Hinduism - 24.

[Guest guest]

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