Shalivahana era

The Shalivahana era, also known as the Saka era, is used with Hindu calendars, the Indian national calendar, the Balinese calendar, the Javanese calendar and the Cambodian Buddhist calendar. Its year zero begins near the vernal equinox of the year 78.^{[citation needed]}

Western Kshatrapas (35–405 BC) were Saka rulers of the western part of India (Saurashtra and Malwa: modern Gujarat, Southern Sindh, Maharashtra, Rajasthan). They were successors to the Indo-Scythians who invaded the area of Ujjain and established the Saka era (with Saka calendar), marking the beginning of the long-lived Saka Western Satraps kingdom.

The Satavahana king (the king titled as Shalivahana is Gautamiputra Satakarni) is credited with the initiation of the era known as Shalivahana Saka to celebrate his victory against the Sakas in the year 78 CE.

Prior to this, in 56 BCE Vikrama Samvat era was founded by the emperor Vikramaditya of Ujjain in a similar fashion following his victory over the Sakas.

A silver coin of the Western Satrap ruler Rudrasena I (200-222). This coin bears a date of the Saka era in the Brahmi script on the reverse: 131 Saka era, corresponding to 209 CE. 16mm, 2.2 grams.

The era was also used by Javanese courts from Old Javanese times until 1633, when it was replaced by Anno Javanico, a hybrid Javanese-Islamic system.

It is also this particular era which aided historians in dating the Laguna Copperplate Inscription, the earliest written document found in the Philippines.

References

Salivahana Caste (also called Kummari (Potter)) in Andhra Pradesh, Salivahana caste is recognized by Govt of India and Govt of AP as per GpO.Ms.No. 28 BCW (M1) Dept., dt 24.6.1995 It has been used not only in many Indian inscriptions but also in ancient Sanskrit inscriptions in Indochina and Indonesia. The reformed calendar promulgated by the Indian government from 1957 is reckoned by this era. It is variously alleged to have been founded by King Kaniṣka...

See also

Kushan Empire -for a complex description of Kushan-Scythian dating.

• Vedic timeline
• Vikramāditya
• Maratha clan system