Tuesday, December 7, 2010
While studying history of India, we observe that these people had been following certain methods which were adopted by different times, regions, nationalities.
When we talk about Indian science which has very strong and extremely long historical background, it should never be forgotten that we are considering the science of different tribes or nationalities, not of one empire or of inhabitants generally of one continent
Hence while working on Indian calendars also, we find great variety of different eras, time lines, panchangas, calendars and its calculation method.
Today, we are going to sketch rough journey of vary interesting tour of different Indian eras and calendars.
But before we start, I would like to put some more information which would be useful to understand certain words or definitions.
Panchange which means five limbs which are Vara, tithi, Nakshatra, Yoga and karana.
Vara is week days which are named after the sun and five principal planets.
Amavasya or new moon is that point of time when longitude of sun and moon are same.
Pournima or Full moon is that point of time when moon is farthest from the sun or exact 1800 rotation from new moon.
Tithi is the time occupied by the moon to move eastward of the sun in 12 degrees, hence there are 15 tithis from 180 degree cycle of new moon to full moon or 30 tithis in complete 360 degree cycle.
Nakshatra is 27th part of ecliptic therefore each Nakshatra occupies 360/27 = 13.20.
When sum of motion of sun and moon is increased by 13.200 is called as Yoga.
Karana is half of tithi means the movement of moon is 6 degrees.
Paksha is the next natural division of solar day which is from new moon to full moon ( Shulka paksha) and full moon to again new moon ( Krishna Paksha).
Lunar month or chandra masa is the time between two successive new or full moons. Which has two types amanta i.e. ends with new moon and purnimanta i.e. ends with full moon.
Luni solar month is that amanta month in which sun enters into the sign of zodiac.
Solar year is the period of earth’s orbital revolution.
Kalpa, mahayuga, yuga and jillion period;
Kalpa is greatest indian division of time which is of 1000 mahayuga.
Mahayuga is composed of 4 yugas of different times period, namely krita, Treta, Dwapar and kali.
Kali yuga is of 432000 years which according to scholar’s analysis of historical records and mathematical calculation, started between 17th and 18th February 3102 B.C.
Dwapar, Treta and Krita time period are of double, triple and quadraple of kali.
Time Division:
1 Prativipala = 0.006 Seconds
1 Vipala = 60 Prativipala OR 0.4 Seconds
1 Pala = 60 Vipala OR 24 Seconds
1 Ghatika = 60 Pala OR 24 Minutes
1 Divasa = 60 Ghatika
1 Prativipala = 0.006 Seconds
1 Vipala = 60 Prativipala OR 0.4 Seconds
1 Pala = 60 Vipala OR 24 Seconds
1 Ghatika = 60 Pala OR 24 Minutes
1 Divasa = 60 Ghatika
Ancient Astronomical Works:
There are many siddhantas and karanas which were used for calculations of panchangas.
Even today many of these siddhantas and karans are regarded as standard authorities for calculations of panchangas.
Of these most ancient known siddhantas is Surya siddhanta. This ancient work was superseded by current Surya siddhanta (which we follow even today) not later than 1000 A.D. Another is Arya Siddhanta created by Kusumapura is into use from 499 A.D.
Given below is the list of such work in historical and medieval period.
Panchasiddhantika by Varahamihira (505 A.D.)
Bramha Siddhanta by Bramhagupta in 628 A.D.
Dhi-Vriddhida by Lalla (638 A.D.)
Rajamrganaka follows Brahma Siddhanta which was created during 1042 A.D.
Siddhanta shiromani (1150 A.D.) and Karana- Kutuhala (1183A.D.) by Bhaskaracharya.
Bhasvati Karana created I Jagannath-puri in (1199 A.D.)
Makaranda Karana in benaras (1498 A.D.)
Some of the Indian Eras:
Kali yuga – Its commencement is 17th and 18th February 3102 B.C. Follows both Luni-solar and Solar Years and were used in both astrnomical and panchanga works. But it does occures very rare in epigraphical records.
Saptarshi-kala – It is also called as Laukika-kala and Sastra-kala. It was in use in Kashmir and adjacent regions. Also it was in use in Multan and other parts at the time of Albiruni (1030 A.D.) Its records can be found in Raja-Tarangini. It is originated considering that seven rishis (seven stars) move through one nakshatra in 100 years hence its one revolution is 2700 year.
The Vikram Era – This era is used today in almost all parts of North India except Bengal.
Earliest known records of the date of this era in Vikram Samvat 898, i.e. (840 A.D.) This ear was also known by name Malve during 450 to 850 A.D.
Generally expired years are mentioned except few records of mentions of current year found. Its years are chaitradi in north and kartikeyadi in Gujrat with pournimanta and amanta months respectively.
The Christian Era – In India this came into use after the establishment of English rule. Era represents current years which are tropical solar years and starts from January 1st.
The Saka Era – Extensively used throughout India. It is exclusively used in almost all parts of south India but in orther parts of the country it is used in addition to other eras.
Its years are both Luni-Solar (chaitradi) and Solar (Meshadi) and months are pournimanta in north and amanta in south.
