22-12-2016: Samrat Vikramadittya A commemorative postage stamp

Samrat Vikramaditya is considered as a legendary emperor of ancient India who established the “Vikram Samvat” or the Vikram Calendra in 57 B.C. The name Vikramadittya means the “Sun of Valor” the one who is as powerful as Sun. As per the popular traditions, Vikramadittya is stated to have ruled Ujjaini for a long period. Vikram Samvat was also being known as “Krat” and ‘Malav’. Vikram Samvat along with Saka Samvat is used in India along with the Gregorian Calendar. It is also used in Nepal as the official calendar. In the Hindi version of the Preamble of Constitution of India, the date of adoption of the Constitution, 26 November 1949, is presented in Vikram Samvat. It is a lunar calendar and uses lunar months and sidereal years for timekeeping. According to Kathasaritsagara, Vikramadittya was the son of Ujjain’s King Mahendraditya of the Paramara dynasty. Department of Posts is pleased to release a Commemorative Postage Stamps on Samrat Vikramadittya who started the Vikram Samvat.