of the Kali era, so that the Kali year 3045 corresponds to the Vikrama year 1.
The following tradition is cited in some modern Pancāngas ; .
Yudhisthiro Vikramaśālivāhanau tato nȚpaḥ syādvijayābhinandanaḥ 1 Tatas-tu Nāgārjunabhūpatiḥ kalau Kalkiḥ sadete Sakakarakāḥ smrtāh 11.
Prathama Indraprasthe Yudhisthiras-tasya Sakaḥ 3044 dvitīya: Ujjayinyāṁ Vikramastasya Sakaḥ 135 11.