Book of Indian Eras, with Tables for Calculating Indian Dates c17: XII.—Sâka Era
Book of Indian Eras, with Tables for Calculating Indian Dates c17
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XII.—Sâka Era
c17.1
The *Sâka-kâl*, called also *Sâka-bhûpa-kâl* and *Sâkendra-kâl*, or the "era of the Saka King," is perhaps more widely used than any other era. Abu Rihân says that it was specially employed by the astronomers. But Aryabata and his predecessors would appear to have made use of the Kâli-Yuga for all their calculations, and it was Varâha Mihira who first made use of the Sâka-kâl in astronomical works. Abu Rihân, who correctly describes it as dating 135 years after Vikramâditya, says, that "Saka was the name of a king who reigned over the country situated between the Indus and the Sea; Vikramâditya marched against him and killed him in a battle fought near Korur, between Multân and the Fort of Luni." The town of Kahror still exists in the neighbourhood of Multân and Bahâwalpur. But this Vikramâditya, as Abu Rihân remarks, could not, owing to the long interval of 135 years, be the same as the famous prince who established the Vikrama Samvat. The name of the Saka king was Sâlivâhan, and accordingly the era is now very generally called Sâka Sâlivâhana. It is also known as the Sâka Samvat.
c17.2
The reckoning of the Sâka era begins with the vernal equinox of the Kâli-Yuga year 3179, or A. D. 78. But as the Indians count only by completed years, the year 1 begins with the vernal equinox of Kâli-Yuga 3180, or A. D. 79. In Northern and Southern India it is usually employed along with the luni-solar calendar; but in Bengal it is generally used with the solar calendar.
c17.3
In converting Sâka dates into Christian reckoning, 78 years must be added to the given date; and *vice versâ* to convert Christian dates into Sâka reckoning, 78 years must be deducted from the former.