Bikram Samwat

Bikram Samwat

Bikram Samwat (Bikram Sambat, or Vikram samvat, Devnagari:बिक्रम संवत, abbreviated "B.S.") is the calendar established by Indian emperor Vikramaditya. It is official calendar of Nepal. In addition to Bikram Samwat, the Gregorian calendar and the original Nepalese calendar, Nepal Sambat, are also used in Nepal. Nepal Sambat was officially used in Nepal till the era of Chandra Shamsher.

The Vikrama Samvat was founded by the Tuar Rajput emperor Vikramaditya of Ujjain ["The cyclopædia of India and of Eastern and Southern Asia" by Edward Balfour, B. Quaritch 1885, p502] following his victory over the Sakas in 56 BCE, although it is popularly (and incorrectly) associated with the subseuent king Chandragupta Vikramaditya. It is a solar calendar based on ancient Hindu tradition (see Hindu calendar and Vedic time keeping). The Bikram Sambat calendar is 56.7 years ahead (in count) of the solar Gregorian calendar. For example, the year 2056 BS began in AD 1999 and ended in AD 2000. The calendar starts with the first day of the month Baisakh, which usually falls on the 13th or 14th of April in the Gregorian calendar.

Months

History

This calendar derives its name from the original king Vikramaditya of Ujjain. After the rise of the Rana oligarchs in Nepal, Bikram Sambat came into unofficial use along with the official Shaka Sambat for quite some time. They discontinued Shaka Sambat in its 1823rd year and replaced it with Bikram Samwat for official use since then to date. Bikram Sambat came into official use in its 1958th year. The calendar is widely in use in western India, where it is known as the Vikram Samvat.

The date is supposed to mark the victory of king Vikramaditya over the Sakas, who had invaded Ujjain. To the new era was established to commemorate this event. Alternatively, it is thought to correspond to the Azes era, of the Indo-Scythian king Azes I.

The story is described in "Kalakacharya Kathanaka", a much later work by a Jain sage called Mahesara Suri (Probably circa 12th century CE). The Kathanaka (meaning, "an account") tells the story of a famed Jain monk "Kalakacharya". It mentions that "Gardabhilla", the then powerful king of Ujjain, abducted a nun called "Sarasvati" who was the sister of the monk. The enraged monk sought help of the Saka ruler, a "Sahi", in Sakasthana. Despite heavy odds (but aided by miracles) the Saka king defeated Gardabhilla and made him a captive. Sarasvati was repatriated. Gardabhilla himself was forgiven though. The defeated king retired to the forest where he was killed by a tiger. His son, Vikramaditya, being brought up in the forest, had to rule from "Pratishthana" (in modern Maharashtra). Later on Vikramaditya invaded Ujjain and drove away the Sakas. To commemorate this event he started a new era called the Vikrama era. This story seems to be a jumbled one, as the original Vikramaditya began his rule from Ujjain and not from Pratishthana. The Ujjain calendar started around 56 BCE to 58 BCE, and the subsequent Shalivahan Saka calendar was started in 78 A.D. at Pratishthan.

Culture

The new year of Bikram Samwat is one of the many festivals of Nepal, marked by parties, family gatherings, the exchange of good wishes and participation in rituals to ensure good fortune in the coming year.

In addition to Nepal, the Bikram Sambat calendar are also recognized in north India. Structurally, it is similar to the Bangla Calendar used in Bangladesh, with the month names being the same and starting at the same time. In Bangladesh, the new year is celebrated as Pôhela Boishakh, a national holiday.

The Bangali Hindu communities in India, where the holiday is called Baisakhi, also celebrate the beginning of Spring and the end of the harvest season on Pahela Baishakh. The Sikh communities celebrate Vaisakhi because it is the birth of the Sikh order of the Khasla. Vaisakhi is also called Rongali Bihu in Assam, Puthandu in Tamil Nadu and Pooram Vishu in Kerala.

In Buddhist communities, the month of Baishakh is associated with Vesak, known as Visakah Puja or Buddha Purnima in Nepal, India and Bangladesh, Visakha Bucha in Thailand, Waisak in Indonesia and Wesak in Sri Lanka and Malaysia. It commemorates the birth, Enlightenment and passing of Gautama Buddha on the one historical day, the first full moon day in May, except in a leap year when the festival is held in June. Although this festival is not held on the same day as Pahela Baishakh, the holidays typically fall in the same month (Baishakh) of the Bengali, Hindu, and Theravada Buddhist calendars, and are related historically through the spread of Hinduism and Buddhism in South Asia.

