Anka year ( Aṅka) system is a unique regnal year system used in the state of Odisha, India and was instituted by the rulers of the Eastern Ganga dynasty for dating their reigns. It had a number of features that mark the regnal year different from that actual duration of the year elapsed during the reign. The system still survives today and is used in the Odia calendar (panji) to mark the titular regnal year of the Gajapati Maharaja (King of Puri) which is currently held by Divyasingha Deva IV of the Bhoi dynasty, whose title carries the legacy of the historical ruling monarchs of Odisha.
Description The Anka system, also denoted as the Odisha style of dating refers to a special system of counting used only in Odisha which is written along with the name of the King of Puri accompanied by a simple calculation which yields the regnal year of the king. The Anka years were so popular in the Odia-speaking tracts that not only it was used in official records but also by the authors in their works and in the horoscopes prepared by the astrologers. Additional information are also provided on the lunar or solar date besides the King's Anka with the Odia calendar following the Purnimanta system of month naming.
Features The Anka system always starts on the Odia fiscal new year called Sunia which falls on the 12th day of the bright fortnight of the month Bhadra (August–September) known as Bhādra Sukḷa Dwādasi. If the king accedes the throne for a few days before this date, then the first year of his reign would then just be a few days long. Coins were minted on the date of the new year and hence the first coins were given the Anka year 2, the number 1 was not used. All years ending in 6 were skipped. As in the Anka year 5 was followed by Anka year 7, Anka year 15 was followed by Anka year 17 and so on. All years ending in 0 were also skipped, except for the Anka year 10. Hence no Anka years exist for 1, 6, 16, 20, 26, 30, 36, 40, 46, 50, 56 and so on.
Regnal and Anka year Timeline + Timeline of actual Regnal year and Anka year (shown till regnal year 30) Regnal year 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 Anka year 2 3 4 5 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 17 18 19 21 22 23 24 25 27 28 29 31 32 33 34 35 37
Anka year of the current titular Gajapati Maharaja + Regnal & Anka year of Gajapati(titular reign since 7 July 1970) Gregorian year Regnal year Odia year Anka year 2026 CE 56 ୧୪୩୪ ଉତ୍କଳାବ୍ଦ1434 Utkaḷābda ୭୧ ଅଙ୍କ71 Aṅka
Utkaḷābda year for 2026 on 23 September.
List of Anka year for monarchs of the ruling dynasties Eastern Ganga dynasty
Ruler Reign Regnal year duration Anka year duration Anantavarman Vajrahasta III 1038-1070 32 41 Rajaraja Devendravarman I 1070-1078 8 11 Anantavarman Chodaganga 1078-1147 69 87 Kamarnava II 1147-1157 10 13 Raghava 1157-1170 13 17 Rajaraja II 1170-1190 20 25 Anivankabhima II 1190-1197 7 10 Rajaraja III 1197-1211 14 17 Anangabhima Deva III 1211-1235 24 31 Narasingha Deva I 1238-1263 26 33 Bhanudeva I 1264-1279 15 19 Narasimhadeva II 1279-1306 27 34 Bhanudeva II 1306-1328 22 28 Narasimhadeva III 1328-1352 24 31 Bhanudeva III 1352-1378 26 33 Narasimhadeva IV 1378-1414 36 45 Bhanudeva IV 1414-1434 20 25
Suryavamsa dynasty
Ruler Reign Regnal year duration Anka year duration Kapilendra Deva 1434–1470 36 44 Purushottama Deva 1470–1497 27 33 Prataparudra Deva 1497–1540 43 53 Kalua Deva 1540–1541 2 3 Kakharua Deva 1541 1 2
Bhoi dynasty (1st reign)
Ruler Reign Regnal year duration Anka year duration Govinda Vidyadhara 1541–1548 7 9 Chakrapratapa 1548–1557 9 11 Narasimha Jena 1557–1558 1 2 Raghuram Chhotaraya 1558–1560 2 3
Chalukya dynasty
Ruler Reign Regnal year duration Anka year duration Mukunda Deva 1560-68 8 10
Bhoi dynasty (2nd reign, Khurda-Puri)
Ruler Reign Regnal year duration Anka year duration Notes Ramachandra Deva I 1568-1600 32 39 founder of Khurda Kingdom Purusottam Deva 1600–1621 21 25 Narasingha Deva 1621–1647 26 32 Balabhadra Deva 1647–1657 10 12 Mukunda Deva I 1657–1689 32 39 Divyasingha Deva I 1689–1716 27 33 Harekrushna Deva 1716–1720 4 5 Gopinath Deva 1720–1727 7 9 Ramachandra Deva II 1727–1736 9 11 Birakesari Deva I (Bhagirathi Deva) 1736–1793 57 71 Divyasingha Deva II 1793–1798 5 7 Mukundeva Deva II 1798–1817 19 23 Puri Estate in 1809 Ramchandra Deva III 1817–1854 37 45 Birakesari Deva II 1854–1859 5 7 Divyasingha Deva III 1859–1882 23 28 Mukundeva Deva III 1882–1926 44 54 Ramchandra Deva IV 1926–1956 30 37 Titular since 1947(Indian independence) Birakisore Deva III 1956–1970 14 17 Divyasingha Deva IV 1970–current 54 68
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