Indian Antiquary Vol 21

Author(s): Richard Carnac Temple
Publisher: Swati Publications

Page 58

50
THE INDIAN ANTIQUARY.
verses of Shadgurusishya's Védárthadipikd, in which the author tells us that he completed his work, when the number of days of the Kaliyuga was 1 565 132:
Kaly-ahar
Sarvânukramani-vrittir jâtâ Vêdârthadipikall Lakshani pañchadasa vai pafichashashți
Kha-go-tya-nmê-shu-mâ-y-êti
gananê sati I
Expressed in the days of the Julian period, the epoch of the Kaliyuga is
588 465 75 days; +1565 132 days;
krishna
sahasrakam
i.e., in the Yavana or Hijra year 1197, on the Sa-dvâtribśach-chhatam ch=êti dina-våky- fourth lunar day of the dark half of the second Artha iritaḥ II summer-month (Ashadha), on Thursday. As the Hijra year 1197 commenced on the 7th December, A. D. 1782, the date should fall in A. D. 1783 or Saka 1705 expired. And for Saka 1705 expired the 4th of the dark half of the amânta Ashadha corresponds to Thursday, the 17th July, A. D. 1783, when the fourth tithi of the dark half ended 21 h. 10 m. after mean sunrise.
sum 2153 597-75 days of the Julian period the 24th March, A D. 1184, 18 h. after mean sunrise.
Accordingly, the day actually given us by Shadgurusishya would correspond to the 24th March, A. D. 1184. But since this is the day of the Mésha-sankrantis at the end of the solar year Kaliyuga 4285 Saka 1106 current, it appears highly probable that, what Shadgurusishya meant to intimate, is merely, that he finished his work in Kaliyuga 4285 Saka 1106 expired, and that he has simply copied the number of days, given by him, from the calendar.
That the day put down in the date was the day of the Mesha-samkranti, Shadgurusishya indeed has plainly suggested himself. For there can be no doubt whatever that the true reading of the first half of the first of the above verses is
Khago-ntyân-Mêsham-ap-êti
kaly-ahargapanê sati, i. e., when the number of days of the Kaliyuga was the number denoted by khago-ntyán Mésham-ápa "the sun passed from the last sign on to the sign Mêsha;" (kh=2, g=3, y=1, m=5, sh=6, m=5, and p=1).
5. In the Veraval inscription of the reign of the Vaghela Arjunadêva, the Mahammada samvat or Hijra year 662 is put down along with the Vikrama, Valabhi, and Simha years to which the day of the date belonged. And in MSS. I have sometimes found Hijra years quoted by the side of the corresponding Saka years. The Hijra year, described as the Yavana year,
6 See Professor Macdonell's Edition, p. 168; Indische Studien, Vol. VIII. p. 160; and Professor Aufrecht's Oxford Catalogue, p. 378.
[FEBRUARY, 1892.
is quoted alone in the following date of a MS. of a commentary on the Suryasiddhanta, written in Maithili characters (apparently) in
Oudh:10
Such is the reading of the published texts, but it ields no sense. I shall show presently what I consider to be the right reading.
Turaga-nava-himâmśu-kshm-ânkitê Yavanê=
bdê
charama Suchi chaturthyâm
pakshê hni Jaive;
6. Ante, Vol. XIX. p. 6, I have attempted to prove that the Lakshmanasêna era commenced in A. D. 1119, and I have shown that, assuming my epoch to be correct, the difference between a year of that era and the corresponding expired Saka year must always be 1040, or 1041, or 1042. In support of my views, I would now draw attention to two dates in the late Dr. Rajendralâl Mitra's Notices, which I had formerly overlooked.
According to Vol. VII. p. 169, a MS. of Bhavadatta's commentary on the Sisupalavadha is dated La-sam 512 Sakabdaḥ 1552. Here the difference between the two years is 1040; and, in accordance with what I have previously stated, the Lakshmapasêna year must have been the current year 512, and the date written in one of the months from Kârttika to Phalguna.
According to Vol. V. p. 84. a MS. of Madhu. sudan's Kantakóddhara which is written in Maithili characters, contains the lines -
chakre Råmakaniyasô Svanipatêḥ éîtâméu. nand-ambudhâv=
ankê Phalguna-saptami-Ravidinė Gangâ.
Ganês-archakah,
which give us for calculation the (Lakshmanasena) year 491, and the seventh lunar day (of either the bright or the dark half) of Phalguna, joined with a Sunday. Here, the month being Phalguna, the date should fall either in Saka (491+ 1040 =) 1531 expired, or in Saka (491 + 1041) 1532 expired; but calculations for Saka 1531 yield no
s It took place 8 h. 58-6 m. after mean sunrise.
Three of Professor Macdonell's MSS. actually read misham (not méshum), and they have the sign of anusvåra above the akshara preceding ty. 10 Dr. RajendralAl Mitra's N
Vol. V. p. 119.