A site dedicated to the Presiding Deity , SRI LAKSHMINARAYANA PERUMAL, in Karaippatti Village, Near Thuvarankuruchi in Tiruchirappalli Dt. of Tamilnadu
Saturday, October 24, 2009
Friday, October 23, 2009
Wednesday, October 21, 2009
Monday, October 12, 2009
Pictures
Fellow Devotees,
Kindly email photographs of important events in your family and these will be uploaded on this site.
With regards,
KRSowmyanarayanan
Kindly email photographs of important events in your family and these will be uploaded on this site.
With regards,
KRSowmyanarayanan
Wednesday, October 07, 2009
Renovation Work--Progress Report
I understand that the construction of Madapalli in the temple is progressing well. Simultaneously work of renovating the Bajanai Madam is going on well. Top is covered with the asbestos sheets and there is a proposal to erect compound wall also to protect the premises. Of course we need funds urgently and I hope
the devotees will come forward with donations.
KRSowmyanarayanan Email: krsowmyan@yahoo.com Mob: 94434 99977
Sunday, July 22, 2007
Renovation
Dear friends,
A good news for you all. The Tamilnadu HR&CE Board has sanctioned Rs.72000/- for the construction of Madapalli. Sri Sampath taking all ncessary action to see that the amount is released and the construction started. The work of renovation, though slow, is progressing at
a steady phase. Please go thru my suggestion reg. a permanent fund for the Archakas and give your valuable suggestion. I have already started collecting funds.
With best wishes,
KRSowmyanarayanan
A good news for you all. The Tamilnadu HR&CE Board has sanctioned Rs.72000/- for the construction of Madapalli. Sri Sampath taking all ncessary action to see that the amount is released and the construction started. The work of renovation, though slow, is progressing at
a steady phase. Please go thru my suggestion reg. a permanent fund for the Archakas and give your valuable suggestion. I have already started collecting funds.
With best wishes,
KRSowmyanarayanan
Sunday, June 10, 2007
Donation
Sri. A.Ananthasayanam alias Ananthan ( Thiruvendipuram, Son of Amudan and Kowsalya)has sent Rs.1001/= as his contribution for the renovation. He is just married and we all wish him a very happy married life.
Sunday, April 29, 2007
Temple Renovation
Dear Viewers,
Our team headed by Shri. R. Kuppusamy has undertaken the holy task of renovation of our ancestrol Temple of Shri Lakshminarayanaperumal in Karappatti. We wish that you also should have some part , howsoever small it may be. You can choose any of the following:
1. Donation for the renovation.
2. Donation for daily pooja for one month Rs.300/=including daily prasadam.
3. Towards core fund for appointment of Archakar for the temple.
4. Sahasranama Parayanam for one Mandalam 200/= towards Sambhavanai.
Kindly send all the donations by DD or Cheques to Sri. K.R.Sowmyanarayanan, Retired AE Telecom.,5,East St., Krishnanagar, Near State Bank Colony, Ammapet, Salem. Regular recept
will be sent to the donar.
With kind regards,
K.R.Sowmyanarayanan
Our team headed by Shri. R. Kuppusamy has undertaken the holy task of renovation of our ancestrol Temple of Shri Lakshminarayanaperumal in Karappatti. We wish that you also should have some part , howsoever small it may be. You can choose any of the following:
1. Donation for the renovation.
2. Donation for daily pooja for one month Rs.300/=including daily prasadam.
3. Towards core fund for appointment of Archakar for the temple.
4. Sahasranama Parayanam for one Mandalam 200/= towards Sambhavanai.
Kindly send all the donations by DD or Cheques to Sri. K.R.Sowmyanarayanan, Retired AE Telecom.,5,East St., Krishnanagar, Near State Bank Colony, Ammapet, Salem. Regular recept
will be sent to the donar.
With kind regards,
K.R.Sowmyanarayanan
Archakar for the Temple
Dear Friends,
I propose the following:
The first and foremost step should be to make somebody present at the temple on a permanent basis. It can only be an Archakar. He can look after the daytoday Karyam and also of help in supervising the work we undertake so that our presence may not be necessary always. A monthly salary of Rs. 3000/- , a regular income from the Bhakthakotikal visiting the temple and a shelter for his stay has to be ensured. For this purpose, I think we can create a core fund of Rs/=3,00,000 to 5,00,000. Kindly consider this proposal and convey your views.
K.R.Sowmyanarayanan
I propose the following:
The first and foremost step should be to make somebody present at the temple on a permanent basis. It can only be an Archakar. He can look after the daytoday Karyam and also of help in supervising the work we undertake so that our presence may not be necessary always. A monthly salary of Rs. 3000/- , a regular income from the Bhakthakotikal visiting the temple and a shelter for his stay has to be ensured. For this purpose, I think we can create a core fund of Rs/=3,00,000 to 5,00,000. Kindly consider this proposal and convey your views.
K.R.Sowmyanarayanan
Thursday, January 25, 2007
Vishnusahasranamam
Dear friends,
I wish to inform you all that The Vishnusahasranamam and other Sthothrams are available on this site by clicking the link sanskrit. Kindly view and convey your valued opinion.
With regards...
K.R. Sowmyanarayanan
I wish to inform you all that The Vishnusahasranamam and other Sthothrams are available on this site by clicking the link sanskrit. Kindly view and convey your valued opinion.
With regards...
K.R. Sowmyanarayanan
Saturday, January 20, 2007
Comments on map of India
Shashi Prakash said...
