A samvatsara, or jovian year, is a 60-year cycle based on the mean position of the planet Bṛhaspati, determined using methods like the Surya Siddhanta. The document outlines the process for calculating the current samvatsara using solar years and includes examples illustrating the calculations for specific dates. It also lists the different samvatsaras and their corresponding yugas, detailing their significance in traditional Indian astrology.