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== Week in Vedic Astronomy ==

== Week in Vedic Astronomy ==

Six days were taken to form a ṣaḍaha (six-day week); 5 ṣaḍahas, a month; and 12 months, a year. As to the names of the six days of a ṣaḍaha, there is no reference in the vedic literature. However, the six-day week was later replaced by the present seven day week (saptāha) which had attained popularity and was in general use at the time of composition of the Atharva-jyautiṣa.<ref name=":1" />

In vedic literature, six days were taken to form a week that was called a Shadaha. 5 shadahas made a month and 12 months, a year. As to the names of the six days of a shadaha, there is no reference in the vedic literature. However, this six-day week was later replaced by the present seven day week (called saptaha) which had attained popularity and was in general use at the time of composition of the Atharva Jyotisha - a work on Jyotisha belonging to the later vedic period.<ref name=":1" />

== Months, Seasons and Year ==

== Months, Seasons and Year ==

The year of vedic astronomy seems to have been a tropical one. The months were lunar and measured from full moon to full moon and also from new moon to new moon. There is evidence to show that to make the lunar year correspond to the solar year 12 days were intercalated after every lunar year and one month was dropped after every 40 years.5 (5Law, N. N., Age of the Ṛgveda, pp. 20, 28–29.) At a later stage this correspondence was established by evolving a cycle of five solar years with 62 lunar months. This cycle was called a yuga.<ref name=":2" />

In vedic astronomy, months were lunar and measured from full moon to full moon and also from new moon to new moon.<ref name=":2" /> While the year, generally called by the terms sama, vatsara, and hayana in the vedic literature, was measured from one winter solstice to the next.<ref name=":1" /><ref name=":2" /> In fact, Kaushitaki brahmana (19.3) gives an interesting account of how the year-long yajna commenced at one winter solstice and continued until the next. It says, “On the new moon of Magha, the Sun rests, about to turn northwards. The hotas also rest, about to begin with the introductory Atiratra. Thus, for the first time, the hotas obtain the Sun. On him, they lay hold with the Chaturvimsha rite; that is why the laying hold rite has that name. The Sun then goes north for six months, while the hotas follow him with six day rites in continuation. Having gone north for six months, the Sun stands still, about to turn southwards. The hotas also rest, about to begin with the Vishnuvanta (summer solstice) day. Thus, for the second time, they obtain the Sun. The Sun then goes south for six months and the hotas follow him with six day rites in reverse order. Having gone south for six months, the Sun stands still, being about to turn north and the hotas also rest, about to begin with the Mahavrata day. Thus, they obtain the Sun for the third time."<ref name=":1" /><ref>Kaushitaki brahmana, [https://sa.wikisource.org/wiki/%E0%A4%95%E0%A5%8C%E0%A4%B7%E0%A5%80%E0%A4%A4%E0%A4%95%E0%A4%BF%E0%A4%AC%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%B0%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%B9%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%AE%E0%A4%A3%E0%A4%AE%E0%A5%8D/%E0%A4%85%E0%A4%A7%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%AF%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%AF%E0%A4%83_%E0%A5%A7%E0%A5%AF Adhyaya 19].</ref>

The year, generally called by the terms samā, vatsara, and hāyana in the vedic literature, was seasonal or tropical and was measured from one winter solstice to the next, but in due course it was used in the sense of a sidereal year. In the early stages, therefore, the names of the seasons were used as synonyms of a year.

This year of vedic astronomy seems to have been a seasonal or tropical one. Therefore, in the early stages, the names of the seasons were used as synonyms of a year.

The Kauṣītaki-brāhmaṇa (19. 3) gives an interesting account of how the year-long sacrifice was commenced at one winter solstice and continued until the next winter solstice: “On the new moon of Māgha he (the Sun) rests, being about to turn northwards. They (the priests) also rest,  being about to sacrifice with the introductory Atirātra. Thus, for the first time, they (the priests) obtain him (the Sun). On him they lay hold with the Caturviṃśa rite; that is why the laying hold rite has that name. He (the Sun) goes north for six months; him they (the priests) follow with six day rites in continuation. Having gone north for six months, he (the Sun) stands still, being about to turn southwards. They (the priests) also rest, being about to sacrifice with the Viṣuvanta (summer solstice) day. Thus, for the second time, they obtain him (the Sun). He (the Sun) goes south for six months; they (the priests) follow him with six day rites in reverse order. Having gone south for six months, he (the Sun) stands still, being about to turn north; and they (the priests) also rest, being about to sacrifice with the Mahāvrata day. Thus, they (the priests) obtain him (the Sun) for the third time”.

