Book of Indian Eras, with Tables for Calculating Indian Dates c24: XIX.—Newar Era
Book of Indian Eras, with Tables for Calculating Indian Dates c24
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XIX.—Newar Era
c24.1
The Newâr era is peculiar to Nepâl, where it was introduced in A.D. 880 by Raja Râghava Deva. Pandit Bhagwân Lâl Indarji has published several inscriptions dated in this era. The earliest date is S. 533, or A.D. 1413, of Raja Jyoti Malla, who may be the Jestili Mall of Prinsep’s List. The next is one of Siddhi Nri-Sinha, dated in S. 757, or A.D. 1637. This Prince must be the Siddha Nara Sinha of Prinsep’s List, whose reign is assigned to A.D. 1654—1685. But this inscription places him at least seventeen years earlier. He was the grandson of Jayakusa Malla by his daughter, to whom was left the district of Pâtan. A third and a fourth inscription furnish another correction. These are records of Pratâpa Malla of Kâthmându, dated in S. 769 and 778, or A.D. 1649 and 1658, which serve to place this Raja seven years earlier than in Prinsep’s List.
c24.2
Prinsep obtained his information from Dr. Bramley, who was Residency Surgeon in Nepâl. The year begins in October, and 951 years had expired in 1831. The Newâr era is used upon the coins of the Newâri Rajas of Bhatgaon, Kâthmându, and Pâtan. Marsden has published coins of Jaya Prakâsa Malla II. of Kâthmându, dated in S. 819 and 823, or A.D. 1699 and 1703, which agree with the dates of 1606 and 1706 given in Prinsep’s List. This era was discarded in A.D. 1768 by the Gorkha conqueror Prithi Nârâyana Sâh, who introduced the use of the Sâka era, which is still placed on all the coins of Nepâl.