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 Vikramāditya 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
See also
Kushan Empire -for a more complex description of Kushan-Scythian dating.
