Guest guest Posted October 21, 2008 Report Share Posted October 21, 2008 Dear friends and devotees, Bhakti is eternal. Part 2 of Hindu calendar. Chandramana (Lunar Calendar): Chandramana is a calculation of time based on the moon's revolution around the earth. A lunar month is the time period between two full moons or Purnimas (or two new moons or Amavasyas, in some traditions). There are 12 months in a lunar year. Nakshatra (star): There are 27 stars or constellations (Nakshatra) spread over 360 degrees along the zodiac each spacing over 13 degrees and 20 minutes. Dividing each star space into 4 quarters of 3 degrees and 20 minutes each, a Rasi is spanned by 2 and 1/4 star space or 9 quarters star space. The moon takes about 27 days to complete one revolution among the constellations. So the star and its quarter at birth is determined by determining the star at the location of the moon (longitude) in the zodiac in degrees at the time of birth. The 27 Nakshatras are: Ashwini - Bharani - Kruttika -Rohini - Mrugashira Arudra - Punarvasu - Pushyami - Aslesha - Makha Purvabhadra - Uttarabhadra - Hasta - Chitta - Swathi Vishakha - Anuradha - Jyeshta - Moola - Purvashadha Uttarashadha - Sravana - Dhanishta - Satabhisha Purvabhadra - Uttarabhadra - Revathi Many of the Nakshatras are associated with particular deities for worship. For example Sravana for Vishnu, Arudra for Siva, Rohini for Krishna and so on. Rutu (season): There are 6 Rutus in a year. See the Masa table for the names & period of the seasons. Masa (month): The names of the lunar month, the likely star (constellation) on the full moon of the month, and the seasons are given below. There are 12 Masas in a year; lunar or solar (See above for months in the Solar Calendar). Since the lunar year is shorter than the solar year by about 11 days or so, once every 3 lunar years, an additional lunar month is added to realign with the solar year. It is called `Adhika Masa'. In other words one of the lunar months will come twice consecutively. Hindu Lunar Month Likely Constellation on Full Moon Season Months spanned English (Western) Calendar 1. Chaitra Vasanta rutu (spring) March-April 2. Vaisakha Vasanta rutu (spring) April-May 3. Jyeshta Grishma rutu (summer) May-June 4. Ashada - (Purva/Uttara) Grishma rutu (summer)June-July 5. Sravana Varsha rutu (rain) July-August 6. Bhadrapada Purva/Uttara) Varsha rutu (rain)August-September 7. Aswiyuja Saradrutu (autumn) September-October 8. Karthika Saradrutu (autumn) October-November 9. Margasira Hemanta rutu (early winter) November-December 10. Pushya Hemanta rutu (early winter) December-January 11. Magha Sisira rutu (late winter) January-February 12. Phalguna-(Purva/Uttara)Sisira rutu late winter)February-March Paksha: Each lunar month is divided into two fortnights, called Pakshas. There are two pakshas in a lunar month, the bright fortnight (Sukla Paksha) and dark fortnight (Krishna Paksha). The time period between a day after the full moon and the next new moon is call Krishna Paksha or dark fortnight. The time period between a day after new moon and the next full moon is called Sukla Paksha or bright fortnight. The fortnights are called Pakshas. The 12 lunar months also form six rutus or seasons. Sukla Paksha is considered auspicious for rituals; Bhadrapada Krishna Paksha is named as Pitru Paksha, meaning auspicious to perform ancestral rites. Tithi: A lunar day is known as a tithi. It is the time taken by the moon to move a distance of 12 degrees from the Sun. When the Sun and Moon are at the same longitude, it is Amavasya or new moon and when they are 180 degrees apart it is Purnima or full moon. In each Paksha there are 15 tithis for a total of 30 tithis in a lunar month. The 15th thithi of Sukla Paksha is Purnima and the 15th of Krishna Paksha is Amavasya. The other 14 tithis in each Paksha have the same names, which are literally the Sanskrit numbering from one through fourteen. The 14 names are as follows: Padyami/Prathama, Vidiya/Dwitiya, Tadiya/Trutiya, Chaturthi, Panchami, Sashti, Saptami, Ashtami, Navami, Dashami, Ekadasi, Dwadasi, Trayodasi, and Chaturdasi. Every tithi has a special association in the worship of a particular deity, ex: Chaturthi with Ganesha. So at least there are thirty special events (festivals) in a year. Actually there are more than that considering festivals like Navaratri and Rama Navami where each is celebrated for nine days. Karana: Each tithi is divided into two Karanas. There are 11 Karanas and they are distributed in a pattern within a lunar month and the pattern almost cycles month to month. The Karanas are the following: Bava, Baalava, Kaulava, Taitula, Garija, Vanija, Bhadra (Vishti), Shakuna, Chatushpaada, Naaga, Kimstughna. Yoga: The yoga is the time period during which the joint motion of the Sun and the Moon increase in longitude by 13 degrees and 20 minutes (like star space). Thus there are 27 yogas given below: Vishkambha, Preeti, Aayushmana, Saubhagya, Shobhana, Atiganda, Sukarma, Dhruti, Shoola, Ganda, Vrudhi, Dhruva, Vyaghaata, Harshana, Vajra, Siddhi, Vyateepaata, Vareeyana, Parigha, Siva, Siddha, Sadhya, Subha, Sukla, Brahma, Indra, and Vaidhrati. Some yogas are considered auspicious. Samvatsara (year): The Vedic calendar has 60 year cycles. The names of these years are the following: Prabhava - Vibhava - Shukla - Pramodoota - Prajotpatti - Angirasa - Shrimukha - Bhava - Yuva Dhatu - Ishwara - Bahudhanya - Pramadi - Vikrama Vishu - Chitrabhanu - Swabhanu - Tarana - Parthiva Vyaya - Sarvajittu - Sarvadhari - Virodhi - Vikruti Khara - Nandana - Vijaya - Jaya- Manmatha -Durmukhi Hevalambi - Vilambi - Vikaari - Sharvari - Plava Shubhakrutu - Shobhakrutu - Krodhi - Vishwaavasu Parabhava - Plavanga - Keelaka - Sowmya Saadhaarana -Voridhikrutu -Paridhaavi -Pramaadeecha Ananda - Rakshasa - Nala - Pingala - Kalayukti Siddharti - Roudri - Durmukhi - Dundubhi Rudhirodgaari - Raktakshi - Krodhana - Akshaya These names repeat every 60 years and a panchanga is generated for each year as it occurs. These years are lunar years. Panchanga: Thus the five elements of " Thithi " , " Vara " , " Nakshatra " , " Yoga " and " Karana " , that are discussed above are always considered by a true Hindu to determine an auspicious time (muhurta) for starting any karma (activity) with special emphasis for starting Vedic karmas. Thus, to a true Hindu, the calendar (panchanga) has a far greater importance than just keeping record of time and events. The fact that should be clear here is this: To a true Hindu, every life activity is connected to religion with the objective of understanding the Self. What has been discussed is by no means complete or sufficiently detailed. If you, the reader, get at least a feel for these elements and if it makes you more inquisitive to learn further, you are on your way to understand what it means to be a Hindu and more importantly your own place among the Lord's creation. Some details of Hindu Dharma will be given later as done in the case of Hinduism please. With love and regards, Sastry Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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