MapmyIndia v-2007 is just like Google Maps/Yahoo Maps. In fact, even better, MapmyIndia is focused on India. Visit www.mapmyindia.com today. If you want to see your house on a map (the street actually), visit MapmyIndia (http://www.mapmyindia.com)This is an Indian company's initiative at creating an internet map site that will come up and do as much as Google and Mapquest has done. We're also adding an Indian twist to the things we do. Check out this concept called 'eLocation' MapmyIndia has introduced.eLocation allows you to get maps and directions to a peron's place, and the cool thing is that it gives you the directions in the words of that person (take a left after you see a panwallah, go inside that gate...u know, how people explani directions in India).Search for this sample elocation and you'll see what I mean. The id is: mapmyindiaLooking forward to your comments on the blog or through mail (my email address is: shashi@mapmyindia.com)Thanks and hope you can enjoy India in much much more detail =)Shashi Prakash (on behalf of the MapmyIndia team)
Wednesday, October 18, 2006 4:32:00 PM
Chennai, Chennai City Map, City Map of Chennai india, City map of Madras: "For more information contact : solutions@mapsofindia.com "
posted by krsowmyan at 3:52 PM on Sep 28, 2006
Monday, November 20, 2006
Calender Notation
Dear friends,
You might have gone thru the item on Kala , Hindu calender. Is it possible to bring this into practice by a convenient notation just like Gregorian Calander? Try and send your proposals to the mail link. It will be published in this site.
With best wishes,
K.R.Sowmyanarayanan
You might have gone thru the item on Kala , Hindu calender. Is it possible to bring this into practice by a convenient notation just like Gregorian Calander? Try and send your proposals to the mail link. It will be published in this site.
With best wishes,
K.R.Sowmyanarayanan
Thursday, September 28, 2006
Chennai, Chennai City Map, City Map of Chennai india, City map of Madras
Chennai, Chennai City Map, City Map of Chennai india, City map of Madras: "
For more information contact : solutions@mapsofindia.com "
For more information contact : solutions@mapsofindia.com "
Tuesday, September 05, 2006
Day of Brahma - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Day of Brahma - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia: "From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Jump to: navigation, search
In Hindu esoteric teachings, one day of Brahma is a length of time consisting of a thousand cycles of four yugas, or ages: Satya, Treta, Dvapara and Kali.
The cycle of Satya is characterized by virtue, wisdom and religion, there being practically no ignorance and vice, and the yuga lasts 1,728,000 years.
In the Treta-yuga vice is introduced, and this yuga lasts 1,296,000 years.
In the Dvapara-yuga there is an even greater decline in virtue and religion, vice increasing, and this yuga lasts 864,000 years.
And finally in Kali-yuga (the yuga we have been experiencing over the past 5000 years) there is an abundance of strife, ignorance, irreligion and vice, true virtue being practically nonexistent, and this yuga lasts 432,000 years.
In Kali-yuga vice increases to such a point that at the termination of the yuga the Supreme Lord himself appears as the Kalki Avatara, vanquishes the demons, saves his devotees, and commences another Satya-yuga. Then the process is set rolling again.
These four yugas, rotating a thousand times, comprise one day of Brahma, and the same number comprise one night. Brahma lives one hundred of such years and then dies. These hundred years by earth calculations total to 311 trillion and 40 billion earth years. By these calculations the life of Brahma seems fantastic and interminable, but from the viewpoint of eternity it is as brief as a lightning flash.
Hinduism
Śruti Smriti Denominations Hindu deities Gurus and Saints Schools of Hinduism Karma and Dharma Moksha Yoga Mantras Jyotish and Ayurvedav·d·e
Retrieved from 'http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Day_of_Brahma'
Category: Hi"
Jump to: navigation, search
In Hindu esoteric teachings, one day of Brahma is a length of time consisting of a thousand cycles of four yugas, or ages: Satya, Treta, Dvapara and Kali.
The cycle of Satya is characterized by virtue, wisdom and religion, there being practically no ignorance and vice, and the yuga lasts 1,728,000 years.
In the Treta-yuga vice is introduced, and this yuga lasts 1,296,000 years.
In the Dvapara-yuga there is an even greater decline in virtue and religion, vice increasing, and this yuga lasts 864,000 years.
And finally in Kali-yuga (the yuga we have been experiencing over the past 5000 years) there is an abundance of strife, ignorance, irreligion and vice, true virtue being practically nonexistent, and this yuga lasts 432,000 years.
In Kali-yuga vice increases to such a point that at the termination of the yuga the Supreme Lord himself appears as the Kalki Avatara, vanquishes the demons, saves his devotees, and commences another Satya-yuga. Then the process is set rolling again.
These four yugas, rotating a thousand times, comprise one day of Brahma, and the same number comprise one night. Brahma lives one hundred of such years and then dies. These hundred years by earth calculations total to 311 trillion and 40 billion earth years. By these calculations the life of Brahma seems fantastic and interminable, but from the viewpoint of eternity it is as brief as a lightning flash.
Hinduism
Śruti Smriti Denominations Hindu deities Gurus and Saints Schools of Hinduism Karma and Dharma Moksha Yoga Mantras Jyotish and Ayurvedav·d·e
Retrieved from 'http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Day_of_Brahma'
Category: Hi"
Tuesday, August 15, 2006
Your continued donations keep Wikipedia running!
Hindu units of measurement
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
(Redirected from Metrics of time in Hinduism)
Jump to: navigation, search
This article or section does not cite its references or sources.You can help Wikipedia by introducing appropriate citations.
Old Indian measures are still in use today, primarily for religious purposes in Hinduism and Jainism. They also are employed in the teachings of Surat Shabda Yoga.
Contents[hide]
1 Time
1.1 Sidereal metrics
1.1.1 Small units of time used in the Vedas[citation needed]
1.2 Lunar metrics
1.3 Tropical metrics
1.4 Reckoning of time among other entities
2 See also
3 External links
//
[edit]
Time
The Hindu metrics of time (Kaala Vyavahara) can be summarized as below.
Hindu units of time on a logarithmic scale.
[edit]
Sidereal metrics
a paramanu (परमाणु) is the normal interval of blinking in humans, or approximately 4 seconds
a vighati (विघटि) is 6 paramaanus, or approximately 24 seconds
a ghadiya (घटि) is 60 vighatis, or approximately 24 minutes
a muhurta is equal to 2 ghadiyas, or approximately 48 minutes
a nakshatra ahoratram (नक्षत्र अहोरत्रम्) or sidereal day is exactly equal to 30 muhurtas (Note: A day is considered to begin and end at sunrise, not midnight.)
