 The Malava era, which later came to be known as Vikram Samvat, was probably first used by them.The Malavas are mentioned in several ancient Indian texts, including the "Mahabharata" and "Mahabhashya".According to the Mahabharata, the hundred sons of the Madra king Ashvapati, the father of Savitri were known as the "Malava"s, after the name of their mother, Malavi.