Some more useful information---Panchanga

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Hari Sarvothama, vAyu Jeevothama

 

Sri Gurubhyo namaha

 

Source: NY Ganesha Temple panchangam, Flushing temple, NY

 

Wishing you all Happy Ugadi.

 

In continuation of my mail yesterday regarding what is Panchanga & their importance in calculating a thithi ? I would like to elaborate the following:

 

Types of Panchangas in Practice & their significance:

 

There are four types of Panchangas in practice.

1. Surya Siddhantha Panchanga

2. Vararuchi vAkya panchanga

3. Aryabhateeya Panchanga

4. Drik (Western method) Panchanga.

 

Surya Siddhanta was taught by Sun God to Maya & deals with astronomical calculations like measurement of time, revolution of planets, sphutAdhikAra, TriprasnadhikAra, GolAdhikAra & so on...

Sage Vararuchi enunciated the principles of calculating mean positions of planets, longitude of planets, Longitude of planets & so on by statements known as "vAkhya". Ganitha is called vAkhya Ganitha or calculations, taking into consideration of Nirayana Mesha Rasi Pravesham of the Sun.

Aryabhateeya Ganitha is a compilation of Aryabhata, which is an improved version of Surya Siddhantha & deals with both Mathematical & Astronomical calculations.

The above three schools of Ganitha Panchangas adopt Nirayana system to calculate Thithi, Nakshatra, Yoga & Karana based on Nirayana Longitude of the Sun & Moon.

Drik Ganitha (Western Method) adopts Sayana system, where Ayanamsa is taken into consideration for calculating Longitude of the Sun & Moon.

Since Nirayana Longitudes are required to calculate Thithi, Nakshatra, Yoga & Karana, the value of Ayanamsa is deducted from Sayana Longitude of the Sun & Moon by this system.

 

Chandramana & Souramana System:

 

Motion of Moon around the Sun is taken into account in Chandramana System & the apparent motion of Sun around the earth is taken into account in Souramaana System. Moon takes 354 days to complete one circle around the Sun & Sun takes 365.25 days to complete one circle around the Earth. Hence there are 365.25 days in a Solar calender.

 

Chandramana System: Chandramana mAsa is divided into two parts namely Sukla paksha & Krishna paksha, the duration of each Paksha is 15 thithis.

ChandramAna mAsa is observed in two ways:

i. commencing from Sukla Prathama to Amavasya (New Moon day) called as AmAnta mAsa.

ii. commencing from Krishna Prathama to Poornima (Full Moon day) called as PoornimAnta mAsa

A lunar year or ChAndramana year consists of 12 Chandra mAsa & 13 Chandra mAsa when Mala (Adhika) mAsa occurs (in order to equalize the Solar & Lunar years.). If there are two (Sankranthis) in one lunar month, it is called Kshaya mAsa. The Adhika mAsa is also known as Purushothama mAsa as the presiding form of the Lord for this month is Purshothama. Those who cannot undertake vratas like Vishnu panchakavrata which should be observed throughout the year can undertake five fasts during this month as this is considered as "Laghu Vishnupanchaka".

 

Chandramana Year commences from Chiatra mAsa Sukla Prathama day.

 

Chandramana mAsa is named according to the Nakshatra prevailing in the respective Poornima day of the month as follows:

Chaitra Poornima----Chitra Nakshatra----Chaitra mAsa

Vaishaka Poornima----Visaka Nakshatra----Vaishaka mAsa

Jyeshtha Poornima----Jyeshta Nakshathra----Jyeshta mAsa

Ashadha Poornima----P. Ashadha or U. Ashadha Nakshatra-----Ashadha mAsa

Sravana Poornima------Sravana Nakshatra-----Sravana mAsa

Bhadrapada Poornima------P. Bhadra or U. Bhadra Nakshatra----- Bhadrapada mAsa

Aswija Poornima------Aswini Nakshatra------Aswija mAsa

kArtika Poornima-----Krittika Nakshatra-----Kartika mAsa

mArgasira Poornima-----Mrigasira Nakshatra-----Margasira mAsa

Pushya Poornima------Pushya Nakshatra----Pushya mAsa

mAgha Poornima-----Magha Nakshatra-----Magha Masa

PhAluga Poornima-----P Phalguni or U Phalguni Nakshatra------PhAlguna mAsa

 

