Ramanuja's Tirunakshatram

[Guest guest]

I have a twofold question that I hope some of the panchaanga-knowing

scholars on this list might be able to answer:

 

1. My Bengali calendar for this year lists the day of Sri Ramanuja's

appearance as April 11, whereas I understand from the list that the Sri

Vaishnava community celebrated that event only a few days ago. What is the

reason for this difference?

 

2. I have noted the use of the word "tirunakshatram" (in a variety of

spellings). Does this indicate that the birth of an acharya, etc, is

celebrated on the day of his birth *nakshatra*? (This would explain the

difference from my Bengali calendar, where the date is supposedly based on

*tithi*.) If so, why is this? -- for I note that most other memorial days,

such as Rama Navami, Vijaya Dasami, etc, are based on tithi. And if not,

what is the reason for the term tirunakshatram?

 

Thanks in advance,

Martin Gansten

[Guest guest]

> 2. I have noted the use of the word "tirunakshatram" (in a variety of

> spellings). Does this indicate that the birth of an acharya, etc, is

> celebrated on the day of his birth *nakshatra*? (This would explain the

 

Not always. Different customs are prevalent in India. For example, Sankara

Jayanthi is observed on Vaisakha Sukla Pancami, i.e. tithi, not nakshatra.

This year, Sankara Jayanthi coincided more or less with Ramanuja's

tirunakshatram.

> difference from my Bengali calendar, where the date is supposedly based on

> *tithi*.) If so, why is this? -- for I note that most other memorial days,

> such as Rama Navami, Vijaya Dasami, etc, are based on tithi. And if not,

> what is the reason for the term tirunakshatram?

>

 

A general rule of thumb is that birthdays are observed by tithi for the

gods, whereas the nakshatram is observed for humans. Death anniversaries

of human beings are always observed according to tithi. However, again

these rules need not always hold true, and specific sampradAyas can have

their own variations.

 

Vidyasankar