[edit]
Small units of time used in the Vedas[citation needed]
a trasarenu is the combination of 6 celestial atoms.
a truti is the time needed to integrate 3 trasarenus, or 1/1687.5th of a second.
a vedha is 100 trutis.
a lava is 3 vedhas.[1]
a nimesha is 3 lavas, or a blink.
a kshanas is 3 nimeshas.
a kashthas is 5 kshanas, or about 8 seconds.
a laghu is 15 kashthas, or about 2 minutes.[2]
15 laghus make one nadika, which is also called a danda. This equals the time before water overflows in a six-pala-weight [fourteen ounce] pot of copper, in which a hole is bored with a gold probe weighing four masha and measuring four fingers long. The pot is then placed on water for calculation.
2 dandas make one muhurta.
6 or 7 dandas make one yamah, or 1/4th of a day or night.[3]
4 praharas or 4 yamas are in each day or each night.[4]
[edit]
Lunar metrics
a tithi (also spelled thithi ) or lunar day is defined as the time it takes for the longitudinal angle between the moon and the sun to increase by 12°. Tithis begin at varying times of day and vary in duration from approximately 19 to approximately 26 hours.
a paksa (also paksha) or lunar fortnight consists of 15 tithis
a masa or lunar month (approximately 29.5 days) is divided into 2 pakshas: the one between new moon and full moon is called gaura (bright) or shukla paksha; the one between full moon and new moon krishna (dark) paksha [5]
a ritu is 2 masa
an ayanam is 3 rituhs
a year is 2 Aayanas [6]
[edit]
Tropical metrics
a yaama (याम) is 7½ Ghatis (घटि)
8 yaamas 1 half of the day(either day or night)
an ahoratram is a tropical day (Note: A day is considered to begin and end at sunrise, not midnight.)
[edit]
Reckoning of time among other entities
Reckoning of time amongst the pitrs.
1 human masa = 1 day of the pitrs
30 days of the pitrs = 1 month of the pitrs
12 months of the pitrs = 1 year of the pitrs
The lifespan of the pitrs is 100 years of the pitrs (= 3000 human years)
Reckoning of time amongst the Devas.
1 human year = 1 day of the Devas.
30 days of the Devas = 1 month of the Devas.
12 months of the Devas = 1 year of the Devas
The lifespan of the Devas is 100 years of the Devas (= 36,000 human years)
Reckoning of time for Brahma.
12,000 years of the Devas = 1 day of Brahma (432,000,000 human years). This day is divided into 1000 parts called charanas. The charanas are divided as follows:
The Four Yugas
4 charanas (1,728,000 solar years)
Satya Yuga
3 charanas(1,296,000 solar years)
Treta Yuga
2 charanas(864,000 solar years)
Dwapar Yuga
1 charanas(432,000 solar years)
Kali Yuga
[7]
The cycle repeats itself so altogether there are 1000 cycles of yugas in one day of Brahma.
One cycle of the above four yugas is one mahayuga (4.32 million solar years)
A manvantara consists of 71 mahayugas (306,720,000 solar years). Each Manvantara is ruled by a Manu.
After each manvantara follows one Sandhi Kala of the same duration as a Krita Yuga (1,728,000 = 4 Charana). (It is said that during a Sandhi Kala, the entire earth is submerged in water.)
A kalpa consists of a period of 1,728,000 solar years called Adi Sandhi, followed by 14 manvantaras and Sandhi Kalas.
A day of Brahma equals
(14 times 71 mahayugas) + (15 x 4 Charanas)
= 994 mahayugas + (60 Charanas)
= 994 mahayugas + (6 x 10) Charanas
= 994 mahayugas + 6 mahayugas
= 1000 mahayugas
as is confirmed by the Gita statement "sahasra-yuga paryantam ahar-yad brahmano viduH", meaning, a day of brahma is of 1000 (maha-)yugas. Thus a day of Brahma, kalpa, is of duration: 4.32 billion solar years. Two kalpas constitute a day and night of Brahma
30 days of Brahma = 1 month of Brahma (259,200,000,000 human years)
12 months of Brahma = 1 year of Brahma (3,110,400,000,000 human years)
25 years of Brahma = 1 kalpa (77,760,000,000,000 human years)
2 kalpas = 1 parardha (155,520,000,000,000 human years) [6]
2 parardhas = 100 years of Brahma, the lifespan of Brahma (311,040,000,000,000 human years)
We are currently in the 28th kaliyuga of the first day of the 1st year of the shvetavaraha kalpa of the second parardha of Brahma in the reign of the 7th Manu, Manu Vaivasvata. This is the 51st year of the present Brahma and so about 155 trillion years have elapsed since He took over as Brahma.
The current Kali Yuga (Iron Age) began at midnight 17 February / 18 February in 3102 BC in the proleptic Julian calendar.
[edit]
See also
Hindu calendar
Day of Brahma
Jyotish
Vedas
[edit]
External links
One Cosmic Day of Creator Brahma
Retrieved from "http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hindu_units_of_measurement"
Categories: Articles needing sources Vedic Civilization Hindu philosophical concepts Human-based units of measure Obsolete units of measure Shabd paths Timekeeping Hindu astronomy
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Calender.......4
Your continued donations keep Wikipedia running!
Hindu units of measurement
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
(Redirected from Metrics of time in Hinduism)
Jump to: navigation, search
This article or section does not cite its references or sources.You can help Wikipedia by introducing appropriate citations.
Old Indian measures are still in use today, primarily for religious purposes in Hinduism and Jainism. They also are employed in the teachings of Surat Shabda Yoga.
Contents[hide]
1 Time
1.1 Sidereal metrics
1.1.1 Small units of time used in the Vedas[citation needed]
1.2 Lunar metrics
1.3 Tropical metrics
1.4 Reckoning of time among other entities
2 See also
3 External links
//
[edit]
Time
The Hindu metrics of time (Kaala Vyavahara) can be summarized as below.
Hindu units of time on a logarithmic scale.
