2 - Raajaa Vikramaaditya-1

Who Was Vikramaaditya?

You must have heard the name of King Vikramaaditya, Vikram in short, who is famous among children in reference to Vikram-Vaitaal stories. He was an ideal king, very brave and very just. His justice was very famous, that is why Vaitaal all the time expected him to reply with full justice, and since his justice was very famous, he could not keep silence also, so he had to answer his question. As soon as he spoke Vaitaal's condition was broken and he went back to the same tree from where Vikram brought him. This he did 24 times, but the 25th time he could not answer, so Vaitaal could not run away. Then he told him how to save himself from that Yogee. Vikram remembered it, saved himself and killed that Yogee.

 Besides he had a special throne which had 32 female figures who once told Raajaa Bhoj 32 stories about Vikram's qualities. This happened when Raajaa Bhoj found this special throne and wanted to use it for himself. The 32 female figures laughed as soon as Bhoj wanted to ascend the throne and Bhoj used to be scared. They used tell a story about his qualities and asked him whether he had any qualities like Vikramaaditya, and Bhoj had to agree that he didn't. Thus when all the 32 figures had told about Raajaa Vikram abandoned the idea of using throne for himself and returned that throne to the same place from where he got it. These stories are famous as " Sinhaasan Batteesee". Both, Vikram and Vaitaal and Sinhaasan Battessee stories are found in various versions in Sanskrit and Hindi languages.

He was the creator of his own era. Normally we follow "Christian era", taking 00 as Christ's death year. So before 00, the years are called BC or Before Christ, and after 00 the years are called AD or After Death (of Christ). Before British came to India this era was followed by Christians in West. But since they came here, we also follow the same in everyday use. This means that Christ was the creator of an era.

To keep our own records in India, such as marriage, auspicious dates etc, we follow "Shaalivaahan Shak Samvat". It started 78 years after Christian era. It takes the name of King Shaalivaahan who was a Shaakya. Only very great people can create era. Thus Shaalivaahan and Vikramaaditya are two great people who created era. 

In fact, several kings have taken the name "Vikramaaditya" as their title. Chandra Gupt II was called Chandra Gupt Vikramaaditya (375-415 BC). 
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About 850 years ago, "Chaalukya-Vikram" era was in vogue in Karnaatak state. King Vikramaaditya, the VIth, ascended the Karnaatak throne on 26th January, 1077 AD; so the Chaalukya-Vikram era starts from the same date. Karnaatak's history is very old, more than 2000 years old. Chaalukya dynasty was one of the greatest dynasties among the rulers in Karnaatak state. They came twice on the throne. First time their capital was Badaamee or Vaataapee. They ruled for 250 years and after they were defeated by Raashtrakoot of Maanyakhetaa. They came again and ruled for 225 years. Vikramaaditya, the VIth, belonged to this dynasty.
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Historically, King Vikramaaditya might have lived in the 1st century BC and may have been defeated by Shaalivaahan. According to "Kathaa Sarit Saagar" account, he was the son of Ujjain's King Mahendraaditya of the Paramaar Dynasty.

Traditional Indian dating, Vikram Samvat, also makes him 1st century BC king. However general Indian history dates do not place any Vikramaaditya during this period.