The Shalivahana Shaka Calendar is based on the Saka era, which starts in 78 AD, and is named after the legendary Indian king Shalivahana.
The year in the Shalivahana Shaka calendar is divided into 12 months, each month consisting of either 30 or 31 days. The months are named as follows: Chaitra, Vaishakha, Jyaishtha, Ashadha, Shravana, Bhadrapada, Ashwin, Kartik, Agrahayana, Pausa, Magha, and Phalguna.
The calendar takes into account the fact that the solar year is approximately 365.25 days long, and adds an extra day to the month of Phalguna (February-March) every four years, making the year a leap year. This system is similar to the Gregorian calendar’s leap year system.
The Shalivahana Shaka calendar is synchronized with the solar year, which makes it suitable for agricultural and astronomical purposes. The calendar is used to determine the dates of Hindu festivals, such as Diwali and Holi, as well as the birthday of Hindu deities, such as Lord Ganesha and Lord Krishna.
In addition to its use in Hindu communities, the Shalivahana Shaka calendar is also used in India for official purposes, such as government record-keeping and tax collection. The Indian government recognizes the Shalivahana Shaka calendar as an official calendar and often uses it in conjunction with the Gregorian calendar for official purposes.
The Shalivahana Shaka calendar continues to be used in India and other parts of South Asia and remains an important part of the region’s cultural and historical heritage.
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