Book of Indian Eras, with Tables for Calculating Indian Dates c8.2

c8.2

THE smaller Cycle of Jupiter consists of a period of twelve years, or one-fifth of the greater Cycle. It was described by Davis at some length, but is only briefly noticed by Warren.∗ I have already given a detailed account of this Cycle in my attempt to fix the initial point of the Gupta era.† Varâha Mihira notices it in the following terms: “Each year (during which Jupiter completes a twelfth part of his revolution) has to bear the name of the lunar mansion in which he rises. The years follow each other in the same order as the lunar months.” They are also named after the lunar months with the prefix of the word ‘Mahâ.’ Thus Lalla says: