Understanding the Bharata War Time Reckoning in Inscriptions

The question asks which inscription mentions a time reckoning system that starts from the Bharata war. The Bharata war, often associated with the epic Mahabharata, is a significant event in ancient Indian history and mythology, and its supposed date has been used as a reference point for timekeeping in some historical records.

Analyzing the Options

Let's look at each option to determine which inscription is known for referencing a time reckoning based on the Bharata war:

1. Aihole Inscription of Pulakesin - II: This famous inscription, located in the Meguti temple at Aihole, was composed by Ravikirti, the court poet of the Chalukya king Pulakesin II. It is known for providing valuable historical information about the reign of Pulakesin II, including his conflicts with other rulers like Harsha Vardhana. Crucially, this inscription contains a verse that calculates the time elapsed since the Bharata war. It states that 3735 years had passed since the Bharata war by the time of the inscription's composition (specifically, Saka 556, which corresponds to 634 CE). This direct reference makes it a primary source for discussions about dating ancient Indian events relative to the Bharata war.
2. Madhuban copper-plate of Harsha: This inscription belongs to King Harsha Vardhana of the Pushyabhuti dynasty. Copper plates like this usually record land grants and provide details about the donor, donee, and the conditions of the grant. While they are important historical documents for understanding the administration and society during Harsha's reign (7th century CE), they typically use eras like the Harsha era or other standard Indian calendars of the time, not a reckoning based on the Bharata war.
3. Poona copper-plate of Prabhavati Gupta: This inscription is associated with Prabhavati Gupta, the daughter of the Gupta emperor Chandragupta II and queen of the Vakataka king Rudrasena II. Gupta and Vakataka inscriptions usually refer to the Gupta era or regional eras. They do not typically use a time reckoning based on the Bharata war.
4. Haraha Inscription of Isanavarman: This inscription belongs to the Maukhari king Isanavarman. Maukhari inscriptions, like those of other dynasties of that period, primarily use standard eras prevalent in their regions and time. They are not known to use a time reckoning based on the Bharata war.

Conclusion

Based on the analysis of the options, the Aihole Inscription of Pulakesin - II is the only inscription among the choices that is historically known to contain a reference to a time reckoning beginning from the Bharata war.

Revision Table: Key Inscriptions and Eras

Additional Information on Ancient Indian Timekeeping and the Bharata War

Ancient Indian inscriptions and texts use various methods for time reckoning, including:

• Regnal Years: Counting years from the accession of the reigning king.
• Established Eras: Using specific historical or mythical events as a starting point, such as:
  • Vikrama Era (57 BCE)
  • Saka Era (78 CE)
  • Gupta Era (319-320 CE)
  • Harsha Era (606 CE)
• Kali Yuga Era: Starting from the beginning of the Kali Yuga, a cosmic age according to Hindu cosmology, which is traditionally dated to 3102 BCE.
• Bharata War Era: Referencing the time elapsed since the Mahabharata war. The Aihole inscription provides one specific instance of using this event for dating. The mention in the inscription, stating 3735 years elapsed since the Bharata war by Saka 556 (634 CE), implies a Bharata war date around 3101 BCE (634 + 3735 = 4369; assuming Saka 556 is year 4369 from Bharata war start). This date is close to the traditional start of the Kali Yuga, leading some scholars to associate the two reckonings.

The use of the Bharata war as a reference point highlights its cultural and historical significance in ancient India. While dating the war precisely based on such references is complex and debated among historians, the Aihole inscription remains a key piece of evidence showing this method of time reckoning was in use.