The Chedi or Kalchuri – This era belongs to Kalchuri dynasty in deccan. This era was in use till earlier times in central India but today it is not in use . Beginning of chedi year was in 247-248 A.D. The commencement of the era is ashwinadi ( starts in ashwin) and shows current year in their calendar.
The Gupta Era – This is also not in use. It is not known which king from Gupta Dynasty originated this era. There are certain inscriptions which shows that the years in this era are chitradi and current years are mentioned.
The Valabhi – This is name given to Gupta era in later period. This was in use in kathiyavad region. It initiated in fourth century of Gupta Era. Its months are both amanta and purnimanta.
The Bangali San – Today this is in use in bangal. Its years are solar years starting in mesha sankrani. But months are given luni solar names. Scholars treat years in this calendar as current one. This calendar corresponds to tamil phalguna.
The Vilayati year – This is also in use today in some part of Bangal and in chief portion of Orissa. It is similar to that of bangali san. The only difference is that its month begins on sankranti.
The amli Era – It commences from the birth of the king of Orissa, Indradyumna. Commencement of each month is at the moment when sun enters in each new sign. Its years are luni solar.
The Fasali Year – This was introduced by Akabar and is derived from Mohammaden year. Its bears the same number of current mohammaden year only difference is it was started in the month of July. It’s month names, beginning of the period and serial number of days are same as that of Hijra year. But its years are solar years.
It was in use in most part of the country. But its methods differ region to region. Hence it gave rise to different verities.
The luni-solar fasali year – It started on 7th September 1882 in bengal, on 5th Jun 1892 in Bombay and 1st July 1892 in madras and its name is derived from Mohammaden year.
But this is purely Hindu year. Its years are luni-solar and aswinadi and months are pournimanta.
The Marhatta sur-san or shuhur san - It was extensively used in marhatta supreme. It is almost same as that of the fasali year but started 9 months later. To convert in A.D. you can add 599 to its year.
The Harsha Kala – It was originated in Kanauj – Thanesar by the kind Harshawardhana.Many references can be found in Alberuni’s writing who travelled across India. At his time (1030 A.D.) it was extensively used in mathura and Kanauj. There are more than 10 inscriptions found in Nepal which were dated in 1st and 2nd century of this era.
The Mangi San – It is in use in the district of Chittagong and represents current years. It is exactly same as that of Bangali san but it is 45 years behind.
The Kollam Era – This is also known as era of Parshuram. It is also mentioned as Kollamandu which means western (kolla) year (andu). It is in use from Malbar to cape cormorin and in Tinnevelly district. There is difference in the methods adopted by malbar and tinnevelly. In north malbar its months begins from Kanya and in south malbar and in tinnevelly it begins in Simha. In this the year run in cycle of 1000.And present cycle is said to be fourth.
The Nevar Year – This was used in Nepal upto 1768. It’s months are amanta. This era mentions expired year. Its epoch is Vikrama saka 936 or 878-79 A.D. Few inscriptions which mentions this year are found in northern India also.
The Chalukya Era – This era was continued for very short period between 1076 A.D. to 1162 A.D. It was tradition by Vikramaditya Tribhuvana Malla, a chalukya king of last chalukya dynasties. Later in 1162 the eastern chalukyas were defeated by Kalchuri king Vijala Kalchuri and with the fall of chalukyas the use of this era also vanished.
The Chalukya Era – This era was continued for very short period between 1076 A.D. to 1162 A.D. It was tradition by Vikramaditya Tribhuvana Malla, a chalukya king of last chalukya dynasties. Later in 1162 the eastern chalukyas were defeated by Kalchuri king Vijala Kalchuri and with the fall of chalukyas the use of this era also vanished.
The Lakshman Sen Era - This era was founded by the king Lakshman sena and was in use in Tirhut and Mithila. It is always mentioned along with Vikrama or Saka era. There are many opinions about its epoch but it is definitely began in between 1105 A.D. – 1109 A.D. According to many documents and inscriptions found, years mentioned are expired years.
The Ilahi Era – Tarikh-i-Ilahi means mighty and divine era was introduced by Akbar. According to Tabaqat-i-Akbari the commencement of this era was from 14th February 1556. Akbar had employed years of this era on the coins of Akbar and Jahangir. Days and months in this era are as per natural solar. There are no weeks in this era. There are months and each months except last has 29-30 days. Each day has different name. and its names are according to ancient Persian calendar. The era was fallen in disuse during reign of Shah-Jahan.
The Ilahi Era – Tarikh-i-Ilahi means mighty and divine era was introduced by Akbar. According to Tabaqat-i-Akbari the commencement of this era was from 14th February 1556. Akbar had employed years of this era on the coins of Akbar and Jahangir. Days and months in this era are as per natural solar. There are no weeks in this era. There are months and each months except last has 29-30 days. Each day has different name. and its names are according to ancient Persian calendar. The era was fallen in disuse during reign of Shah-Jahan.
Tha Mahratta Raka Saka Era – It is also known as Rajyabhishek Saka. Its epoch was in 1673-74 A.D. at the time of coronation of the Shivaji. The beginning of the years is on Jyeshtha Shukla Trayodashi in anand samvatsara. This mentions current years. This was continued till reign of Rajaram maharaj.
