The New International Encyclopædia/Samvat

SAMVAT, säm′vȧt (abbreviated form of Skt. saṁvatsara, year). The most important system of reckoning time in India. The era is in use in Northern India generally except in Bengal. According to native tradition, the Samvat year was introduced by King Vikrama (q.v.) in B.C. 57. A Samvat given date represents the year last completed. Christian dates are reduced to Samvat by adding 57 to the Christian year. Consult Sewell and Dikshit, The Indian Calendar (London, 1896).