Vikrama Samvat Era in Indian Calendar Begins
The Vikrama Samvat era, which began on February 22, 57 B.C., is a significant dating system in the Indian calendar, akin to how the Gregorian calendar is based on the birth of Jesus. This calendar system marks years from this starting point, leading to a current year of 2057 Vikrama Samvat for 2000 A.D. However, the exact origins and derivations of the Vikrama Samvat remain subjects of debate, with various theories linking it to historical figures such as Vikramaditya and rulers like Azes I. The calendar itself is a mixed solar-lunar system, consisting of 12 lunar months that combine to form a lunar year of about 354 days, necessitating the periodic addition of an extra month to align with the solar year.
Culturally, Vikrama Samvat plays a crucial role in Indian society, particularly in the observance of festivals and religious events. It is more widely used than alternative calendars, such as the Yudhisthir Shaka system, which has roots extending back to approximately 5500 B.C. Although the Vikrama Samvat remains central to traditional practices, many Indians also utilize the Western calendar in their daily lives, reflecting the country’s ongoing integration into the global community.
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Vikrama Samvat Era in Indian Calendar Begins
Vikrama Samvat Era in Indian Calendar Begins
February 22, 57 b.c., marks the start of the Vikrama Samvat era in Indian chronology. This is the date on which a widely used Indian calendar is based, much as the traditional Western, Gregorian calendar is based on the birth of Jesus. Just as the Western calendar numbers years from the traditional date of Jesus's birth, so the Vikrama Samvat calendar dates events from a starting point in 57 b.c.; thus, a.d. 2000 would be 2057 Vikrama Samvat. Due to differences and uncertainties in the Indian calendar, however, and the difficulty in making a translation to the Western calendar, February 22 is at best an approximation.
The problem is that the origins of Vikrama Samvat are far from clear. Even the derivation of its name is subject to debate: some accounts state that the name comes from the military victories achieved by an Indian ruler called Vikramaditya in 57 b.c., while others claim that Vikramaditya lived 400 years earlier. There are yet other accounts suggesting a link between the Vikrama Samvat era and Azes I (or Azes the First), a Scythian or Parthian ruler. The exact date for the proper beginning of Vikrama Samvat is also disputed, with some sources indicating 56 b.c. and others 58 b.c.
Regardless of these historical issues, Vikrama Samvat is a popular dating system among the people of India, more so than alternatives such as the Yudhisthir Shaka system, which goes back to roughly 5500 b.c. The Indian calendar is a mixed solar-lunar calendar (unlike the Western calendar, which is purely solar). It uses a solar year divided into 12 lunar months, each 29.5 days long. These 12 months add up to a lunar year of just over 354 days, and so every 30 months an extra month called the Adhik Mas is inserted. There are six seasons: Vasanta Rutu, which is Indian spring; Greeshma, which is summer; Varsha, which is the monsoon season; Sharad, which is fall; Hemanta, which is winter; and Shishira, which is a sort of pre-spring. Days (tithis) in the Indian calendar are not uniform; they are calculated from the relative positions of the Sun and the moon, so they can vary in length.
While the traditional calendar and the Vikrama Samvat era dating system remain an important part of Indian culture, especially in calculating the dates of festivals and holy days, most Indians have come to incorporate the Western calendar into their lives as well, as India's economic development brings it more and more into the global community.