19:
223:, the son of Chandragupta I. In his support, Majumdar cites two copper-plate grant inscriptions attributed to the years 5 (found at Nalanda) and 9 (found at Gaya). Assuming these inscriptions are dated in the Gupta era (like other Gupta inscriptions), this would imply that Samudragupta ascended the throne in or before year 5 of the Gupta era. If we assume that Chandragupta I founded the era to mark his coronation, we will have to assume that he ruled for 5 years or less. Majumdar argues that this is highly unlikely, given that Chandragupta I was an accomplished king as suggested by his imperial title. Some other scholars regard these inscriptions as later forgeries, but Majumdar believes that at least the first inscription is a genuine one, and even if these inscriptions were forged at a later date, they were probably copied from older inscriptions. S. R. Goyal theorizes that the era was started by the later king
177:
89:, that is, 318–319 CE which later led to debates about the era's origin among the 19th century historians since his statement would mean the Gupta era ended around 319 CE rather than begin at that time.
18:
351:
The year mentioned in these inscriptions is generally the current year at the time of issuance. Thus, the date of these inscriptions can be converted to CE by adding 320 or 321.
95:
analysed the Gupta inscriptions, and realised that they were dated to years of a particular calendar era. He believed that the era was founded by king
Jayadeva of the
402:(Aung-Thwin 2005: 334–335): More research needs to be done. A Pyu stone inscription discovered in 1993 indicates that the Pyu states may have also used the Gupta Era.
354:
If the year mentioned in the date is the expired year (that is the preceding year at the time of issuance), the date can be converted to CE by adding 319 or 320.
359:
The later inscriptions from the
Maitraka territory ("Vallabhi era") follow the scheme prevalent in southern and western India: the first month of the year is
501:
422:
176:
85:, who described the Guptas as "wicked", stated that the Gupta era marked the end of the Gupta dynasty. He dated the Gupta era to the year 241 of the
200:, so several modern scholars theorize that he founded the era around 319 CE, and that the epoch of this era marks his coronation. Scholars such as
230:
Some other theories trace the origin of the era to 3rd century CE or earlier, but this view is now discredited: the 7th century inscription of
778:
757:
714:
693:
672:
65:
region of western India, although regional differences lead to a slightly different calculation for the conversion of
Vallabhi era years to
334:
The early inscriptions dated in the Gupta era followed the scheme prevalent in northern India: the first month of the year is
Chaitra (
102:
Later discoveries and analysis indicate that the era was actually founded by the Guptas, and was known after them. For example:
204:
and P. L. Gupta date
Chandragupta's ascension (and thus, the epoch of the era) to 319-320 CE, while others such as
806:
802:
57:, as well as their vassals and their successors in present-day northern India and Nepal. It is identical to the
821:
383:
For the inscriptions that mention the expired year, the date can be converted to CE by adding 318 or 319.
380:
For the inscriptions that mention the current year, the date can be converted to CE by adding 319 or 320.
826:
81:, although there have been several debates over its origin in the past. The 11th century Persian writer
234:
is dated to the 300th year of the Gupta era, and proves that the Gupta era started in the 4th century.
315:
283:
201:
92:
22:
A standing Buddha, inscribed: "Gift of
Abhayamira in 154" of the Gupta Era (474 CE) in the reign of
277:
257:
Apart from the Gupta rulers, the Gupta era was also used by their vassals and successors, such as:
62:
299:
96:
774:
753:
747:
734:
710:
689:
683:
668:
662:
704:
262:
326:
month. Depending on regional conventions, the process of converting the Gupta era years to
269:: this resulted in the era being called the "Vallabhi" era in the Maitraka-ruled territory.
733:. Vol. 3, Part I: A.D. 300-985. Indian History Congress / People's Publishing House.
224:
181:
111:
205:
795:
298:. Mainstream scholarship, however, holds that the recalibrated calendar was launched at
724:
360:
216:
193:
185:
31:
23:
815:
341:
319:
303:
291:
220:
212:
78:
54:
43:
768:
728:
196:
with its establishment. He was the first Gupta king to assume the imperial title
243:
141:
126:
365:
327:
251:
247:
130:
66:
738:
706:
Archaeological
Excavations in Central India: Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh
336:
294:
Era (epochal year of 320 CE) may also have been in use in the Pyu states in
272:
231:
160:
86:
82:
27:
370:
266:
137:
99:
dynasty (relatives of the Guptas), and was later adopted by the Guptas.
323:
295:
122:
107:
770:
A Political
History of the Imperial Guptas: From Gupta to Skandagupta
156:
517:
515:
450:
448:
175:
17:
583:
581:
610:
608:
484:
482:
469:
467:
465:
463:
532:
530:
114:, is dated to the year 61 "following the era of the Guptas" (
219:, have theorized that the Gupta era marks the coronation of
227:, but its beginning was dated to Samudragupta's ascension.
254:
until the end of the Gupta dynasty in the 6th century CE.
77:
The Gupta era is now believed to have been started by the
192:
The most prevalent theory about the era's origin credits
377:). Because of this, the dates are set back by 5 months.
