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EPIGRAPHIA INDICA
[VOL. XXVIII
(1) Santa-Bommali plates of Nandavarman, son of Anantavarman IL-Gn. 221, Ashādha dins pañchami, with a solar eclipse in an unspecified month. There was a solar eclipse in amanta Jyēshtha in $. 641 (corresponding to the expired Gn. year 221). The wording of the date shows that the month Ashādha was amänta.
(2) Indian Museum plates of Dēvēndravarman_Gn. 308, with a solar eclipso in Māgha There was a solar eclipse in amānta Māgha in $. 728 (corresponding to the expired Gn. 308).
(3) Pondūru plates of Vajrahasta, son of Kämärņava-Gn. 500, Ashādha-māsa dina 5, Adityavāra. This date regularly corresponds to Saka 919, Sunday, the 13th June A. D. 997 which was Ashādha su. di. 5. The wording of this date shows that the month Ashādha had commenced only four days before, with the bright fortnight, i.e., it was amānta.
These three dates clearly indicate that the months of the Gänga year were amānta. On the other hand, Mr. Sarma has drawn attention to some other dates which in his opinion are recorded in purnimänta months. It is, therefore, necessary to discuss this question at some length to determine whether the months of the Ganga year were generally amänta or purnimänta.
The only dates of the Gänga year which we need consider in this connection are those which mention a tithi in the dark fortnight of a month in connection with a solar eclipse, the autumnal or the vernal equinox or a week-day, Some other dates, whether of the bright or the dark fortnight, in which the tithi first mentioned in words is again expressed in the number of days at the end may also throw light on this question. On the other hand, if the tithi is not connected with a solar eclipse, an equinox or a week-day, but is mentioned at the end as denoting the date of the issue of the plates, it will be of no avail ; for, plates were often issued several days, if not months, after the grants recorded in them were made. With these preliminary observations, we shall proceed to consider the relevant dates of the Ganga era
Mr. Somasekhara Sarma has drawn attention to the following dates which according to him are in pūrnimānta months,
(1) Ponnuţūru plates of Samantavarman_Gn. 64. In this record the tithi when the plates were issued is given first in words as Pushya-sukla-paksha-trayodasi-dinam in 1. 26 and again in figures in line 29 as Pushya-dina 28. This shows that the month Pushya was pūrnimānta.
(2) Urlam plates of Hastivarman2-Gn. 87. In this record the tithi when the grant was made is given in words in l. 13 as Kārttika-krishn-ashtami and the same date is expressed in figures in 1. 23 as Kārttika-dina 8. This indicates that the month of Kärttika commenced with a dark fortnight.
These two dates are undoubtedly in purnimānta months as stated by Mr. Sarma ; but the same cannot be said of the other two dates cited by him.
(3) Tekkali plates of Dövēndravarman_Gn. 192. Those plates record a grant made on the occasion of a lunar eclipse. The date when the plates were issued is given at the end as Māgha
1 J. A.H. R. 8., Vol. II, pp. 185 ff. * Above, Vol. XXIII, pp. 73 f. and Vol. XXVI, p. 329. .J. A. H. R. S., Vol. XI, pp. 12 and 147. * Above, Vol. XXVII, pp. 217 f.
*Soo, ... the dates of the Chicacole plates of Indravarinan (Ind. Ant., Vol. XIII, pp. 119 f.), the Purlo plates of Indravarman (above, Vol. XIV, pp. 361 { ) and Chicacole plates of Dēvēndravarman (ibid. Vol. III., pp. 130 f.) . Above, Vol. XXVII, pp. 216 f.
Ibid., Vol. XVII, pp. 332 f. # Ind. Hint. Quart., Vol. XI, pp. 301 t.