There is evidence to show that to make the lunar year correspond to the solar year 12 days were intercalated after every lunar year and one month was dropped after every 40 years.5 (5Law, N. N., Age of the Ṛgveda, pp. 20, 28–29.) At a later stage this correspondence was established by evolving a cycle of five solar years with 62 lunar months. This cycle was called a yuga.<ref name=":2" />

 

but in due course it was used in the sense of a sidereal year.  

The Taittirīya-brāhmaṇa (3. 9. 22) calls the year “the day of the gods”, the gods being supposed to reside at the north pole.<blockquote>अमुं तैः  । अनवरुद्धो वा एतस्य संवत्सर इत्याहुः ।  य इतेतश्चातुर्मास्यानि संवत्सरं प्रयुङ्क्त इति  ।  एतावान्वै संवत्सरः  । यच्चातुर्मास्यानि  ।  यदेते चातुर्मास्याः पशव आलभ्यन्ते  । प्रत्यक्षमेव तैः संवत्सरं यजमानोऽवरुन्धे ।  वि वा एष प्रजया पशुभिरृध्यते  ।  यः संवत्सरं प्रयुङ्क्ते  । संवत्सरः सुवर्गो लोकः  २<ref>Taittiriya brahmana, Kanda 3, [https://sa.wikisource.org/wiki/%E0%A4%A4%E0%A5%88%E0%A4%A4%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%A4%E0%A4%BF%E0%A4%B0%E0%A5%80%E0%A4%AF%E0%A4%AC%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%B0%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%B9%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%AE%E0%A4%A3%E0%A4%AE%E0%A5%8D_(%E0%A4%B5%E0%A4%BF%E0%A4%B8%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%B5%E0%A4%B0%E0%A4%AA%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%A0%E0%A4%83)/%E0%A4%95%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%A3%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%A1%E0%A4%83_%E0%A5%A9/%E0%A4%AA%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%B0%E0%A4%AA%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%A0%E0%A4%95%E0%A4%83_%E0%A5%A6%E0%A5%AF Prapathaka 9].</ref></blockquote>The year was supposed to consist of six seasons and each season of two (solar) months. The relation between the seasons and months was as shown in Table 1.

The Taittirīya-brāhmaṇa (3. 9. 22) calls the year “the day of the gods”, the gods being supposed to reside at the north pole.<blockquote>अमुं तैः  । अनवरुद्धो वा एतस्य संवत्सर इत्याहुः ।  य इतेतश्चातुर्मास्यानि संवत्सरं प्रयुङ्क्त इति  ।  एतावान्वै संवत्सरः  । यच्चातुर्मास्यानि  ।  यदेते चातुर्मास्याः पशव आलभ्यन्ते  । प्रत्यक्षमेव तैः संवत्सरं यजमानोऽवरुन्धे ।  वि वा एष प्रजया पशुभिरृध्यते  ।  यः संवत्सरं प्रयुङ्क्ते  । संवत्सरः सुवर्गो लोकः  २<ref>Taittiriya brahmana, Kanda 3, [https://sa.wikisource.org/wiki/%E0%A4%A4%E0%A5%88%E0%A4%A4%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%A4%E0%A4%BF%E0%A4%B0%E0%A5%80%E0%A4%AF%E0%A4%AC%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%B0%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%B9%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%AE%E0%A4%A3%E0%A4%AE%E0%A5%8D_(%E0%A4%B5%E0%A4%BF%E0%A4%B8%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%B5%E0%A4%B0%E0%A4%AA%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%A0%E0%A4%83)/%E0%A4%95%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%A3%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%A1%E0%A4%83_%E0%A5%A9/%E0%A4%AA%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%B0%E0%A4%AA%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%A0%E0%A4%95%E0%A4%83_%E0%A5%A6%E0%A5%AF Prapathaka 9].</ref></blockquote>The year was supposed to consist of six seasons and each season of two (solar) months. The relation between the seasons and months was as shown in Table 1.