discrepancies in cal creation

[Guest guest]

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