The Shaka Era is
one of India's date systems, and it is said to celebrate King Salivahana's
defeat of the Shakas.
The Shaka era date is either seventy-eight or seventy-nine
years earlier than the common era date for any given year in the common era, a
disparity that derives from the different days on which the years begin in
these two systems.
The year starts on January 1 in the common era, while in the
Shaka era, it begins with the sun's passage into Aries, which falls on April 14
in India.
To convert a Shaka era date to a common era date, add 79
years for days between January 1 and April 14, and 78 years for dates between
April 15 and December 31.