Souramana System: The duration of time taken by the Sun to pass through one Nirayana Rasi (Zodiacal constellation) to another Nirayana Rasi is called Souramana Maasa. 12 such Rasi Pravesham of Sun makes one Souramana year. Souramana mAsa begins from Nirayana Mesha Rasi Pravesham of the Sun. The entry of Sun into a Rasi is called Sankramana or Sankrant like the entry of Sun into Makara is called the Makara Sankranthi & the period for which Sun is in Makara Rasi---Makara mAsa. Likewise, it is the same in other months also. For dates of the month, please refer any Astrology or heroscope websites or http://www.leoastro.com/. Thithi, Nakshatra & so on are not different for Chandramana & Souramana Systems. They are one & the same for both the systems.

 

English & Sanskrit names of Soumana mAsa: Aries or Mesha mAsa, Taurus or Vrishabha mAsa, Gemini or Mithuna mAsa, Cancer or Kataka mAsa, Leo or Simha mAsa, Virgo or Kanya mAsa, Libra or Tula mAsa, Scorpio or Vrischika mAsa, Sagittarius or Dhanus mAsa, Capricorn or Makara mAsa, Aquarius or Kumbha mAsa, Pisces or Meena mAsa.

 

URANUS, NEPTUNE & PLUTO: Uranus, Neptune & pluto are called Varuna, Indra & Prajapati respectively.

 

ABHIMANI DEVATHAS FOR THE THITHI: (Source: Sadachara Vinoda by Sri Vyasanakere Prabhanjanacharya)

 

Padya--- Agni,

Dwithiya----Brahma

Tritiya---Gowri

Chaturthi----Ganesha

Panchami----Naga

Shashti----Skanda (Indra)

Saptami----Surya

Ashtami----Durga (Soma, Vishvedevathas)

Navami----Lakshmi, Vayu, Vasu

Dashami---Vishnu

Ekadashi---- Vishnu

Dwadashi-----Vishnu

Trayodashi----Kama, Kubera

Shukla Chaturdashi----Marudgana, Yama

Chaturdashi-----Siva

Poornima----Chandra

Amavasya----Pitrus

 

ABHIMANI DEVATHAS FOR NAKSHATRAS (STARS):

Ashwini---Ashwini devathas

Bharani---- Yama

Krithika---Agni

Rohini----Brahma

Mrugashira----Chandra

Aardra----Rudra

Punarvasu----Aditi

Pushya----Bruhaspathi

Ashlesha-----Sarpa

Magha----Pitrus

PurvA Phalguni-----Bhaga

Uttara Phalguni----Aryamaa

Hastha----Surya

Chitra----Thvashtru

Swati-----Vayu

Vishakha-----Indra, Agni

Anuradha----Mitra

Jyeshtha----Indra

Moola----Nirruti

Purvashadha----Budha

Uttarashadha-----Vishvedevathas

Shravana----Vishnu

Dhanishta-----Vasu

Shathabhisha----Varuna

Purva bhadra-----AjaikapAth

Uttarabhadra----Ahirbudhna

Revathi----Poosha

 

ABHIMANI DEVATHAS FOR XODIACAL SIGNS (RASIS)

 

Mesha----Mangala

Vrushabha----Shukra

Mithuna----Budha

Karka----Chandra

Simha----Ravi

Kanya-----Budha

Thula----Shukra

Vrushchika-----Mangala

Dhanu----Guru

Makara----Shani

Kumbha-----Shani

Meena------Guru

 

PLANETS/SHADOWY PLANETS---------------------ANTARYAMI ROOPASurya or Ravi- Sun ------------------------RamaSoma or Chandra- Moon ------------------KrishnaKuja or Mangala- Mars-------------------NarasimhaBudha or Soumya- Mercury--------------BouddhaGuru or Brihaspati- Jupiter-----------------VamanaShukra or Bhargava- Venus ----------------ParashuraamaShani or Manda- Saturn------------------KurmaShadowy planet Rahu or Thama- Dragon's head-----------VarahaShadowy planet Kethu or Sikhi- Dragon's Tail---------------MathsyabhAratIramaNamukhyaprANA.ntargata shri kR^iShNArpanamastu