Conversion

The basic rule of thumb for conversion (This method is not exact and almost all of the time it gives wrong dates. However for general idea it is very useful)

Nepali Date to English:Subtract - 56 Years- 8 Months- 15 Days

English Date to Nepali Date:Add - 56 Years- 8 Months- 15 Days

References

*"The dynastic art of the Kushan", John Rosenfield.

External links

* [http://www.jagadambapr.com/calendar.html The very popular Jagadamba Press Calendar]
* [http://planet-source-code.com/vb/scripts/ShowCode.asp?txtCodeId=6018&lngWId=2 Javascript Nepali Calendar Tool]
* [http://www.nepalvista.com/cal/index.html New and old Nepalese calendars]
* [http://www.umn.org.np/nepali/ Nepali to English and Vice Versa Date Conversion]
* [http://www.baghchal.com.np/MeroPatro/ Nepali Calendar for mobile phone]
* [http://www.beeandy.de/english/computer.html Downloadable Nepali Calendar in .ics format]
* [http://www.rishiram.org.np/calendar65.html Nepali Calendar for 2065]


Wikimedia Foundation. 2010.

Игры ⚽ Нужно сделать НИР?

Look at other dictionaries:

  • Vikram Samvat — (Bikram Sambat, Vikram Samvat Vikram Samwat or Vikram s Era, Devanagari:विक्रम संवत्, abbreviated V.S. or B.S ) is the calendar established by Indian emperor Vikramaditya. It is a popularly used calendar in India and the official calendar of… …   Wikipedia

  • Gregorian calendar — For the calendar of religious holidays and periods, see Liturgical year. For this year s Gregorian calendar, see Common year starting on Saturday. 2011 in other calendars Gregorian calendar 2011 MMXI …   Wikipedia

  • Maghe Sankranti — is a Nepalese festival observed on the first of Magh in the Bikram Samwat Nepali calendar (about January 14) bringing an end to the ill omened month of Poush when all religious ceremonies are forbidden. Maghe Sakranti is the Nepalese version of… …   Wikipedia

  • Nepal Sambat — (Nepal Bhasa: नेपाल सम्बत) is the national lunar calendar of Nepal. [1] It was used throughout Medieval Nepal, and into early modern Nepal, until Chandra Sumsher decided to remove it in BS 1960. [2] It was started in 880 AD during the reign of… …   Wikipedia

  • List of Nepal-related topics — This is a list of topics related to Nepal. Those interested in the subject can monitor changes to the pages by clicking on Related changes in the sidebar.Nepal* Nepal * Nepal, Travel information * * Nepal Bhasa * Institute of Medicine, Nepal *… …   Wikipedia

  • BS — BS, B.S., Bs or bs is an abbreviation with multiple meanings, including: *Bachelor of Science degree, also abbreviated BSc *Bachelor of Surgery *Bullshit, phrase *Bullshit (game), a card game *Bullshit!, a TV series starring Penn Teller… …   Wikipedia

  • Magh (Nepali calendar) — Magh (Nepali: माघ) is the tenth month in Bikram Sambat or B.S., the official and Hindu religious calendar of Nepal. This month approximately coincides with January 15 to February 12 of the Gregorian (western) calendar and is 29 days long.… …   Wikipedia

  • Nepali calendar — The Nepali Calendar (Nepali: नेपाली पात्रो) is a traditional solar calendar used in Nepal for both civil and religious purposes. The year begins in the month Baishakh; usually around 14 April. The official Nepali Calendar follows Bikram Samwat,… …   Wikipedia

  • Calendar — For other uses, see Calendar (disambiguation). For the Gregorian calendar for this year, see Common year starting on Saturday. A page from the Hindu calendar 1871–1872. A calendar is a system of organizing days for social, religious, commercial,… …   Wikipedia

  • Chinese calendar — The Chinese calendar is a lunisolar calendar, incorporating elements of a lunar calendar with those of a solar calendar. It is not exclusive to China, but followed by many other Asian cultures as well.[1] In most of East Asia today, the Gregorian …   Wikipedia

Share the article and excerpts

Direct link
Do a right-click on the link above
and select “Copy Link”