Outline of Indian Chronology: Manu (14500 BCE) to Vikramaditya (1 BCE)

Outline of Indian Chronology: Manu (14500 BCE) to Vikramaditya (1 BCE)

Indian Chronology

The antiquity and the chronology of ancient Indian civilization can be presented in seven distinct stages as follows:

1. Early Vedic Period (14500-13000 BCE)

2. Vedic Period (13000-10500 BCE)

3. Post Vedic Period (10500-6777 BCE)

4. The 28^th Treta Yuga Period (6777-5577 BCE)

5. The 28^th Dvapara Yuga Period (5577-3176 BCE)

6. The Epoch of Mahabharata War (3162 BCE)

7. The 28^th Kaliyuga Period: From Mahabharata War to King Vikramaditya (From 3162 BCE to 1 BCE).

Indian Chronology: Early Vedic Period (14500-13000 BCE)
15962 BCE	The Epoch of Adiyuga	9185 years (1837 nos of 5-year Yugas) before 6777 BCE (beginning of 28^th Treta Yuga of 7^th Manvantara)
14500 BCE	Brahma I	Summer Solstice at Dhanishtha Nakshatra
14480 BCE	Svayambhuva Manu (Founder of Manu/Ikshvaku/Surya Vamsh)
14480 BCE	Saptarshis (Atri, Marichi, Vasishtha, Angiras, Pulaha, Pulastya and Kratu)
14450 BCE	Uttanapada
14400 BCE	Dhruva
14310 BCE	Rishabhadev
14030 BCE	King Prithu
14030 BCE	Kashyapa I, Aditi, Diti
14011 BCE	Birth of Brihaspati I	Conjunction of Sun, Moon, Jupiter and Winter solstice at Tishya Nakshatra
14000 BCE	Adityas (Indra I, Vishnu I etc.) and Daityas
14000 BCE	Devas (Adityas) and Asuras (Daityas)
14000 BCE	Rudra I, Eight Vasus, Manu & Ida
14000 BCE	Soma (Founder of Chandra Vamsh)
13950 BCE	King Puru I
13800 BCE	City of Ayodhya was founded by Manu
13650 BCE	Indra II & Vritasura (Beginning of Political power struggle between Devas and Asuras)
13650 BCE	Rishi Dadhichi
13630 BCE	Ashvini Kumaras, Rishi Chyavana
13550 BCE	Marutta Avikshita and Vishve Devaah
13500 BCE	King Trishanku
13500 BCE	Vasishtha II & Jamadagni I	Autumnal Equinox at Ashvini Nakshatra
13500 BCE	Vishvamitra I & Menaka	Summer Solstice at Sravana Nakshatra
13480 BCE	Dushyanta & Shakuntala, Rishi Kanva
13450 BCE	King Bharata & Rishi Dirghatamas I
13450 BCE	Sauvira, Madra, Kekaya, Anga, Vanga, Kalinga, Pundra, Suhma, Kanyakubja, Kampilya, Kaushambi, Girivraja, Matsya, Saurashtra came into existence.