[edit]
Sidereal metrics
a paramanu (परमाणु) is the normal interval of blinking in humans, or approximately 4 seconds
a vighati (विघटि) is 6 paramaanus, or approximately 24 seconds
a ghadiya (घटि) is 60 vighatis, or approximately 24 minutes
a muhurta is equal to 2 ghadiyas, or approximately 48 minutes
a nakshatra ahoratram (नक्षत्र अहोरत्रम्) or sidereal day is exactly equal to 30 muhurtas (Note: A day is considered to begin and end at sunrise, not midnight.)
[edit]
Small units of time used in the Vedas[citation needed]
a trasarenu is the combination of 6 celestial atoms.
a truti is the time needed to integrate 3 trasarenus, or 1/1687.5th of a second.
a vedha is 100 trutis.
a lava is 3 vedhas.[1]
a nimesha is 3 lavas, or a blink.
a kshanas is 3 nimeshas.
a kashthas is 5 kshanas, or about 8 seconds.
a laghu is 15 kashthas, or about 2 minutes.[2]
15 laghus make one nadika, which is also called a danda. This equals the time before water overflows in a six-pala-weight [fourteen ounce] pot of copper, in which a hole is bored with a gold probe weighing four masha and measuring four fingers long. The pot is then placed on water for calculation.
2 dandas make one muhurta.
6 or 7 dandas make one yamah, or 1/4th of a day or night.[3]
4 praharas or 4 yamas are in each day or each night.[4]
[edit]
Lunar metrics
a tithi (also spelled thithi ) or lunar day is defined as the time it takes for the longitudinal angle between the moon and the sun to increase by 12°. Tithis begin at varying times of day and vary in duration from approximately 19 to approximately 26 hours.
a paksa (also paksha) or lunar fortnight consists of 15 tithis
a masa or lunar month (approximately 29.5 days) is divided into 2 pakshas: the one between new moon and full moon is called gaura (bright) or shukla paksha; the one between full moon and new moon krishna (dark) paksha [5]
a ritu is 2 masa
an ayanam is 3 rituhs
a year is 2 Aayanas [6]
[edit]
Tropical metrics
a yaama (याम) is 7½ Ghatis (घटि)
8 yaamas 1 half of the day(either day or night)
an ahoratram is a tropical day (Note: A day is considered to begin and end at sunrise, not midnight.)
[edit]
Reckoning of time among other entities
Reckoning of time amongst the pitrs.
1 human masa = 1 day of the pitrs
30 days of the pitrs = 1 month of the pitrs
12 months of the pitrs = 1 year of the pitrs
The lifespan of the pitrs is 100 years of the pitrs (= 3000 human years)
Reckoning of time amongst the Devas.
1 human year = 1 day of the Devas.
30 days of the Devas = 1 month of the Devas.
12 months of the Devas = 1 year of the Devas
The lifespan of the Devas is 100 years of the Devas (= 36,000 human years)
Reckoning of time for Brahma.
12,000 years of the Devas = 1 day of Brahma (432,000,000 human years). This day is divided into 1000 parts called charanas. The charanas are divided as follows:
The Four Yugas
4 charanas (1,728,000 solar years)
Satya Yuga
3 charanas(1,296,000 solar years)
Treta Yuga
2 charanas(864,000 solar years)
Dwapar Yuga
1 charanas(432,000 solar years)
Kali Yuga
[7]
The cycle repeats itself so altogether there are 1000 cycles of yugas in one day of Brahma.
One cycle of the above four yugas is one mahayuga (4.32 million solar years)
A manvantara consists of 71 mahayugas (306,720,000 solar years). Each Manvantara is ruled by a Manu.
After each manvantara follows one Sandhi Kala of the same duration as a Krita Yuga (1,728,000 = 4 Charana). (It is said that during a Sandhi Kala, the entire earth is submerged in water.)
A kalpa consists of a period of 1,728,000 solar years called Adi Sandhi, followed by 14 manvantaras and Sandhi Kalas.
A day of Brahma equals
(14 times 71 mahayugas) + (15 x 4 Charanas)
= 994 mahayugas + (60 Charanas)
= 994 mahayugas + (6 x 10) Charanas
= 994 mahayugas + 6 mahayugas
= 1000 mahayugas
as is confirmed by the Gita statement "sahasra-yuga paryantam ahar-yad brahmano viduH", meaning, a day of brahma is of 1000 (maha-)yugas. Thus a day of Brahma, kalpa, is of duration: 4.32 billion solar years. Two kalpas constitute a day and night of Brahma
30 days of Brahma = 1 month of Brahma (259,200,000,000 human years)
12 months of Brahma = 1 year of Brahma (3,110,400,000,000 human years)
25 years of Brahma = 1 kalpa (77,760,000,000,000 human years)
2 kalpas = 1 parardha (155,520,000,000,000 human years) [6]
2 parardhas = 100 years of Brahma, the lifespan of Brahma (311,040,000,000,000 human years)
We are currently in the 28th kaliyuga of the first day of the 1st year of the shvetavaraha kalpa of the second parardha of Brahma in the reign of the 7th Manu, Manu Vaivasvata. This is the 51st year of the present Brahma and so about 155 trillion years have elapsed since He took over as Brahma.
The current Kali Yuga (Iron Age) began at midnight 17 February / 18 February in 3102 BC in the proleptic Julian calendar.
[edit]
See also
Hindu calendar
Day of Brahma
Jyotish
Vedas
[edit]
External links
One Cosmic Day of Creator Brahma
Retrieved from "http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hindu_units_of_measurement"
Categories: Articles needing sources Vedic Civilization Hindu philosophical concepts Human-based units of measure Obsolete units of measure Shabd paths Timekeeping Hindu astronomy
Views
Article
Discussion
Edit this page
History
Personal tools
Sign in / create account
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Recent changes
Random article
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Permanent link
Cite this article
In other languages
Deutsch
Français
Lietuvių
Polski
தமிழ்
This page was last modified 20:37, 5 August 2006.
All text is available under the terms of the GNU Free Documentation License. (See Copyrights for details.) Wikipedia® is a registered trademark of the Wikimedia Foundation, Inc.
