Book of Indian Eras, with Tables for Calculating Indian Dates c7.23

c7.23

The Telinga computation, though useless as an astronomical cycle, is of great value in fixing the dates of inscriptions where the numerical figures are at all doubtful, or where the name of the era may be uncertain. Of the latter class there is a very curious example in an inscription translated by Dr. Hall.* The record is dated "in the Saka year twelve hundred and seventy-five, called Chitrabhanu, in the light fortnight of Mârgasirsha, its fifth day, and Saturday." Now nothing can apparently be clearer than this date, which corresponds with A.D. 1353; and yet it is absolutely certain that the word 'Saka' cannot be intended for the Saka era,† as the name of Chitrabhanu, which is the 16th year of the Jovian Cycle, corresponds exactly with 1275 of the Vikramâditya era according to the Northern reckoning, while the Saka year 1275 is the 33rd year of the Jovian Cycle in the North, and the 27th year in the South, both many years distant from Chitrabhânu. But besides this evidence there is also that of the week day, *Saturday*, which agrees with Mârgasiras-Sudi 5 in the Vikramâditya era, and not in the Saka era, when that date fell on a Monday. Another reason for accepting the earlier date is the fact that Mâlwa had already become a province of the Muhammadan empire of Delhi long before Saka 1275, or A. D. 1353, whereas in Vikrama Samvat 1275, or A.D. 1218, Mâlwa was still under Hindu rule, as the invasion of Iltitmish did not take place until A.D. 1230.