Kali Yuga era
Also called: Kali era · Topic: Studying Indian History: Sources, Dating and Historiography · NCERT: Beyond NCERT
Meaning
The Kali Yuga era (Kali era) is a traditional Indian way of counting years. It is said to begin in 3102 BCE, the start of the Kali Yuga. In Hindu tradition, the Kali Yuga is the last and worst of the four ages of the world. Some inscriptions and almanacs count years from this starting point. The date comes from tradition and astronomy, not from any event that historians can check.
Example
The Aihole inscription of 634 CE, from the reign of the Chalukya king Pulakeshin II, gives its date in two ways. It counts years from the start of the Kali Yuga and also from the start of the Shaka era. This shows that different eras were used side by side.
Don't confuse with
- Kali Yuga (the age): this is the mythical age itself in Hindu belief. The Kali era is only a system for numbering years from its supposed start.