Indian Chronology: Vedic Period (13000-10500 BCE)
13400 BCE	Swarochisha Manu (Manu II)
13200 BCE	Uttama Manu (Manu III)
13000 BCE	Tapasa Manu (Manu IV)
12600 BCE	Raivata Manu (Manu V) [Founder of Kushasthali city in Saurashtra near Girnar hills which came to be known as Raivatak Parvat]	Autumnal Equinox at Revati Nakshatra
12300 BCE	King Vidarbha [Vidarbha kingdom]
12000 BCE	Kushasthali city was sunk in the sea but the island resurfaced later.	During Meltwater Pulse 1A
11800 BCE	Chakshusha Manu (Manu VI)
11500 BCE	Ajamidha II, Bahyashva [Founder of Panchalas]
11500 BCE	Vrishni of Yadu dynasty
11500 BCE	Founder of Kuru dynasty
11300 BCE	Indra III & Shambara
11270 BCE	Datta Atreya
11270 BCE	Vaivasvata Manu
11250 BCE	King Ikshvaku
11250 BCE	Dasharajna War
11240 BCE	Aila Pururava & Urvashi
11218 BCE	Daksha Yajna (Shiva & Sati) Vriddhagarga: Kaliketu rises from the east stationed in the region of Jyeshtha, Mula and Anuradha nakshatras. This observation of Kaliketu corresponds to Hailey’s Comet in Aug-Sep 11218 BCE.
11226 BCE	Agastya and First Tamil Sangam
11220 BCE	Shukracharya
11220 BCE	Hiranyakashyap, Prahlad
11200 BCE	Great Flood in Manu’s Kingdom [in Saurashtra]
11200 BCE	Vishvamitra III
11200 BCE	Arjuna Kartavirya
11200 BCE	List of Nakshatras starting from Mrigashira	Winter Solstice shifted to Mrigashira
11175 BCE	Madhuchchandas, son of Vishvamitra [Author of first sukta of Rigveda]
11177 BCE	Parashurama I
11170 BCE	Veda Vyasa I [Compiled four Vedas] & Ganesha
11160 BCE	Vamana and King Bali
11153 BCE	Birth of Devakiputra Krishna	25^th May 11153 BCE
11142 BCE	Kansa was killed by Krishna Andhaka tells Kamsa a comet crossed 13 nakshatras starting from Bharani. केतुना धूमकेतोस्तु नक्षत्राणि त्रयोदश I भरण्यादीनि विद्धानि नानुयान्ति निशाकरम् II हरिवंश, Vishnu Parva. 23.27. Hailey’s Comet was in Bharani on 10 Sep 11143 BCE (Apparent Magnitude 8.5). It moved to Purva Bhadrapada in Jan 11142 BCE. During the period from 21 Jan 11142 BCE to 21 Feb 11142 BCE, Hailey’s Comet crossed 180 degrees from Purva Bhadrapada nakshatra to Purva Phalguni, exactly 13 nakshatras. Sri Krishna killed Kamsa on Magha Amavasya (24 Nov 11142 BCE) when he was 11 y 6 m old.
11150 BCE	King Mandhata
11130 BCE	Paila, Vaishampayana, Jaimini, Sumantu and Romaharshana Suta
11100 BCE	Jaiminiya Ashvamedha [History of Vedic Kuru Kings]
11000 BCE	Taittiriya Samhita, Vajasaneya Samhita
10950 BCE	Videha Madhava and Gautama Rahugana
10950 BCE	Sarasvati River lost in sands at Vinashana and started flowing westwards.
10880 BCE	Videha King Janak,Yajnavalkya, Gargi
10880 BCE	Uddalaka Aruni, Shetaketu, Kaushitaki
10850 BCE	Rishi Pippalada, Paippalada Samhita