302:, and later adopted by the upstart principality of
184:in the "year 61 following the era of the Guptas".
502:"Collections-Virtual Museum of Images and Sounds"
423:"Collections-Virtual Museum of Images and Sounds"
801:Siddham – the South Asia Inscriptions Database:
614:
644:
587:
572:
521:
488:
473:
454:
439:
560:
548:
536:
318:, the Gupta era began on the first day of the
8:
599:
159:copper-plate inscription from the reign of
61:(or Valabhi era), which was used in the
508:. American Institute of Indian Studies.
429:. American Institute of Indian Studies.
414:
395:
163:is dated to year 300 of the Gupta-era (
798:by D.N Lielukhine, Oriental Institute
7:
664:Rise and Fall of the Imperial Guptas
110:stone pillar inscription, issued by
290:Recent research suggests that the
14:
369:), and the month starts from the
340:), and the month starts from the
314:According to the calculations of
730:A Comprehensive History of India
1:
47:
133:also refer to the Gupta era.
53:–319 CE. It was used by the
752:. Oxford University Press.
165:Gauptabda varsha-shatatraye
843:
322:(bright fortnight) of the
242:The Gupta era was used in
180:The pillar in the name of
796:Uchchhakalpa inscriptions
703:Om Prakash Misra (2003).
330:(CE) years is different:
211:Some historians, such as
746:Richard Salomon (1998).
661:Ashvini Agrawal (1989).
767:Tej Ram Sharma (1989).
709:. Mittal Publications.
688:. Motilal Banarsidass.
667:. Motilal Banarsidass.
208:date it to 318–319 CE.
189:
116:Gupta-kālā nuvartamāna
35:
682:D. C. Sircar (1965).
615:Om Prakash Misra 2003
179:
21:
645:Richard Salomon 1998
588:Richard Salomon 1998
573:Ashvini Agrawal 1989
522:Ashvini Agrawal 1989
489:Ashvini Agrawal 1989
474:Ashvini Agrawal 1989
455:Ashvini Agrawal 1989
440:Ashvini Agrawal 1989
316:John Faithfull Fleet
284:Uchchhakalpa dynasty
144:mentions the phrase
140:rock inscription of
93:John Faithfull Fleet
647:, pp. 186–187.
635:Aung-Thwin 2005: 35
561:R. C. Majumdar 1981
549:Tej Ram Sharma 1989
537:R. C. Majumdar 1981
524:, pp. 100–101.
278:Parivrajaka dynasty
442:, pp. 99–100.
190:
172:Founder of the era
36:
780:978-81-7022-251-4
759:978-0-19-509984-3
716:978-81-7099-874-7
695:978-81-208-1166-9
674:978-81-208-0592-7
600:D. C. Sircar 1965
563:, pp. 15–16.
551:, pp. 50–51.
457:, pp. 98–99.
46:that begins from
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310:Conversion to CE
286:of central India
280:of central India
263:Maitraka dynasty
125:inscriptions of
52:
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42:is a historical
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182:Chandragupta II
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112:Chandragupta II
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50:
12:
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5:
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217:R. C. Majumdar
194:Chandragupta I
186:Mathura Museum
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55:Gupta emperors
32:Sarnath Museum
24:Kumaragupta II
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822:Calendar eras
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320:shukla paksha
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252:eastern India
250:and parts of
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248:western India
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827:Gupta Empire
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654:Bibliography
640:
631:
626:Hall 1960: 8
622:
617:, p. 8.
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374:
371:new moon day
364:
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221:Samudragupta
213:D. C. Sircar
210:
206:Georg Bühler
197:
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164:
149:
145:
115:
101:
91:
76:
59:Vallabhi era
58:
44:calendar era
39:
37:
15:
773:. Concept.
202:V. A. Smith
142:Skandagupta
127:Kumaragupta
79:Gupta kings
816:Categories
807:Śarvanātha
410:References
366:karttikadi
346:purnimanta
328:Common Era
300:Sri Ksetra
131:Budhagupta
97:Lichchhavi
67:Common Era
63:Saurashtra
51: 318
803:Jayanātha
337:chaitradi
273:Shashanka
232:Shashanka
161:Shashanka
87:Shaka era
83:Al-Biruni
40:Gupta era
28:Gupta art
739:34008529
727:(1981).
267:Vallabhi
138:Junagadh
506:vmis.in
427:vmis.in
361:kartika
324:Chaitra
296:Myanmar
123:Sarnath
108:Mathura
73:History
777:
756:
737:
713:
692:
671:
375:amanta
157:Ganjam
69:(CE).
390:Notes
304:Pagan
292:Gupta
238:Usage
805:and
775:ISBN
754:ISBN
735:OCLC
711:ISBN
690:ISBN
669:ISBN
261:the
215:and
155:The
136:The
129:and
121:The
106:The
38:The
348:).
265:of
148:or
818::
607:^
580:^
529:^
514:^
504:.
481:^
462:^
447:^
425:.
306:.
246:,
167:).
118:).
48:c.
30:.
26:.
783:.
762:.
741:.
719:.
698:.
677:.
373:(
363:(
344:(
188:.
152:.
34:.
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