Indian Antiquary Vol 20

Author(s): John Faithfull Fleet, Richard Carnac Temple
Publisher: Swati Publications

Page 17

JANUARY, 1891.]
THE EASTERN CHALUKYA CHRONOLOGY.
Saka-Samvat 588 current ; on the amánta Phâlguna kțishņa new-moon, corresponding to
the 11th March, A. D. 666; an annular eclipse; not visible any. where near India; the central line of the eclipse ended at sunset
in Lat. 25° S., Long. 17° E. Saka-Samvat 589 current ; on the amánta Phålguna krishņa new-moon, corresponding to the
28th February, A. D. 667; an annular eclipse; not visible any. where near India; the central line of the eclipse ended at sunset
in Lat. 24° N., Long. 6° W. Baka-Samvat 590' current ; on the purnimanta Phalguna krishna new-moon, correspond
ing to the 17th February, A. D. 668; an annular eclipse ; not visible anywhere in India ; the central line of the eclipse commenced at sunrise in Lat. 13° N., Long. 133o E, and ended at
sunset in Lat. 64° N., Long. 115o W. Saka-Samvat 591 current ; on the púrnímánta Phalguna krishna new-moon, corresponding to
the 6th February, A. D. 669; the line of the middle of the eclipse
was nowhere north of Lat, 30° S. Saka Samvat 598 current ; on the amanta Phalguna krishna new-moon, corresponding to the
19th February, A. D. 676; the line of the middle of the eclipse was nowhere north of Lat. 36° S.
In my published version of this grant, Saka-Samvat 582 current was given as the probable equivalent of the given year (ante, Vol. VII. p. 191). And Dr. Burgess' notes are to the effect that the eclipse in question could only be one which occurred on the 18th January, A. D. 660 ; which day was taken by him as the equivalent of the new-moon of PhAlguna of Saka-Samvat 581 (expired). On this day there was a total eclipse of the sun, which was visible, not long after sunrise, over probably the whole of Southern India. But, whether Bhadrapada is taken as the intercalary month in Saka-Samvat 582 current, according to the published Tables, and in accordance with the present system, - or whether the rule of mean intercalation is followed, according to which the intercalary month would be Karttika,— the day in question was the new-moon tithi, not of PhAlguna, but of the amanta Pausha or the pursimánta Mâgha. However, we require an eclipse to fit in with the result taken above, that Chaitra sukla 10 in the second year of the reign of Vishņuvardhana II. was Chaitra sukla 10 of SakaSamvat 587 current, corresponding to the 13th March, A. D. 664. From that result, it follows that the Chaitra sukla 10 of his fifth year was the Chaitra sukla 10 of Saka Samvat 590 current. Consequently, the new moon of Phålguna in his fifth year might lie either in Saka-Samvat 589 current, or in 590. And thus the required eclipse might be found in that of the 28th February, A. D. 667, falling in Saka-Samvat 589 current. But I consider this eclipse to be distinctly not admissible; because the day was the new-noon tithi of the aidnta Phálgana; whereas the purnimanta arrangement of the lunar fortnights, which continued in use in Southern India up to at any rate Saka-Samvat 727 (see ante, Vol. XVII. p. 141 f.), is certainly the proper one for the period with which we are dealing. The required eclipse is undoubtedly that which took place on the 17th February, A. D. 668, corresponding to the new-moon tithi of the purnimanta Phalguna of Saka-Samvat 590 current, it is true, as has been stated above, that this eclipse was not visible in India ; but the same remark appears to be applicable to all the eclipses, one or other of which must be the one intended. Now, this date being in the fifth year of Vishnuvardhana II., the new-moon of the purnimanta Phålguna of 'Saka-Samvat 586 current fell in his first year, and the first day of his first year might, so far, be any day from Phâlguna sukla 1 of Saka-Samvat 585 current, up to the púrni mánta Phâlguna křishna 15 of Saka-Samvat 586 current. Again, Chaitra
14 I owe this to Mr. Sh. B. Diksbit.