Context

Assam government has approved Bhaskarabda, a period counted from the date of ascension by the great Kamrup king Kumar Bhaskar Varma as an official calendar and the Saka and Gregorian charts.

What is Bhaskarabda?

• Bhaskarabda can be understood as a period calculated from the date of the ascension of the 7th-century local ruler Bhaskar Varman.
• It is based on both phases of the moon and the solar year.
• The gap between Basaskarabda and Gregorian is 593 years.
• It all started when Baskaravarman was crowned ruler of the Kamrupa kingdom.

Kamrup king Kumar Bhaskar Varma

• Kamrup, which was also known as Pragjyotish in the mythological era, has been recognised as the first historical kingdom of Assam and was the most advanced territory under his reign.
• Bhaskar Varma was a contemporary to the north Indian emperor Harshavardhan, another celebrated ruler of
• Both enjoyed political ties with mutual respect.

Use of the calendar by Assam

• Currently, the official Assam government official calendar uses the Saka calendar and the Gregorian calendar.
• However, the Basquearabda calendar will be used from now on.