History of Dharmashastra (Ancient and Mediaeval Religious and Civil Law in India) v6.c82.649

v6.c82.649

The origin and use of the Vikrama era are as much shrouded in doubts and mystery as is the case with the *śaka* era.⁹⁹⁷ Doubts have been expressed as to whether there was any king called Vikramāditya about 57 B. C. the supposed starting point being⁹⁹⁸ Nov. 58 B C in Gujarat where the year begins with Kārtika śukla pratipad and April 58 B C in Northern India where the year begins with Caitra *kṛṣṇa* pratipad The expired Vikrama year is equal to A. D. year plus 57. In certain rather early inscriptions, years are referred to as Kṛta For example, in Nandsa Yūpa Inscription the Kṛta year 282 is mentioned and in three Maukhari Inscriptions on *yūpas* (sacrificial posts) the year 295 Kṛta is found⁹⁹⁹ The Bijayagad pillar Inscription is dated in Kṛta 428, the Mandasor Inscription in Kṛta 461 and the Gangadhar Inscription in Kṛta 480¹⁰⁰⁰ Scholars are generally agreed that the Kṛta era is a precursor of the Vikrama era. But the name Kṛta applied to the years has not been satisfactorily explained¹⁰⁰¹