| Vikramaditya | |
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 Depiction of King Vikramaditya in Thunot Duvotenay's 1843 atlas |
Vikramaditya (IAST: Vikramāditya) was a legendary king[1][2][3] as mentioned in ancient Indian literature, featuring in traditional stories including those in Vetala Panchavimshati and Singhasan Battisi. Many describe him as ruler with his capital at Ujjain (Pataliputra or Pratishthana in a few stories). "Vikramaditya" was also a common title adopted by several monarchs in ancient and medieval India, and the Vikramaditya legends may be embellished accounts of different kings (particularly Chandragupta II). According to popular tradition, Vikramaditya began the Vikrama Samvat era in 57 BCE after defeating the Shakas, and those who believe that he is based on a historical figure place him around the first century BCE. However, this era is identified as "Vikrama Samvat" after the ninth century CE.
- ^ Gopal, Ram (1984). Kālidāsa: His Art and Culture. Concept Publishing Company. p. 15. Retrieved 2 June 2022.
- ^ Reddy, Sheshalatha (15 October 2013). Mapping the Nation: An Anthology of Indian Poetry in English, 18701920. Anthem Press. p. 201. ISBN 978-1-78308-075-5. Retrieved 2 June 2022.
- ^ Agrawal, Ashvini (1989). Rise and Fall of the Imperial Guptas. Motilal Banarsidass Publ. p. 174. ISBN 978-81-208-0592-7. Retrieved 2 June 2022.
The assumption of the title Vikramaditya37 by Chandragupta II, has been responsible for confusing his name with the legendary founder of the Vikrama samvat of B.C. 58 in spite of the fact that ever since the discovery, in 1884, of the Mandasor stone inscription of the Guild of silk-weavers bearing dates 493 and 529 it has been established that the era which commenced in 57 B.C. was founded by the Malavas and dates from the time of the foundation of the Malava republic. The identification of the legendary king Vikramaditya of Ujjaini has been discussed at length by various scholars for a long time.