10800 BCE	Rishi Maitrayana, Maitrayani Samhita
10800 BCE	Shakala and Bashkala Branches of Rigveda
10700 BCE	Videha King Nimi performed Sarasvati Satra
10500 BCE	Compilation of Shakala Samhita of Rigveda
Indian Chronology: Post Vedic Period (10500-6777 BCE)
10500 BCE	Vedic period ends with large scale migrations eastwards and southwards from the banks of Sarasvati River and Sapta Sindhu region due to arid climate. Vedic Sarasvati river (Kurukshetra to Prabhas Patan) disappeared at Vinashana and started flowing westwards from Kurukshetra to Sindh to Gujarat. Ikshvaku kings moved to Ayodhya and Videha kings shifted to Mithila.
11050-10050 BCE	1000-year Satra was performed in Naimisharanya. Ugrashravas Suta, son of Romaharshana Suta (disciple of Veda Vyasa I) and Rishi Shaunaka started this Satra.
10200 BCE	Resetting of List of Nakshatras starting from Rohini and Magha Shukla Pratipada in Dhanishtha Nakshatra (at Autumnal equinox).	Winter Solstice shifted to Rohini
10500-9500 BCE	Seemingly, Sapta Sindhu region was under Arid climate.
9300 BCE	Dvaravati city was submerged by sea	During Meltwater Pulse 1B
9300 BCE	Compilation of Panchavimsha Brahmana and Prashnopanishad.
9200 BCE	Rishi Mahidasa Aitareya wrote Aitareya Brahmana.
9200 BCE	List of Nakshatras starting from Krittika	Winter Solstice shifted to Krittika
9200 BCE	Compilation of Nakshatra Sukta of Atharvaveda
9000 BCE	Compilation of Jaiminiya Brahmana, Tavalkara Upanishad Brahmana, Kenopanishad.
8800 BCE	Compilation of Shatapatha Brahmana and Brihadaranyakopanishad, Taittiriya Brahmana, Aranyaka, Upanishad, Kathaka & Kapishthala Samhitas, Maitrayani Samhita, Brahmana, Aranyaka, Upanishad, Chandogyopanishad
8500 BCE	Exclusion of Abhijit Nakshatra (27 Nakshatras)
8000 BCE	Compilation of Gopatha Brahmana
7500 BCE	Compilation of Samavidhana Brahmana
7500-6500 BCE	Shrautasutras, Grihyasutras, Shulbasutras and Dharmasutras, Sankhya and Mimansa Darshana Sutras, Sushruta Samhita and Charaka Samhita, Pingala’s Chanda Shastra, Patanjali’s Yoga Darshana
7322 BCE	List of Nakshatras starting from Ashvini	Winter Solstice shifted to Ashvini
6778 BCE	Mayasura wrote Surya Siddhanta
10500-7322 BCE	Ikshvakus and Videha Kings were ruling over Ayodhya and Mithila respectively. Kurus and Panchalas were ruling over some areas of Sapta Sindhu region. Pandyas were ruling over Tamilnadu and Kerala. Ashmaka and Kuntala Kings were ruling over Andhra, Karnataka and Maharashtra regions. Unfortunately, we have irretrievably lost the genealogical data of the Ikshvaku kings because later Puranic updaters mistakenly assumed 7322 BCE as the beginning of Vaivasvata Manvantara instead of 11200 BCE.