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Hindu Calendar...3
In the traditional Hindu calendar, the breaks were observed on pratipada (first day of the waxing and waning phase of the moon) and ashtami (eighth day of waxing and waning phase). The main divisions of the year were: season, month, half-month (paksha), day-night and sunrise. However, an alien system (Gregorian) was imposed upon the entire country during the colonial rule. The concept of Sunday as a day of rest is just one example. When the British came to the subcontinent, observance of Sunday as a day of rest was limited to Europeans – Indians worked all seven days. However, in 1842 the Governor of Bombay Sir George Arthur ordered that no government work was to be done either by Indians or Europeans on a Sunday and that future government contracts with outside tenderers were to specify this. As a result, we overtly subscribe to one set of politically correct assumptions that dominate the world today, but these are constantly belied by the reality of our everyday experience. Even though we would now feel quite lost without the Gregorian calendar, many people still think that the weather turns cold only after Diwali (amavasya or the new moon in the month of Kartik) and warm weather only beings after Holi (Poornima or the full moon in Phalgun).
After independence, the government created an Indian civil calendar based on the Shaka samvat in an attempt to have a unified calendar for the country incorporating elements of the traditional calendar and the Gregorian calendar. However, this has done little to limit the loss of knowledge about the traditional calendars, as it has not become popular with our people who continue to follow the traditional system in their region.
We need to acknowledge as well as appreciate the strengths of our society and understand the premises upon which it functions. In order to do this we need be more informed. We are making a small beginning by taking a fresh look at the complexities of the Hindu calendar- the oldest calendar in the entire world (it is 1,9455,885,107 years old). This planner is an attempt to understand the traditional way we perceive the world and the cosmos, even though over the past few centuries we may have been alienated from our original nature. However, this alienation is not yet complete and so we seem to be living in two different worlds - one which was our own and one that is an imposition.
We hope this planner will help us become better acquainted with the traditional component of our world. However, we recognize our dependence on the January to December cycle, and for this reason, have made this planner span a period of 15 months to cover both the Hindu and Gregorian year. We have also included information about our country that has never been taught to us, with the hope it will help reconnect us with ourselves. We can respect others only after we accept and respect ourselves. When we see that in reality there are no opposites only differences; no competition only complementarity; only then can we truly participate in creating a harmonious world where we can mutually enrich one another.
Organization of the Hindu Calendar The Hindu calendar is a combined lunar and solar calendar as is based on the position of both sun and moon. When referring to the lunar cycle we refer to tithi and paksha, but when referring to the solar cycle we talk in terms of sankranti and gate. Festivals and other religious occasions are based both on the solar and the lunar cycles. For example some of the sankrantis (corresponding to the solar calendar) like the Mesh Sankranti (more popularly known as Baishaki), Kark Sankranti, etc. are very important and celebrated throughout the country, while on the other hand important festivals like Basant Panchami, Mahashivratri, Holi, Diwali, Janmashtami, Ramnavami, etc. are determined by the lunar calendar.
The names of the months like Chaitra, Baishaka, etc. are the same in both the lunar and solar cycles. These two cycles cannot be separated and seen in isolation. However, it should also be remembered that these two cycles are not in step. This creates a slight difficulty for those unacquainted with the Hindu calendar as demonstrated by the following example. In 2006, Baishaki falls on April 14th. According to the solar calendar it is the first day (or sankranti) of the month of Vaishakh, but according to the lunar cycle it is Chaitra Shukla Dwadashi (or the twelfth day of the bright half/waxing phase of the month of Chaitra). So it can be seen that according to the lunar cycle it is the month of Chaitra, but according to the solar cycle the month of Baishaka has started.
SOLAR CYCLEA solar month is the time it takes the sun to travel through a zodiac sign (rashi). The entry of the sun in a rashi is celebrated as sankrant and is also the start of the solar month. Thus there are twelve sankrants in a year. For example, the month of Baishaka begins when the sun enters the zodiac sign Aries.
A solar year has two ayana (halves) of six months each, solar month is further divided in to 30 or 31 gate (days). The northern declination of the sun when it appears to move between the constellation Capricorn and Gemini is called Uttarayan. This corresponds to the movement of the sun from the Tropic of Capricorn northwards towards the Tropic of Cancer. Uttarayan starts on the day of Makar Sankranti. The southern declination of the sun when it appears to move between the constellations Cancer and Sagittarus is called Dakshinayan. This corresponds to the movement of the sun from the Tropic of Cancer southwards towards the Tropic of Capricorn. Dakshinayan starts on the day of Kark Sankranti. The solar year begins with the entrance of the sun into Mesha (Aries) or Makara which is around 14/15 of January.
LUNAR CYCLEThe lunar month (masa) consists of 30 tithis (days) which can begin at any time of the solar day, but for practical purposes they are considered to commences at sunrise and last through the whole solar day. The tithes are grouped into pakshas with 14-15 days each. The Krishna Paksha is the dark half or waning phase, from purnima to amavasya, and the Shukla Paksha is the bright half or waxing phase, from amavasya to purnima. In North India, the lunar month starts on the first day of the Krishna Paksha (Krishna Paksh Pratipada) and the last day of the month is the day of purnima. In Bengal, Maharashtra and South India, the amanta system is used, in which the lunar month instead starts on the first day of Shukla Paksha (Shukla Paksha Pratipada) and ends on the day of amavasya. Each masa is named after the naksatra in which the full moon occurs in each successive month. In South India the months are named after the constellations in which the sun is moving at that time.
Adhika Masa and Kshaya MasaIn order to reconcile the lunar and solar years, an ingenious system was devised. It was ordained that any month in which the sun did not enter a new sign of zodiac would not count and would be followed by another month of the some name. Thus in the lunar month of Chaitra the sun must enter the sign of Mesha (Aries). If it does not, there will be an intercalary Chaitra followed by the proper month of the some name during which the sun does enter Mesha. These intercalary months occur approximately once in three years. By this reckoning, the twelve lunar months are adjusted to the solar year.
There is a possibility that two Sankrantis may occasionally occur in the same lunar month. When this happens, the month to which the second Sankranti properly belongs, is called Kshaya or eliminated month. Eliminated months occur at intervals varying from 19 to 141 years. Intercalary months occur generally seven times in a cycle of 19 years.
