discrepancies in cal creation

[Guest guest]

Home Base: Sri Mayapur Candrodaya Mandir, Navadwip Dhama, Nadia, WB, INDIA

Camp: Sri Jagannath Bari, Mathura Desa, Arabian/Persian Gulf, Middle East.

 

Reading this letter I am reminded that when originally the CAL program was

made I wanted it to be clearly verified so that it was 100% bug proofed

since all our vratas are depending on this software. Now that two programs

with diverse results are about some explanation is required.

 

Also the Sarasvata Gaudiya Vaisnava ASSociation resolved in 1998 and

reconfirmed in in 1999 that all those institutions following BSST that make

vaisnava calenders should get together (there astrologers who make

calenders) and come to a conclusion who is right and all do the same thing.

This is to avoid the kind of conflicts which are currently occurring that

each institution has ekadasee and RAdhastami on a different day.

 

This reminds me that I was informed at the inception of VCAL that the

calculations of Surya Siddhanta were off and therefore we had to base

everything on the observable reality of modern scientists. Since these

observations may not always be available it seemed to me sanguine to use the

Bija mantras which Surya Siddhanta has to adjust the calculations with the

aid of fast computers and then have an updated Surya Siddhanta algorythm

which can take us well into the next millenium with or without sciences

help. To do it manually would take too long, but now with computers...

 

I hope our astrologers and astronomres will do something about this

confusion and we have a convergence of opinion on one correct solution.

 

Your text:

 

> Dear Makanlal Prabhu,

>

> PAMHO AGTSP

>

> Though I was the author of the program it was turned over to Markendaya

> Rsi some years ago for various reasons. He was the one who has been

> distributing to all the temples for the last 8-9 years. I have since

> resigned from the Vaisnava Calendar Committtee. I suggest that you ask

> Markendeya Rsi your question. I have forwarded it to him.

>

> I have no idea of what you are talking about when you say "Berkelus 513".

>

> yhs

>

> Shyamasundara Dasa

>

> > Dear Syamasundara Prabhu,

> >

> > Please accept my obeisances. All glories to Srila Prabhupad. I am

> > writing you in the hopes that you will be able to help me with these

> > questions about the vcal program posted on the iskcon.org site for

> > calculating Vaishnav calendars.

> >

> > I would like to ask you why there are differences created by the vcal400

> > program for generating calendars, and the actual calendars previously

> > calculated and posted for the same places and times? For instance, using

> > vcal, when a calendar for Berkeley, California is generated, and then

> > compared for the same year (1999-2000) with the berkelus calendar posted

> > (for the same latitude and longitude), there are not only differences in

> > the break fast times (and spellings), but also differences in the dates

> > for ekadasi etc. For instance, using the vcal400 program, the following

> > dates were generated:

> >

> > 6 Jun 1999 Su Saptami K Viskumba Satabhisa 7

> > Jun 1999 Mo Astami K Priti Purva-bhadra

> > 8 Jun 1999 Tu Navami K Ayusmana

> > Uttara-bhadra 9 Jun 1999 We Suddha Ekadasi K

> > Saubhagya Revati * Fasting for Parama Ekadasi 10 Jun 1999 Th Dvadasi

> > K Sobana Asvini Break fast 06:42 - 10:07 (Daylight saving not

> > considered). 11 Jun 1999 Fr Trayodasi K Sukarma

> > Bharani 12 Jun 1999 Sa Caturdasi K Dhriti

> > Rohini 13 Jun 1999 Su Amavasya K Sula

> > Mrigasira

> >

> > When compared with the published calendar for Berkeley (Berkelus 513),

> > then the same period is listed as follows:

> >

> > 1 Jun 1999 Tu Tritiya K Shubha Mula 2 Jun

> > 1999 We Tritiya K Shukla Purva-ashadha 3

> > Jun 1999 Th Caturti K Brahma

> > Uttara-ashadha 4 Jun 1999 Fr Pancami K Indra

> > Shravana 5 Jun 1999 Sa Shashti K Vaidhriti

> > Dhanishta 6 Jun 1999 Su Saptami K Vishkumba

> > Shatabhisha 7 Jun 1999 Mo Ashtami K Priti

> > Purva-bhadra 8 Jun 1999 Tu Navami K

> > Ayushmana Uttara-bhadra 9 Jun 1999 We Ekadasi

> > K Saubhagya Revati 10 Jun 1999 Th Suddha Ekadasi K

> > Shobana Asvini * Fasting for Parama Ekadasi 11 Jun 1999 Fr

> > Trayodasi

> > K Sukarma Bharani Break fast 04:46 - 09:41 (Daylight saving not

> > considered). 12 Jun 1999 Sa Caturdasi K Dhriti

> > Krittika 13 Jun 1999 Su Amavasya K Shula

> > Mrigashira

> >

> > Using the vcal400 program, ekadasi is to be obsrved on June 9th, and

> > with the Berkelus 513 calendar it is be observed on the 10th. Similar

> > discrepancies occur throughout the calendar (dates, spellings, breakfast

> > times etc.). So I would like to ask, why these differences exist, if not

> > the programs that generated the two programs have different settings? It

> > is not a question apparently of longitude and latitude, both are listing

> > (122W17 37N52, Time zone = -8.00). Then they must be different, the two

> > programs that generated these dates. Then, which of the calendars is the

> > most accurate; which is "correct"? As it stands, we do not know if the

> > vcal400 program generates as accurate a calendar as those previously

> > generated. I hope to hear from you.

> >

> > Your servant, Makhanlal Das