have excited much interest, not only because of their antiquity, but because of the curious fact that by them the ancient Chera Kings conferred on the Jewish Colonies, certain privileges which those Colonies still possess to some extent. They have been more than once translated, and there has been much diversity of opinion regarding the dates assigned to them. The earliest of the deeds is dated in the 36th year opposite to the 2nd year, during the reign of Sri-Bhaskara Ravi-Varman. The expression “36 year opposite to the 2nd year” has been variously interpreted. One scholar understood the 2nd year, to refer to the Cycle of Parasu Rama, another took the 36th year to refer to the 60 years Cycle of Brihaspati.”[1] Neither of these Cycles are however applicable to all the deeds whose dates are given in double years. From the researches made by the Portuguese Missionary Beschi, who resided in Madura for forty years, it appears that the Cycle then used in Southern India was the Grahapparivirthi Cycle[2] of
- ↑ “The words irandam-andeikk-edirmuppatt-aram-andu were translated by Mr Whish “the thirty-sixth year of the second cycle (of Parasurama) = 139 B. C.; and, by Sir Walter Elliot ‘the thirty-sixth year opposed to or in contradistinction to the second which would be the third cycle (of Parasurama)=861 A.D. Dr. Burnell suggested that the first andu might refer to the year of the reign, and the second to that of the King’s age, while Dr. Cadwel1 took the second andu for the year of the reign, and the first for the year of the 60 year cycle of Brihaspati.” Dr. Hultzseh in the Indian Antiquary, Vol. XX, p 288. Dr. Hultzsch was of opinion that the first year indicated the date of the King’s appointment as Yuvaraja or heir apparent: and the second the year of his reign.
- ↑ “Grahapparivirthi cycle of ninety years. The Southern inhabitants of the peninsula of India use a cycle of ninety years, which is little known, according to Warren in the Karnatak. This cycle was analysed by the Portugese missionary Beschi, while resident for 40 years in Madura. The native astronomers there say it is constructed of the sum of the products in days of 15 revolutions of Mars, 22 of Mercury, 11 of Jupiter, 5 of Venus, 29 of Saturn and one of the sun. “The epoch of this cycle occurs on the expiration of the 3078th year of the Kaliyug in 24 B. C. The years follow the solar or sidereal reckoning. The concurrent cycle and year for any European year may readily be found by adding 24 and dividing by 90: thus 1830 A. D. = 1830+2490= 20 cycles and 54 years.”—Prinsen’s Indian Antiquities by Thomas, Vol. II, p 138.The Grahapparivirthi cycle is applicable to every deed or inscription in the Tamil country, whose date is given in double years. The inscription of the Kerala King Rami (Malabar Manual, Vol. II. p. 122) found at Tirnannur, near Calicut, is dated in the fourth year opposed to the fourth year. The corresponding date in the Christian Era is 4 x 90 + 4—24 or A. D. 340. The Tiruppuvanam grant of