The Hindu new year or samvatsar starts on the day of Chitra Shukla Pratipada (the first day of the bright half of the month of Chaitra). But the New Year is celebrated on different days in different part of country. Some regions and communities start their new year on KartikShukla Pratipada (the first day of the bright half of the month of kartik). This would be the time of Diwali. In Bengal and Punjab the New Year starts on the day of Mesh Sankrant (popularly known as Baisakhi), while the Tamil New Year called Pongal falls on the day after Baishakhi (i.e. 15 April).
SamvatsarsThere are many calendars in India. There are over 30 samvatsars (eras) that have been used in different parts of the country at different times. The Vikram Samvat is most widely used today, although the Hijri samvat (used by Muslims), Bangla Samvat, Kali samvat, Kolam samvat, Yazdejardi samvat, Buddha Nirvana samvat, and Mahavir Nirvana samvat continue to be used by some. There is a lot of similarity between different calendars. Festivals are celebrated on the same day with different names in the different parts of India according to different calendar. As per the traditional Hindu calendar each samvatsar (year) is given a specific name and they recur in cycles of sixty years. The names are as follows:Prabhava, Vibhava, Shukla, Prajapati, Angirasa, Srimukha, Bhava, Yuva, Dhatu, Iswara, Bahudhanya, Pramadi, Vikrama, Vishnu, Chitrabhanu, Swabhanu, Tharana, Parthiva, Vyaya, Sarvajitu, Sarvadhary, Virodhi, Vikriti, Khara, Nandana, Vijay, Jaya, Manmatha, Durmukh, Hevilambi, Vilambi, Vikari, Sharvari, Plava, Shubhakritu, Krodhi, Viswavasu, Parabhava, Plavanga, keelaka, Saumya, Sadharana, Virodhikritu, Paridhavi, Pramadicha, Ananda, Rakshasa, Nala, Pingala, Kalayukti, Siddharti, Roudri, Dhurmathi, Dundbhi, Rudhirodghari, Rakthakshi, Krodana, Akshaya,
The complete cycle of one year was traditionally divided into six ritus (seasons) as follows:
Season
Months
Vasant (Spring) Chaitra and Vaishaka (March-May)
Greesham (Summer) Jyashtha and Ashadh (May-July)
Varsha (Rain) Shravan and Bhadrapad (July-Sept)
Sharad (Autumn) Ashwin and Kartik (Sept-Nov)
Hemant (Winter) Margshish and Paush (Nov-Jan)
Shishira (Early Spring) Magh and Phalgun (Jan-March)
Panchang (Almanac)
In India the panchang is used for reckoning time and thus regulating the social and cultural life of the people. Panchang means having five limbs. A panchang is so named because it gives information regarding the five basic divisions of time. These are the: (a)Thiti (phase of the moon) (b)Vaar (day) (c)Nakshatra (star or constellation through which the moon is passing) (d)Yoga (total distance traversed by the sun and moon from any specific point) (e)Karana (half a thithi)
In additional, the panchang also gives tables for the correction of the time of sunrise at different longitudes, the time taken by the sun to traverse each rashi (zodiac sign) and the moon to traverse each nakshatra, the positions of the sun, moon and other planets, time of sunrise/sunset, auspicious day, date, time for various rituals, etc.
Panchangs are used at two levels: (a) in the house and (b) professionally by pundits. At the household level panchangs are used for checking when to keep fasts, auspicious time for starting puja etc. The pundits use it for casting horoscopes, deciding auspicious dates and time for major events like marriages, moving into a new house, etc.The Hindu Concept of TimeThe Hindu concept of time is extremely vast and divided into yugas and mahayugas. They are calculated as follows:One human year represents one for the divine.360 divine days make one divine year12,000 divine year makes one mahayuga.
One mahayuga is divided into 4 yugas, which are called: Krita, Treta, Dwapar and Kali.In terms of human years:Kali Yuga = 432,000 yearDwapar yuga = 864,000 year (dwa means twice)Treta Yuga = 1,296,000 year (tre means trice)Krita Yuga = 1,728,000 year (4 times Kali Yuga)
Hence one complete mahayuga is equal to 4,320,000, (4.32 million) human years.The following are considered the ruling gods in each of the four yugas:Krita Yuga Sri RanganathaTreat Yuga Sri RamaDwapar Yuga Sri KrishnaKali Yuga Sri SrinivasaSeventy-two mahayugas constitute one manvantara (i.e., the life of Manu) and fourteen such manvantaras make one day (kalpa) of Brahma. This works out to 4.35 billion human years (72 x 14 x 4.32 million).
Param and Para Ardham
Brahma’s whole day is 8.70 bilion human years (1 day of 4.35 billion human years + 1 night of 4.35 billion human years). Thirty such days make one month for Brahma (i.e. 8.70 x 30 = 261 billion human years) and 12 months make one year. Brahma is supposed to live for 100 such years, which works out to 313.2 trillion human years. This is called Param and half of it is Para Ardham.
The Span of Time
Time, or kala in Hindu philosophy, is considered in three ways/ranges. The first is cosmic or epochal time determined in terms of the life span of Brahma. The second range is Panchang time, measured in units of days and months used in determining the seasons etc. The last is horological time for measuring the duration of the day and is determined by lesser units.
Each unit of time in all three ranges is believed to have two wings and to be made up of a day and night separated by twilight periods. A unit is, therefore, made up of dawn (usha), twilight (sandhya) and night.
The truti (particle) is the smallest unit of duration. In modern term it ranges anywhere between one ten thousand millionth of a second to one kshana (moment).
The kshna (moment) loosely ranges from 2/45th of a second to about four seconds.
The nimesha/mimisha (blink or twinkling of an eye), strictly the time taken for the upward or downward movement of the eyelid, is equal to four kshanas.
The lava (fraction) is the duration of a completed blink (i.e., the time taken to shut and open the eyes in the act of blinking) is equal to 8 kshnas.
The vipala (fleeting) is the duration of four and a half nimishas or about two and a half complete blinks.