Indian Chronology: 28^th Treta Yuga Period (6777-5577 BCE)

7322 BCE	List of Nakshatras starting from Ashvini	Winter Solstice shifted to Ashvini
7322 BCE	Counting of Chaturyugas of 20 years in a new series.	Sun, Moon and Brihaspati were in conjunction at Tishya = Pushya nakshatra at vernal equinox (on 24 May 7321 BCE)
6782 BCE	27 Chaturyugas of 20 years elapsed and the 28^th Kritayuga commenced in 6782 BCE.
6778 BCE	Mayasura wrote Surya Siddhanta	All planets, Sun and Moon were in a great conjunction in Aries on 22 Feb 6778 BCE.
6777 BCE	28^th Treta Yuga of 1200 years commenced.	12-year cycle and 60-year cycle were introduced.
6777 BCE	First Saptarshi Cycle of 2700 years commenced
6773 BCE	Introduction of Brahma Siddhanta Calendar and 6773 BCE was Prabhava Samvatsara
6500 BCE	Upavedas were compiled. Yaska wrote Nirukta.
6000 BCE	Compilation of Bharat Natya Shastra
5977 BCE	Introduction of Vasishtha Siddhanta
5650 BCE	Matanga Muni wrote Brihaddeshi

Ikshvaku Kings of Ayodhya

1.	Śaśāda	7450-7400 BCE
2.	Kakustha I	7400-7380 BCE
3.	Anenāḥ or Suyodhana	7380-7350 BCE
4.	Prithu	7350-7330 BCE
5.	Viśvagaśva	7330-7300 BCE
6.	Ardra or Damaka or Indu	7300-7280 BCE
7.	Yuvanāśva II	7280-7250 BCE
8.	Śrāvasta (the founder of the city of Śrāvastī)	7250-7230 BCE
9.	Brihadaśva	7230-7200 BCE
10.	Kuvalāśva II	7200-7180 BCE
11.	Driḍhāśva	7150-7130 BCE
12.	Pramoda	7130-7100 BCE
13.	Haryāśva I	7100-7080 BCE
14.	Nikumbha	7080-7060 BCE
15.	Saṁhatāśva	7060-7040 BCE
16.	Kriṣāśva and Akritāśva	7040-7020 BCE
17.	Prasenajit (Son of Kriṣāśva)	7020-7000 BCE
18.	Yuvanāśva III and Māndhātā II (Sons of Prasenajit)	7000-6980 BCE
19.	Māndhātā II	6980-6950 BCE
20.	Purukutsa (Son of Māndhātā II)	6950-6930 BCE
21.	Vasuda (Son of Purukutsa)	6930-6900 BCE
22.	Saṁbhūta	6900-6880 BCE
23.	Anaraṇya I	6880-6860 BCE
24.	Trisadaśva	6860-6840 BCE
25.	Haryāśva II	6840-6820 BCE
26.	Vasumata	6820-6800 BCE
27.	Tridhanvā	6800-6780 BCE
28.	Tryāruṇa	6780-6760 BCE
29.	Satyavrata	6760-6730 BCE
30.	Satyaratha	6730-6700 BCE

31.	Hariśchandra	6700-6670 BCE
32.	Rohitāśva	6670-6630 BCE
33.	Hārīta, Chanchu	6630-6600 BCE
34.	Vijaya	6600-6560 BCE
35.	Ruruka	6560-6530 BCE
36.	Vrika	6530-6500 BCE
37.	Bāhu	6500-6460 BCE
38.	Sagara II	6460-6430 BCE
39.	Asamañjasa	6430-6400 BCE
40.	Aṅśumān	6400-6360 BCE
41.	Dilīpa I Khaṭvāṅga	6360-6330 BCE
42.	Bhāgīratha II	6330-6300 BCE
43.	Śruta or Śrutasena	6300-6270 BCE
44.	Nābhāga	6270-6230 BCE
45.	Ambarīṣa	6230-6200 BCE
46.	Sindhudvīpa	6200-6160 BCE
47.	Ayutāyu or Ayutajit	6160-6120 BCE
49.	Rituparṇa	6120-6080 BCE
50.	Ārtaparṇi or Kalmāṣapāda II or Mitrasaha	6080-6040 BCE
51.	Sarvakarma	6040-6000 BCE
52.	Anaraṇya II	6000-5960 BCE
53.	Mūlaka	5960-5920 BCE
54.	Śataratha	5920-5880 BCE
55.	Ilavilā or Ailavila	5880-5840 BCE
56.	Viśvasaha	5840-5800 BCE
	The genealogy (Kālidāsa’s Raghu Vaṁśa)
57.	Dilīpa II Ailavila (Son of Ilavila)	5800-5770 BCE
58.	Raghu II or Dīrghabāhu	5770-5740 BCE
59.	Aja	5740-5700 BCE
60.	Daśaratha	5700-5649 BCE

61. Sri Rāma (5635-5603 BCE).

Indian Chronology: 28^th Dvapara Yuga Period (5577-3177 BCE)
5577 BCE	Beginning of Dvapara Yuga of 2400 years. The time span of Chaturyuga has been increased to 12000 years with differential duration of Yugas (1:2:3:4). Thus, the 28^th Dvapara Yuga lasted for 2400 years.
5000 BCE	Compilation of Manusmriti
5000 BCE	Akshapada Gautama and Kanada (Compilation of Nyaya and Vaisheshika sutras)
5000-4300 BCE	Introduction of Yavana, Romaka and Paulisha Siddhantas based on Surya Siddhanta.
4326 BCE	A Vaishnava tradition of 60-year cycle. 4326 BCE was the Prabhava Samvatsara.
3176 BCE	Saptarshi Cycle entered in Magha Nakshatra (3176-3076 BCE)
3162 BCE	Mahabharata War and the epoch of Yudhishthira Samvat

