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Nepal Sambat
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Nepal Sambat
Nepal Sambat (Newar: 𑐣𑐾𑐥𑐵𑐮 𑐳𑐩𑑂𑐧𑐟, nepāla samvat, meaning "Nepal Era") is the lunisolar calendar used by the Newar people of Nepal. It was the official calendar of Nepal since its inception on 20 October 879 till the end of the Malla dynasty in 1769. During the period, Nepal Sambat appeared on coins, stone and copper plate inscriptions, royal decrees, chronicles, Hindu and Buddhist manuscripts, legal documents and correspondence. After the conquest of Nepal by the Shahs in 1769, the official calendar of the country was replaced with Shaka era and then later by the Bikram Samvat.
The calendar still holds cultural significance in Nepal, especially among the Newar people, whose festivals are based on this calendar system. Owing to its cultural and historical significance, the government of Nepal declared to include Nepal Sambat in official government documents alongside Vikram Sambat since 11 November 2023.
The origin of Nepal Sambat is often the subject of folklore like that of Sankhadhar Sakhwa, a semi-legendary figure who often appears in folklore as the progenitor of the calendar system. However, its historical origins still remain a mystery.
Nepal Sambat was established on 20 October 879 when Rāghavadeva was ruling Nepal. The origins of the calendar system however remains a mystery. Many experts have theorized on its origin but there is yet to be a theory that is unanimously agreed upon by experts.
A 14th century chronicle states that a new era was dedicated to Pashupati during the reign of Rāghavadeva leading some historians like Petech to theorize that the foundation of the new era is related to the completion of a sacred event related to Pasupati.
Art Historian Pal doesn't theorize on the era's origin but suggests that the establishment of a new era named after the country indicated a growing sense of national identity among the native Newar people in the 9th century.
Orientalist Sylvain Lévi suggests that Nepal Sambat was derived from the Shaka era by deducting 800 from the latter because "(sic) the number 8 is considered inauspicious by the Nepalese". Modern historian do not accept this claim as the Shaka era is 801.7 years ahead of Nepal Sambat. Lévi also theorized that Nepal Sambat was started to celebrate Nepal's autonomy from the Tibetan Empire following the murder of Langdarma, a claim which is also rejected by modern historians as the murder occurred in 842 CE.
Nepalese Historian Gautama V. Vajracharya suggests a similar theory to Lévi, suggesting that Nepal Sambat did derive from Shaka era. He posits that Nepal Sambat was established when the Shaka era reached year 801, following the historical practice of lokakāla, where a new era was established by resetting the year count to 1 after the completion of a century.
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Nepal Sambat
Nepal Sambat (Newar: 𑐣𑐾𑐥𑐵𑐮 𑐳𑐩𑑂𑐧𑐟, nepāla samvat, meaning "Nepal Era") is the lunisolar calendar used by the Newar people of Nepal. It was the official calendar of Nepal since its inception on 20 October 879 till the end of the Malla dynasty in 1769. During the period, Nepal Sambat appeared on coins, stone and copper plate inscriptions, royal decrees, chronicles, Hindu and Buddhist manuscripts, legal documents and correspondence. After the conquest of Nepal by the Shahs in 1769, the official calendar of the country was replaced with Shaka era and then later by the Bikram Samvat.
The calendar still holds cultural significance in Nepal, especially among the Newar people, whose festivals are based on this calendar system. Owing to its cultural and historical significance, the government of Nepal declared to include Nepal Sambat in official government documents alongside Vikram Sambat since 11 November 2023.
The origin of Nepal Sambat is often the subject of folklore like that of Sankhadhar Sakhwa, a semi-legendary figure who often appears in folklore as the progenitor of the calendar system. However, its historical origins still remain a mystery.
Nepal Sambat was established on 20 October 879 when Rāghavadeva was ruling Nepal. The origins of the calendar system however remains a mystery. Many experts have theorized on its origin but there is yet to be a theory that is unanimously agreed upon by experts.
A 14th century chronicle states that a new era was dedicated to Pashupati during the reign of Rāghavadeva leading some historians like Petech to theorize that the foundation of the new era is related to the completion of a sacred event related to Pasupati.
Art Historian Pal doesn't theorize on the era's origin but suggests that the establishment of a new era named after the country indicated a growing sense of national identity among the native Newar people in the 9th century.
Orientalist Sylvain Lévi suggests that Nepal Sambat was derived from the Shaka era by deducting 800 from the latter because "(sic) the number 8 is considered inauspicious by the Nepalese". Modern historian do not accept this claim as the Shaka era is 801.7 years ahead of Nepal Sambat. Lévi also theorized that Nepal Sambat was started to celebrate Nepal's autonomy from the Tibetan Empire following the murder of Langdarma, a claim which is also rejected by modern historians as the murder occurred in 842 CE.
Nepalese Historian Gautama V. Vajracharya suggests a similar theory to Lévi, suggesting that Nepal Sambat did derive from Shaka era. He posits that Nepal Sambat was established when the Shaka era reached year 801, following the historical practice of lokakāla, where a new era was established by resetting the year count to 1 after the completion of a century.
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