The tala (handclap) is the time taken to bring the hands together in the act of clapping. It ranges from one quarter to three quarters of a second. It is extremely elastic unit.
The anu-druta (half druta) is equal to one and a quarter vipalas or half a second.
A druta is the duration of two anu-druta.
The laghu is the duration of a handclap and two or more finger counts. A finger count consists of the thumb touching the tips of the fingers in turn. It equals two drutas, one and a half kahthas or about two seconds.
After independence, the government created an Indian civil calendar based on the Shaka samvat in an attempt to have a unified calendar for the country incorporating elements of the traditional calendar and the Gregorian calendar. However, this has done little to limit the loss of knowledge about the traditional calendars, as it has not become popular with our people who continue to follow the traditional system in their region.
We need to acknowledge as well as appreciate the strengths of our society and understand the premises upon which it functions. In order to do this we need be more informed. We are making a small beginning by taking a fresh look at the complexities of the Hindu calendar- the oldest calendar in the entire world (it is 1,9455,885,107 years old). This planner is an attempt to understand the traditional way we perceive the world and the cosmos, even though over the past few centuries we may have been alienated from our original nature. However, this alienation is not yet complete and so we seem to be living in two different worlds - one which was our own and one that is an imposition.
We hope this planner will help us become better acquainted with the traditional component of our world. However, we recognize our dependence on the January to December cycle, and for this reason, have made this planner span a period of 15 months to cover both the Hindu and Gregorian year. We have also included information about our country that has never been taught to us, with the hope it will help reconnect us with ourselves. We can respect others only after we accept and respect ourselves. When we see that in reality there are no opposites only differences; no competition only complementarity; only then can we truly participate in creating a harmonious world where we can mutually enrich one another.
Organization of the Hindu Calendar The Hindu calendar is a combined lunar and solar calendar as is based on the position of both sun and moon. When referring to the lunar cycle we refer to tithi and paksha, but when referring to the solar cycle we talk in terms of sankranti and gate. Festivals and other religious occasions are based both on the solar and the lunar cycles. For example some of the sankrantis (corresponding to the solar calendar) like the Mesh Sankranti (more popularly known as Baishaki), Kark Sankranti, etc. are very important and celebrated throughout the country, while on the other hand important festivals like Basant Panchami, Mahashivratri, Holi, Diwali, Janmashtami, Ramnavami, etc. are determined by the lunar calendar.
The names of the months like Chaitra, Baishaka, etc. are the same in both the lunar and solar cycles. These two cycles cannot be separated and seen in isolation. However, it should also be remembered that these two cycles are not in step. This creates a slight difficulty for those unacquainted with the Hindu calendar as demonstrated by the following example. In 2006, Baishaki falls on April 14th. According to the solar calendar it is the first day (or sankranti) of the month of Vaishakh, but according to the lunar cycle it is Chaitra Shukla Dwadashi (or the twelfth day of the bright half/waxing phase of the month of Chaitra). So it can be seen that according to the lunar cycle it is the month of Chaitra, but according to the solar cycle the month of Baishaka has started.
SOLAR CYCLEA solar month is the time it takes the sun to travel through a zodiac sign (rashi). The entry of the sun in a rashi is celebrated as sankrant and is also the start of the solar month. Thus there are twelve sankrants in a year. For example, the month of Baishaka begins when the sun enters the zodiac sign Aries.
A solar year has two ayana (halves) of six months each, solar month is further divided in to 30 or 31 gate (days). The northern declination of the sun when it appears to move between the constellation Capricorn and Gemini is called Uttarayan. This corresponds to the movement of the sun from the Tropic of Capricorn northwards towards the Tropic of Cancer. Uttarayan starts on the day of Makar Sankranti. The southern declination of the sun when it appears to move between the constellations Cancer and Sagittarus is called Dakshinayan. This corresponds to the movement of the sun from the Tropic of Cancer southwards towards the Tropic of Capricorn. Dakshinayan starts on the day of Kark Sankranti. The solar year begins with the entrance of the sun into Mesha (Aries) or Makara which is around 14/15 of January.
LUNAR CYCLEThe lunar month (masa) consists of 30 tithis (days) which can begin at any time of the solar day, but for practical purposes they are considered to commences at sunrise and last through the whole solar day. The tithes are grouped into pakshas with 14-15 days each. The Krishna Paksha is the dark half or waning phase, from purnima to amavasya, and the Shukla Paksha is the bright half or waxing phase, from amavasya to purnima. In North India, the lunar month starts on the first day of the Krishna Paksha (Krishna Paksh Pratipada) and the last day of the month is the day of purnima. In Bengal, Maharashtra and South India, the amanta system is used, in which the lunar month instead starts on the first day of Shukla Paksha (Shukla Paksha Pratipada) and ends on the day of amavasya. Each masa is named after the naksatra in which the full moon occurs in each successive month. In South India the months are named after the constellations in which the sun is moving at that time.
Adhika Masa and Kshaya MasaIn order to reconcile the lunar and solar years, an ingenious system was devised. It was ordained that any month in which the sun did not enter a new sign of zodiac would not count and would be followed by another month of the some name. Thus in the lunar month of Chaitra the sun must enter the sign of Mesha (Aries). If it does not, there will be an intercalary Chaitra followed by the proper month of the some name during which the sun does enter Mesha. These intercalary months occur approximately once in three years. By this reckoning, the twelve lunar months are adjusted to the solar year.
There is a possibility that two Sankrantis may occasionally occur in the same lunar month. When this happens, the month to which the second Sankranti properly belongs, is called Kshaya or eliminated month. Eliminated months occur at intervals varying from 19 to 141 years. Intercalary months occur generally seven times in a cycle of 19 years.
The Hindu new year or samvatsar starts on the day of Chitra Shukla Pratipada (the first day of the bright half of the month of Chaitra). But the New Year is celebrated on different days in different part of country. Some regions and communities start their new year on KartikShukla Pratipada (the first day of the bright half of the month of kartik). This would be the time of Diwali. In Bengal and Punjab the New Year starts on the day of Mesh Sankrant (popularly known as Baisakhi), while the Tamil New Year called Pongal falls on the day after Baishakhi (i.e. 15 April).