Ikshvaku Kings of Ayodhya

61.	Rāma	5635-5603 BCE
62.	Kuśa	5602-5550 BCE
63.	Atithi (killed in a war with Asura Durjaya.)	5550-5520 BCE
64.	Niṣāda	5520-5480 BCE
65.	Nala	5480-5440 BCE
66.	Nabhas	5440-5400 BCE
67.	Punḍarīka	5400-5370 BCE
68.	Kśemadhanvā	5370-5330 BCE
69.	Devānīka	5330-5300 BCE
70.	Ahināgu	5300-5260 BCE
71.	Paripātra	5260-5230 BCE
72.	Śīla	5230-5200 BCE
73.	Unnābha	5200-5170 BCE
74.	Vajranābha	5170-5140 BCE

75.	Śaṅkhana	5140-5100 BCE
76.	Vyuṣitāśva	5100-5070 BCE
77.	Viśvasaha	5070-5040 BCE
78.	Hiraṇyanābha	5040-5000 BCE
79.	Kauśalya	5000-4970 BCE
80.	Brahmiṣṭha	4970-4930 BCE
81.	Putra	4930-4900 BCE
82.	Puṣya	4900-4870 BCE
83.	Dhruvasandhi (killed by a lion when his son Sudarśana was six years old)	4870-4850 BCE
84.	Sudarśana	4850-4800 BCE
85.	Agnivarṇa	4800-4780 BCE
86.	Wife of Agnivarṇa	4780-4750 BCE

Ikshvaku Kingdom declined after 4750 BCE

Kuru Kings of Dvapara Yuga

1.	Puru	4350-4300 BCE
2.	Janamejaya	4300-4270 BCE
3.	Prachīnvān	4270-4230 BCE
4.	Saṁyāti	4230-4200 BCE
5.	Ahamyāti	4200-4170 BCE
6.	Sārvabhauma	4170-4130 BCE
7.	Jayatsena	4130-4100 BCE
8.	Arāchina	4100-4070 BCE
9.	Mahābhauma	4070-4030 BCE
10.	Ayutanāyi	4030-4000 BCE
11.	Akrodhana	4000-3970 BCE
12.	Devātithi	3970-3930 BCE
13.	Richah	3930-3900 BCE
14.	Rikśa	3900-3870 BCE
15.	Matināra	3870-3830 BCE
16.	Tansu	3830-3800 BCE
17.	Ilina	3800-3770 BCE
18.	Duḥṣanta	3770-3730 BCE

19.	Bharata	3730-3700 BCE
20.	Bhumanyu	3700-3670 BCE
21.	Suhotra	3670-3630 BCE
22.	Hasti II	3630-3600 BCE
23.	Vikunthina	3600-3570 BCE
24.	Ajamīḍha II	3570-3530 BCE
25.	Saṁvaraṇa IV	3530-3500 BCE
26.	Kuru III	3500-3470 BCE
27.	Vidūratha	3470-3430 BCE
28.	Arugvan	3430-3400 BCE
29.	Parīkśit	3400-3370 BCE
30.	Bhimasena	3370-3330 BCE
31.	Paryaśravas	3330-3290 BCE
32.	Śāntanu	3290-3240 BCE
33.	Vichitravīrya	3240-3210 BCE
34.	Dhritarāṣṭra	3210-3162 BCE
35.	Yudhiṣṭhira	3162-3126 BCE
36.	Parikshit	3126-3100 BCE

Indian Chronology: From Mahabharata War to King Vikramaditya (3162 BCE to 1 BCE)

