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190
THE INDIAN ANTIQUARY
| OCTOBER, 1020
Amanta.---
(1) November 2, A.D. 986. (2) November 18, A.D. 990.
(3) November 14, A.D. 993. We have given both Purnimanta and Amanta calculations. It is always very difficult to ascertain which particular system was prevalent at that period in particular places. Here also fortunately we have a definite epigraphic evidence to show that the Amanta system was prevalent in Bengal about that time. The Badkamtê Narteśvara image inscription of the reign of Layahachandra gives a date-Ashadha vadi 14 with Thursday and Pushyå nakshatra.& Any one versed in Indian chronology will see that the data, making an impossible combination under the Purnimdnta system, clearly refer to the Amdnia system. We have ventured, therefore, to make our seleotion from dates calculated under the Amanta system. Of all the calculated dates, 979 is rather too early, dating Mahipala's death in A.D. 1025 at the latest, after full 62 years. On the other hand, both A.D. 992 and 993 are somewhat too late, carrying us to about A.D. 1038. We know from Tibetan sources that the celebrated Buddhist missionary Dipankara left for Tibet in A.D. 1042 under King Nayapala whose associstion with the Buddhist sage must have extended to a number of years. Of the two dates remaining, 986 is certainly the most convenient one. So Mahipala ascended the throne in A.D. 981, November 981 falling within his first year. His predecessor Vigrahapala II's date is also hereby settled, dating his accession not later than A.D. 955, a MS. having been copied in his 26th year. The date of Kamboja usurpation (A.D. 966) as gathered from the Dinajpur pillar insoription, fits in well during Vigrahapala's reign. The date, A.D. 966. however, already falls too early in his reign to admit any later date for Mahipala's accession than the one we have selected. Mahipala died therefore in circa A.D. 1030 after a reign of about 50 years.
Before settling the dates of the immediate successors of Mahipala I, we shall try next to settlo date which is likely to evoke very far-reaching consequences, namely, that of the Kamauli grant of Vaidyadeva. It records a grant made on a fayd ay coinciding with a varet (verse 28 dure Agrate frytu amat) Dr. Venis, who first edited the inscription, from the then meagre state of Pala chronology, selected A.D. 1142 from among the possible dates calculated by him. Moreover, he caloulated only vadi dates though there was no reason to exclude sudi ones, which equally make a fort. The possible dates for our immediate purpose are the following: 1096, 1100, 1104, 1110, 1119, 1123. Of these, 1096 is too early, as we shall presently see. In 1104 there was of both at sunrise and the moment of Sankranti on the Sankrdnti day: it is thus rejected, as is also 1115, when there was great at sunrise but rareft later on, and such a combination does not make a oftaret. 1123 is rather too late. So we have only two dates, A.D. 1100 and 1119, for the fourth year of Vaidyadeva. Let us see what comes out of the earlier date. It is clear from the epithets her etc., used in the inscription, that Vaidyadeva became independent, and it has been rightly conjectured that he " declared his independence after the murder of Gopala III," probably by his. Lancle Madanapala. The latest inscription of the reign of Râmapala is dated "Samvat
42 Khadha dine 30." 10 That of the reign of Vigrahapala III is dated "Samvat 13 MArges
JASB., 1914, p. 88.
Mon., p. 69.
EI., II., p. 349.
p. 108.
p. N.
