Book of Indian Eras, with Tables for Calculating Indian Dates c6.42

c6.42

The Lok-Kâl, or "common era," called also the Sapt-Rishi-Kâl, or "era of the Seven Rishis," is a cycle of 2700 years divided into twenty-seven centenary periods, a new reckoning being started at the beginning of each century. The theory of the cycle is, that the Seven Rishis, or stars of Ursa Major, remain for one century in each of the twenty-seven Nakshatras, or lunar mansions. All authorities agree in making Aswini the first of the Nakshatras, and in stating that the Mahâbhârata took place when the Rishis were in the lunar constellation Maghâ, the tenth of the series. The Purânas, and the practice of all the people who still use this cycle, excepting only the Kashmiris, agree in making the era of Yudhishthira the same as the Kâli-Yuga. All, however, agree in stating that, at the time of the Mahâbhârata, the Seven Rishis had already passed 75 years in Maghâ. But as Varâha places the Great War 653 years after the beginning of the Kâli-Yuga, or in 2449 B.C., that year should have been the 76th of the tenth Nakshatra, and the 976th year of the cycle. This would fix the first year of each centenary period to the 25th year of each century B.C., and to the 76th year of each century A.D. But to prevent the confusion that would thus have arisen, Varâha simply ignored the generally accepted belief that the Rishis had spent 75 years in Maghâ when the Mahâbhârata took place and retained the initial points of the Saptârshi centuries—only bringing Maghâ down from B.C. 3177 (or 3102 + 75) to B.C. 2477. Accordingly, Varâha's followers place the initial point of the Vrihaspati Chakra in 3377 B.C. in Aswini, so that each century begins in the 26th year of each century of the Kâli-Yuga exactly as Dr. Bühler was informed. This also accords with the statement of my Kashmiri informant that the Rishis had completed three revolutions less 25 years in the Dwâpara-Yuga before the Kâli-Yuga began; that is, their Chakra preceded the Kâli-Yuga by 275 years, equivalent to B.C. 3377, or 3102 + 275 years.