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Source:
1. Article written by Late Sri Pidaparthy Krishnamurthy Sastry in the Vijnana
Sarvasam - by Andhra Saraswata Parishad - 1965
2. Kshayamasa Kartvya Nirnayam - By Late Sri Pidaparthy Krishnamurthy Sastry
3. Report of the Calendar Reform Committee by its Chairman Prof: Meghnath Saha,
FRS, Ex MP- constituted by the Government of India
4. Proceedings on 2nd Karnataka Astronomical Conference held in Mysore in 1934
under the President ship of Hon'ble Vepa Ramesham, the then Madras High Court
Judge and others:
Panchangam - in Vedas.
Vedas are self generated ethics and were not written by any human being. There
was no confirmed or authority about when these spiritual scripts were taken
birth and who was behind it. There was a considerable exercise to know the time
and period of its birth; yet, all the calculations were just estimates without
any concrete justification. Scholars both from India and other countries made
attempts and done research to know the foundation of the Vedas, but were unable
to find the result.
So by taking Vedas - as they were the most ancient scripts - as accepted base,
let us find whether Panchanga is mentioned in those scripts.
Vedas are broadly divided into SIX major segments. Or it can be said that Vedas
do have SIX different parts. One of the six parts is Jyotisham -
Astrology. That is called Vedaanga Jyotisham ( Vedic Astrology).
Rugveda - is the first part of Vedas, wherein it was mentioned that:
The wheel of time ( Kaalachakra) has got 12 blades,( i.e. Months) and 720 day
timings (when the sun was shining) and that brings us the 360
days.(1.164.11)
Each year has been divided into 3 major parts and it was called as "Chaturmaasa"
- And in of these Chaturmaasa" there will be 4 months. (1.164.48)
The year calculated under the Chandramana - Lunar specific - and the year
calculated under the Suryamana - Sun Specific - do have a difference of 12 days
between them. That was the reason for every 3 years there occurs a
Adhikamasa - the extra month - 13th one. ( 4.33.7)
But then, it seems there was no mention about the "Tidhi". In another part
of Veda - Yajurveda - it is understood that the whole year was divided into two
major parts - based on the Sun's movement - as Uttarayana and Dakshinayana, and
it was also mentioned that the Stars were defined with its names and also their
lords.
Looking at the Taithireeya Samhita - ( 7.4.8) where the names of the lunar
months were mentioned and also how these names were created was also
explained. May be Rugveda has not mentioned about Tidhi, but then,
Yajurveda as well as Brhamanm talked about Tidhi.
Yadhaa sikhaa mayuraanaam naaganam manayo yadhaa
Tadhaa vedaanga sastraanam jyotisham moordhani stitham
Yajurvedaanga Jyotisham - 4th Sloka
The plumage of peacock and the Diamond on the head of the cobra - are most
prominent and outstanding - similarly the science of Astrology is prominent and
outstanding in the groups of Vedas. The actual meaning is that the
Astrology does have the attraction of the plumage and the knowledge like light
of diamond.
Jyotish sastra midam punyam - pratyakhsamapi Gopitam
Chandrarkou Saakshinou Tatra Srouta Smartaadi Saadhanam
To follow or to perform a ritual, we need the correct timing. Except the
Astrology - for which only the Sun and Moon are the witnesses - there is no
other alternative to elect and select the right time.
Jyotisham Dharma sastramcha, praya-schittam chikitsitam,
Vinaa Sasthrena Yo bruyaat Tamaahuhu braham Ghatukam!
Without having the considerable knowledge and the expertise - predicting and
practicing the Astrology, the Law, the Medicine and the purification systems -
either writing or speaking about it - is most unpardonable sin.
India - is a country which has got glorious history. Our Hindu religion is based
on the Karma. And we follow a system of maintaining our tradition and in
which most important is that we take care of the souls of our fathers and
forefathers.
With a real inclination, straightforwardness and clear wisdom and with total
knowledge one who can make the calculation to produce a Panchangam - is the
real reliable one.
