Kummari caste

The Kummari caste (also known as Salivahana) comes under BC category. In Andhra Pradesh, Salivahana caste is recognized by Govt of India and Govt of AP as per GpO.Ms.No. 28 BCW (M1) Dept., dated 24 June 1995. It has been used in many Indian inscriptions and in ancient Sanskrit inscriptions in Indochina and Indonesia. The reformed calendar promulgated by The INDIAN government from 1957 is reckoned by this era. It is alleged to have been founded by King Kaniṣka.

Salivahana era

The Shalivahana era, also known as the Saka era, is used with Hindu calendars, the Indian national calendar, the Balinese calendar, the Javanese calendar and the Cambodian Buddhist calendar. Its year zero begins near the vernal equinox of the year 78.

The Western Kshatrapas (35–405 BC) were Saka rulers of southwestern India (Saurashtra, Malwa modern Gujarat, Southern Sindh, Maharashtra, Rajasthan, parts of Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka). They were successors to the Indo-Scythians who invaded Ujjain and established the Saka era and calendar, marking the beginning of the Saka Western Satraps kingdom.

The Satavahana king (Gautamiputra Satakarni was titled as Shalivahana) is credited with the initiation of the era known as Shalivahana Saka to celebrate his victory against the Sakas in the year 78 CE.

Prior to this, in 56 BCE the Vikrama Samvat era was founded by the emperor Vikramaditya of Ujjain in a similar fashion following his victory over the Sakas.

Some scholars contend that Saka era was founded by Kushana ruler Kanishka to commemorate his victory over Western Kshatrapas. Dating of Kanishka's accession remains contentious.