Bikram Sambat: The Hindu Calendar with a Rich History and Significance

Happy New Year 2081 BS! Bikram Sambat or Vikrami calendar, is the historical Hindu calendar used in Nepal and the Indian subcontinent. The traditional Vikram Samvat calendar uses lunar months and solar sidereal years. The calendar remains in use by people in Nepal serving as its national calendar.

Before the adoption of Bikram Sambat, Nepal used various other calendar systems, such as the Shakya calendar, Nepal Era, and Gupta Era.

According to some legends, the use of Bikram Sambat in Nepal started during the reign of King Jayasthiti Malla in the 14th century. The king was impressed by the accuracy and precision of the calendar system and adopted it as the official calendar of Nepal. Since then, it has been widely used in the country and is an important part of cultural and religious traditions. The use of Bikram Sambat is seen in many places, by many kings, throughout the history of Nepal.

Whereas, the official use of Bikram Sambat was started in Nepal in 1958 BS. It was adopted by Chandra Shumsher during his rule, in 1901 CE.

Usage of Vikram Samvat calendar can be seen in a number of ancient and medieval inscriptions. According to popular tradition, King Vikramaditya of Ujjain established the Vikrama Samvat era after defeating the Sakas. The earliest known inscription which calls the era “Vikrama” is from 842.

The Hindu New Year Vikram Samvat begins with the new moon of the month of Chaitra. The day is known as Chaitra Sukhladi. Vikram Samvat calendars maintain the integrity of the lunar month; an extra month ‘appears’, on a strict scientific basis, roughly once every three years (or 7 times in a 19-year cycle, to be more exact) to ensure that festivals and crop-related rituals fall in the appropriate season. The extra month is known as ‘adhik maas’ in Nepal.

One might wonder, what can be the importance of a calendar that’s different from the widely accepted Gregorian calendar? Well, there are several reasons why Bikram Sambat has its own unique advantages and relevance.

First of all, Bikram Sambat is based on the lunar year, which means that it follows the cycles of the moon. This makes it more aligned with natural phenomena and agricultural cycles, which are still relevant in many parts of South Asia. Many farmers in Nepal and India still use the calendar system to determine the best time for planting and harvesting crops. In contrast, the Gregorian calendar is a solar-based system, which does not take into account the cycles of the moon.