PANCHANGAM - that means which is got 5 different parts is Panchanga. - these
five parts are 1. Tidhi ( that particular day) Vaara ( that day week) Nakshtra
( that day's star) Yoga ( that day's Yoga) Karana ( that day's Karana) - To
calculate and specify and starting time and ending time of these FIVE
projections is called Panchangam. That is called Kaalanirnaya - the
defining of the stating and finishing of certain movements in a day connecting
to the astronomical stars and their perspective Any wrong calculations in any
of these divisions will produce the wrong product of Panchanga, and any ritual
or ceremony or function organized based on this wrong calculations are against
the scriptures and so will give wrong results.
The distance between the Sun and the Moon calculated on a daily basis is called
Tidhi. The positioning and the movements of both Sun and Moon are different -
the distance can not be calculated in terms of Miles are meter but in degrees
only. As the space which is in the circle shape - is 360 degrees. So in a
month there are 30 days ( or Tidhis) that will bring us to the 12 degrees per
Tidhi be taken to calculate the disctance between the sun and the Moon. On the
New Moon day - that is Amavasya - the distance between the Sun and Moon is only
zero (0) degrees and at that time the Moon will have no light. On the full moon
day the distance is 180 degree as both Sun and Moon are on opposite positions.
So, that shows when the distance between Sun and Moon is 0 - 12 degrees that is
defined as Padyami, and when it is 12-24 degrees that is defined as Vidiya (
2nd day) and when the distance is 24-36 degrees that day is defined as Tadiya (
third day).
There is another specific thing is to be noted: Sun's movements are slow
while Moon's movements are fast. If you take the average motion ( mean motion)
of Sun, it is 59.1 feet ( 1 degree is equal to 60 feet) Where as Moons mean
motion is about 790.56. So the difference between the Sun and Moon's
motion is 790.56 - 59.1 = 731.46 that is equal to
12.19 degrees.
Whereas to gain the correct Tidhi, one should not take the mean motions - one
need to take accurate motion to obtain the right time of Tidhi. There are
functions to obtain this accurate motion to get the right Tidhi.
In a month there are 30 Tidhis- and on an average each Tidhi will run for 23.62
hours. But, in many days, the Tidhi usually hovering between 20 hours to
26.40 hours - and with this huge fluctuations, one can not depend upon the mean
motions and this fluctuations is because of the fast motion of the Moon it
daily changes.
Particularly to perform the rites and ceremonies for our elders - we need the
right timings - right accurate Tidhi -and also for festivals like Deepavali,
Vijayadasami etc., the timings is the essence. As there are many kinds of
writers of Pamchanga- there is always a difference from one school of thought
to another school of thought and the Tidhis are getting overlapped.
Week days ( Vaara)
Entire world is following the Sunday to Saturday - What is the basic reason for
maintaining these 7 days? That is there is a certain link or connection
between these Weekdays and the planets around our universe.
Mandaamarejya Bhuputra Surya sukrendu Jemdavaha
Paribhramanti Adhoda sthaassidha vidhyadhara ghanaa!
Even though all the plantes are circleing the Sun, the programming
of our daily calculations are being done based on our planet only!
If you take the line up of the planets situated above the earth beginning the
nearest one as one, Chandra ( Moon) is one, then Budha ( Mercury) then Sukra (
Venus) then Ravi (Sun) then Kuja ( Mars) and then Guru ( Jupitor) and the last
one is Sani ( Saturn). This is only the ranking of the planets - depending upon
their situation, but not express the distance between one planet to another!
If you look at the line up again, the position is like this:
Chandra
Budha
Sukra
RAVI
Kuja
Guru
Sani
Take first Sunday - RAVI , then come to first - Monday - the Moon, go to back to
Ravi, Kuja - Tuesday, come back to next of Chandra - Budha ( Wednesday ) and go
back to 2nd one of Ravi - Guru ) Thursday; and third one is Sukra ( Friday) and
the last one Sani ( Saturday)
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