(Redirected from Saka era)The 'Shalivahana era', also known as the 'Saka era', is used with
Hindu calendars, the
Indian national calendar, and the
Cambodian
Buddhist calendar. Its year zero begins near the
vernal equinox of
78.
The
Satavahana king
Shalivahana (sometimes identified as
Gautamiputra Satakarni) is credited with the initiation of the era known as Shalivahana Saka to celebrate his victory against
Vikramaditya of
Ujjayini in the year 78.
Alternatively, it is thought that the Saka era (sometimes abbreviated to "SE" in numismatic circles) marked the victory of the
Sakas over the dynasty of king
VikramÄditya in
Ujjain,
Malwa. After this victory, the Sakas established the
Western Satraps kingdom, which was to rule the region for more than three centuries.
[1]
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.
[2]
References
1. "The dynastic art of the Kushans", John Rosenfield, p130
2. M.C. Ricklefs, ''A History of Modern Indonesia Since c. 1300, 2nd ed. Stanford: Stanford University Press, 1993, pages 5 and 46.
See also
Kushan Empire -for a more complex description of Kushan-Scythian dating.
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Vedic timeline
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VikramÄditya
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Maratha clan system