A Note on the Bhatika Era

In this brief but meticulous note, epigraphist G.S. Gai discusses the Bhātika era, a little-known chronological system used in several inscriptions from Jaisalmer and neighbouring areas in Rajasthan. Gai compiles eleven dated records, including pillar inscriptions standing near wells, tanks and temples in and around Jaisalmer. Each inscription gives a date in Vikrama Samvat (a widely used era), Śaka Samvat and Bhātika Samvat, allowing the author to compute the correlation between these calendars. For example, an inscription near a well records Vikrama Samvat 1494 (Friday, 31 January 1438 AD) and Bhātika Samvat 813, implying a difference of 681 years between the two eras. Another pillar inscription near Isarlalji’s tank gives Vikrama Samvat 1673 (Friday, 31 January 1517 AD) and Bhātika Samvat 993. By examining all recorded dates, Gai notes that seven of them fit an epoch for the Bhātika era starting in 624–25 AD, while three correspond to an epoch in 623–24 AD; one date is irregular by a day. He concludes that the majority of evidence supports a starting point in 624–25 and suggests that the irregularities may be due to scribal errors. Gai emphasises that the Bhātika Samvat was prevalent among communities in and around Jaisalmer during the twelfth to sixteenth centuries and that its widespread use, often alongside Vikrama and Śaka dates, underscores regional diversity in time reckoning. The article also highlights the importance of cross-checking dates with astronomical calculations to ensure accuracy. Gai closes by urging researchers to search for more inscriptions to confirm the Bhātika era’s exact epoch and to explore why it was adopted in this region. This note thus contributes to the broader field of Indian chronology by drawing attention to a local calendar that coexisted with more widespread eras and demonstrating the necessity of epigraphic evidence for understanding regional historical practices.

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