Two Calculations for Mahasivaratri

[Guest guest]

Dear Shri Pathmarajahji,

 

Jai Shri Ram!

 

< AKK, which is the correct date for Mahasivaratri?>

 

 

 

The criterion of Maha-shivaratri as per all the Puranas is that it is to be

celebrated on Magha Krishna (known as Phalguna Krishna as per Gauna-Mana)

Chaturdashi. Chaturdashi tithi must be prevailing at midnight, Local Time of

the concerned place.

 

The first New Moon after Uttarayana is the start of Magha Shukla Paksha as per

the Vedanga Jyotisha and all the Puranas. It started on January 16, 2010.

Accordingly, Magha Krishna (known as Gauna Phalguna Krishna) paksha started on

January 31, 2010. Geocentric Chaturdashi tithi of Magha/Phalguna Krishna Paksha

started at about 3 am, IST of February 12, 2010. It will prevail till about

5-42 am, IST, of February 13, 2010.

 

There is thus absolutely no confusion! Maha-shivaratri is to be celebrated on

February 12/13, 2010 night for all such places where Chaturdashi tithi does not

end before the Local Time midnight of February12/13.

 

Lahiri Maha Shivaratri and the real Pauranic Maha-shivaratri have coincided this

year because there was an adhika Shravana masa actually in 2009, whereas

Lahiriwalas will celebrate an adhika Vaishakha in 2010! However, the less said

about these Lahiri and Ramana and Chadra-hari-walas etc. the better, since they

have put deliberately something like molten lead into their ears regarding the

correct dates of festivals! For them just like making correct predictions from

incorrect data, festivals also must be celebrated on wrong days to give

" correct " results!

 

What pains me more than anything else is that our Jagadgurus and " His holinesses

of art of this thing or that thing " etc. etc. also are celebrating all the

festivals, including the much pooh-poohed Kumbha Mela, on wrong days! That

reminds me of a Kashmiri saying, Peera kartam yaariyah yati paan yeeri asakh "

i.e. " O peer (guuruji) save me from drowning in such a river where you get

drowned yourself! "

 

Jai Shri Ram!

 

AKK

HinduCalendar , " Pathmarajah " <beastmy wrote:

 

 

 

AKK, which is the correct date for Mahasivaratri?

 

Pathma

 

 

Two Calculations for Mahasivaratri

 

Source: HPI

 

KAPAA, HI, USA, February 10, 2010: The monks at the headquarters of

Hinduism Today magazine have been contacting specialists on Hindu

scripture and tradition to clarify the date when Mahasivaratri is

celebrated.

 

Apart from regional variations, such as is the case in Bali, there are

two basic ways to calculate Sivaratri, according to the lunar month or

solar month. Those who follow the lunar month celebrate it in the month

of Magha, or February 11/12 this year, a calculation most popular in

North India. Those who follow the South Indian solar month are

celebrating it on Masi, March 12.

 

Usually the two calendars overlap and there is no difference in date,

but this year Sivaratri will be celebrated both months, depending on

one’s locality and tradition, because Masi begins on February 12

but that is still the lunar month of Magha.

 

[HPI note: This year, Kauai's Hindu Monastery will celebrate

Mahasivaratri on February 11, tomorrow.]