SamvatsarsThere are many calendars in India. There are over 30 samvatsars (eras) that have been used in different parts of the country at different times. The Vikram Samvat is most widely used today, although the Hijri samvat (used by Muslims), Bangla Samvat, Kali samvat, Kolam samvat, Yazdejardi samvat, Buddha Nirvana samvat, and Mahavir Nirvana samvat continue to be used by some. There is a lot of similarity between different calendars. Festivals are celebrated on the same day with different names in the different parts of India according to different calendar. As per the traditional Hindu calendar each samvatsar (year) is given a specific name and they recur in cycles of sixty years. The names are as follows:Prabhava, Vibhava, Shukla, Prajapati, Angirasa, Srimukha, Bhava, Yuva, Dhatu, Iswara, Bahudhanya, Pramadi, Vikrama, Vishnu, Chitrabhanu, Swabhanu, Tharana, Parthiva, Vyaya, Sarvajitu, Sarvadhary, Virodhi, Vikriti, Khara, Nandana, Vijay, Jaya, Manmatha, Durmukh, Hevilambi, Vilambi, Vikari, Sharvari, Plava, Shubhakritu, Krodhi, Viswavasu, Parabhava, Plavanga, keelaka, Saumya, Sadharana, Virodhikritu, Paridhavi, Pramadicha, Ananda, Rakshasa, Nala, Pingala, Kalayukti, Siddharti, Roudri, Dhurmathi, Dundbhi, Rudhirodghari, Rakthakshi, Krodana, Akshaya,
The complete cycle of one year was traditionally divided into six ritus (seasons) as follows:
Season
Months
Vasant (Spring) Chaitra and Vaishaka (March-May)
Greesham (Summer) Jyashtha and Ashadh (May-July)
Varsha (Rain) Shravan and Bhadrapad (July-Sept)
Sharad (Autumn) Ashwin and Kartik (Sept-Nov)
Hemant (Winter) Margshish and Paush (Nov-Jan)
Shishira (Early Spring) Magh and Phalgun (Jan-March)
Panchang (Almanac)
In India the panchang is used for reckoning time and thus regulating the social and cultural life of the people. Panchang means having five limbs. A panchang is so named because it gives information regarding the five basic divisions of time. These are the: (a)Thiti (phase of the moon) (b)Vaar (day) (c)Nakshatra (star or constellation through which the moon is passing) (d)Yoga (total distance traversed by the sun and moon from any specific point) (e)Karana (half a thithi)
In additional, the panchang also gives tables for the correction of the time of sunrise at different longitudes, the time taken by the sun to traverse each rashi (zodiac sign) and the moon to traverse each nakshatra, the positions of the sun, moon and other planets, time of sunrise/sunset, auspicious day, date, time for various rituals, etc.
Panchangs are used at two levels: (a) in the house and (b) professionally by pundits. At the household level panchangs are used for checking when to keep fasts, auspicious time for starting puja etc. The pundits use it for casting horoscopes, deciding auspicious dates and time for major events like marriages, moving into a new house, etc.The Hindu Concept of TimeThe Hindu concept of time is extremely vast and divided into yugas and mahayugas. They are calculated as follows:One human year represents one for the divine.360 divine days make one divine year12,000 divine year makes one mahayuga.
One mahayuga is divided into 4 yugas, which are called: Krita, Treta, Dwapar and Kali.In terms of human years:Kali Yuga = 432,000 yearDwapar yuga = 864,000 year (dwa means twice)Treta Yuga = 1,296,000 year (tre means trice)Krita Yuga = 1,728,000 year (4 times Kali Yuga)
Hence one complete mahayuga is equal to 4,320,000, (4.32 million) human years.The following are considered the ruling gods in each of the four yugas:Krita Yuga Sri RanganathaTreat Yuga Sri RamaDwapar Yuga Sri KrishnaKali Yuga Sri SrinivasaSeventy-two mahayugas constitute one manvantara (i.e., the life of Manu) and fourteen such manvantaras make one day (kalpa) of Brahma. This works out to 4.35 billion human years (72 x 14 x 4.32 million).
Param and Para Ardham
Brahma’s whole day is 8.70 bilion human years (1 day of 4.35 billion human years + 1 night of 4.35 billion human years). Thirty such days make one month for Brahma (i.e. 8.70 x 30 = 261 billion human years) and 12 months make one year. Brahma is supposed to live for 100 such years, which works out to 313.2 trillion human years. This is called Param and half of it is Para Ardham.
The Span of Time
Time, or kala in Hindu philosophy, is considered in three ways/ranges. The first is cosmic or epochal time determined in terms of the life span of Brahma. The second range is Panchang time, measured in units of days and months used in determining the seasons etc. The last is horological time for measuring the duration of the day and is determined by lesser units.
Each unit of time in all three ranges is believed to have two wings and to be made up of a day and night separated by twilight periods. A unit is, therefore, made up of dawn (usha), twilight (sandhya) and night.
The truti (particle) is the smallest unit of duration. In modern term it ranges anywhere between one ten thousand millionth of a second to one kshana (moment).
The kshna (moment) loosely ranges from 2/45th of a second to about four seconds.
The nimesha/mimisha (blink or twinkling of an eye), strictly the time taken for the upward or downward movement of the eyelid, is equal to four kshanas.
The lava (fraction) is the duration of a completed blink (i.e., the time taken to shut and open the eyes in the act of blinking) is equal to 8 kshnas.
The vipala (fleeting) is the duration of four and a half nimishas or about two and a half complete blinks.
The tala (handclap) is the time taken to bring the hands together in the act of clapping. It ranges from one quarter to three quarters of a second. It is extremely elastic unit.
The anu-druta (half druta) is equal to one and a quarter vipalas or half a second.
A druta is the duration of two anu-druta.
The laghu is the duration of a handclap and two or more finger counts. A finger count consists of the thumb touching the tips of the fingers in turn. It equals two drutas, one and a half kahthas or about two seconds.
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