Dynasty

Duration

In CE

Bṛhadratha Dynasty

1000 y

3162-2162 BCE

Pradyota Dynasty

138 y

2162-2024 BCE

Śiśunāga Dynasty

360 y

2024-1664 BCE

Haryaṅka Dynasty (Seemingly, the kings of Śiśunāga dynasty were weak rulers and could not stop the rise of Haryaṅka dynasty around 1950 BCE at Pātaliputra. The Haryaṅka dynasty was an offshoot of Ikśvāku Dynasty.)
Mahāpadma		1950-1925 BCE
Bimbisāra	52 y	1925-1872 BCE
Ajātaśatru	32 y	1872-1840 BCE
Buddha attained nirvāṇa in 1864 BCE and in the 8^th regnal year of King Ajātaśatru.
Udāyin	16 y	1840-1824 BCE
Anuruddha Munda	8 y	1824-1816 BCE
Nāgadasaka	24 y	1816-1792 BCE
Susunāga	28 y	1792-1765 BCE
Kālāśoka	28 y	1765-1737 BCE
The second Buddhist Council was held during the reign of Kālāśoka or Dharmāśoka 100 years after Buddha nirvāṇa. The epoch of Jinachakka or the Theravāda Buddhism commenced in 1765 BCE.
Kālāśoka’s 10 sons	22 y	1737-1715 BCE
Turuṣka kings Hushka, Jushka and Kanishka started reigning in Kashmir and Afghanistan in 1714 BCE 150 years after Buddha nirvāṇa (1864 BCE). Kushana Shāhi King Kanishka was a different person from Turuṣka King Kanishka and reigned around 1150-1118 BCE. The Rabatak inscription belong to the Kushana Shāhi King Kanishka.

Nanda Dynasty

(100 y?)

1664-1596 BCE

Mahāpadma Nanda ascended the throne 1500 years after Mahābhārata war (3162 BCE). The Saptarṣis were in Pūrvabhadrā Nakśatra around 1677-1577 BCE.

Maurya Dynasty

137 y

1596-1459 BCE

Chandragupta	24 y	1596-1572 BCE
Bindusāra	25 y	1572-1547 BCE
Aśoka	36 y	1547-1511 BCE
Aśoka was consecrated in the 218^th year, i.e., 1547 BCE from the epoch of Jinachakka (1765 BCE). Later, the epoch of Jinachakka was erroneously considered as the epoch of Buddha nirvāṇa (1864 BCE).The third Buddhist Council (in Southern tradition) was convened in 18^th regnal year of Aśoka, i.e., 1529 BCE. Devānāmpiya Tissa, the 7^th king of Sri Lanka ascended the throne in 1529 BCE, 236 years after the epoch of Jinachakka (1765 BCE).

Śuṅga Dynasty

112 y

1459-1346 BCE

Kaṇva Dynasty

45 y

1346-1301 BCE

Decline of Magadha Empire

—

1301-826 BCE

Magadha Kingdom
Śreṇika or Bhambhasāra	1250-1212 BCE
The Epoch of Mahāvira Nirvāṇa	1189 BCE
Kuṇika	1212-1172 BCE
Udāyi	1172-1129 BCE
Nandarāja’s ascension	1129 BCE
Ujjain Kingdom
Pālaka Kings	1189-1035 BCE
Viṣaya Kings	1034-885 BCE
Chandragupta (Viśākhāchārya)	1034-1022 BCE
Simhasena	1022-982 BCE
Bhāskara	982-950 BCE
Samprati	945-895 BCE
Muruṅdas	895-840 BCE

Śātavāhana Dynasty

492 y

826-334 BCE

10.

Gupta Dynasty

245 y

334-89 BCE

11.

King Vikramaditya of Ujjain

82-1 BCE

Featured image courtesy on Indian chronology (representation purpose only): Google, Amar Chitra Katha.

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Vedveer Arya

Vedveer Arya is a civil servant and an officer of 1997 batch of Indian Defence Accounts Service (IDAS). A postgraduate in Sanskrit from University of Delhi, he is author of 'The Chronology of India'.