A History of the Mahrattas v1.c8.39

v1.c8.39

The Soorsun era is properly called Sursanna or Sursan from Arabic Shahūrsan, ‘a year of months.’ According to J. Prinsep, Useful Tables, col. 1,834, p. 38, an account of this era is given by Captain T. B. Jervis in his Report on the Weights and Measures of the Southern Konkan. He says it was introduced on Thursday, June 6, 1342—Hijra 743. But the computation of its agreement with the Hijra year shows it to have begun when 745 Hijra (A.D. 1344) corresponded with 745 Shahūrsan. It was probably adopted on the establishment of one of the Muhammadan kingdoms in the Deccan, under the reign of Tughlak Shāh. . . To reduce Shahūrsan years into Christian, Saka, Samvat and Faslī years, add 599, 521, 655 and 9 years respectively. If the given date falls after the 6th of the month of the Shahūr year, it will occur in the next ensuing Christian year; and after nine months in the next Saka or Samvat year, because the Shahūr year begins in June, at the sun’s entrance into the lunar mansion, Mriga, Mrigasirsha (Mirg). It is not stated whether its subdivisions follow the Hindu or the Arabic system, but the former may be taken for granted. (This note was kindly supplied to me by Mr. W. Crooke, C.I.E.)