Book of Indian Eras, with Tables for Calculating Indian Dates c6.52

c6.52

But however obscure may be the origin of the cycle, there is no doubt about its antiquity, as both Varâha Mihira and Bhattotpala refer to the description of it given by Vriddha Garga, whose date is fixed by Dr. Kern to the first century B.C. By his account the cycle must have been in use before the beginning of the Kâli-Yuga, as he notes that the Seven Rishis had then passed 25 years in the Nakshatra or Lunar asterism of Maghâ. Then as Maghâ was the 10th of these asterisms, the beginning of that Chakra or cycle of 2700 years must be dated back by 975 years to B.C. 4077. But the genealogical lists of the Purânas point to a still earlier period, as they place Krishna in the 52nd generation after Brahmâ. Allowing twenty-five years to a generation the Hindu date of the creation would be thrown back by upwards of 1300 years before the Kâli-Yuga, or to B. C. 4400.