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Panchanga (पञ्चाङ्गम्) (view source)
Revision as of 21:47, 23 November 2022
, 21:47, 23 November 2022Added content
Panchanga (Samskrit: पञ्चाङ्गम्) refers to the Bharatiya calendar system of timekeeping to maintain a record of day to day activities. While [[Kalamana (कालमानम्)|Kalamana]] discusses the different time measurement systems and their role and importance, a Panchanga refers to different times of the day and night and their importance. It is used to identify a particular day with respect to the weekday, month and year of a particular calendar system.
Panchanga (Samskrit: पञ्चाङ्गम्) refers to the Bharatiya calendar system of timekeeping to maintain a record of day to day activities. While [[Kalamana (कालमानम्)|Kalamana]] discusses the different time measurement systems and their role and importance, a Panchanga refers to different times of the day and night and their importance. It is used to identify a particular day with respect to the weekday, month and year of a particular calendar system.
== परिचयः ॥ Introduction ==
== परिचयः ॥ Introduction ==
Bharatiya Panchanga evolved over thousands of years since the vedic times. Based on the astronomical observations through different phases and periods - Vedanga and Siddhanta - the calendar has undergone continuous refinements. There are essentially two systems followed in Bharatavarsha or Indian sub-continent by different sections of people.<ref name=":2" />
Broadly a calendar is used to identify a particular day as belonging to a particular month of a particular year. The day is identified by the date of the said month and year, and the weekday on which this given date falls - form the specific details given for every single day of a year in a calendar. In different societies, depending on their requirements and practices - cultural, social, religious, and civil as also on the levels of their computational accomplishments - different calendar systems have been evolved.<ref name=":2" />
Bharatiya Panchanga evolved over thousands of years since the vedic times. It is the backbone of Indian lifestyle, with all festivals, local events, celestial events, and miscellaneous information (such as details about practices during Asoucha, onset of puberty, dreams and their intepretation etc.) Based on the astronomical observations through different phases and periods - Vedanga and Siddhanta - the calendar has undergone continuous refinements. The earliest systematic presentation of microcosmic time can be traced back to the Vedanga Jyotisha, wherein the calendar was formulated based on 5-year time periods called Yuga (different from the chaturyugas). It was Siddhanta Jyotisha which details the scientific calculations bringing in the present systems that are currently in vogue. Texts such as Surya siddhanta, Graha-laghava of Ganesha Daivajna and Siddhanta-darpana of Chandrasekhara Samanta are used for panchanga calculations. Owing to various factors such as regional differences in calculations, sunrise and sunset, there are several versions of the Panchanga followed throughout the country to cater to local requirements and cultural aspects.<ref name=":2" />
== Evolution of the Gregorian Calendar ==
=== Roman Calendar and Leap Year ===
The basis of the Roman calendar, also referred to as the Christian calendar, is the tropical solar year. For an observer on the Earth, the time taken by the Sun to complete a revolution along the ecliptic with reference to the vernal equinox (the first point of the zodiac sign Aries) is one tropical solar year called as sayana saura varsha according to Indian terminology.<ref name=":2" />
- '''Savana Sauravarsha''' - Its average duration is 365.24219 days. For convenience in civil use, the whole number of this duration - 365 days - is considered normally in year. To account for the residual part - 0.24219th day, Julius Caesar added one extra day once in four years. That year having the extra day is called the Leap year consisting of 366 days.<ref name=":2" />
=== Julian Calendar and days in a month ===
Since a year has 12 months, the total number of days of the year are distributed among them. Some months have 30 days and the others 31 days. Julius Caesar in whose name the month of July is named, is said to have privileged with 31 days. Emperor Augustus, named the month succeeding July as August after himself and endowed it with 31 days again. Due to this special arrangement of having 31 days in two successive months, the days in the month of February were reduced to 28 days in the ordinary years and 29 days in leap years. This calendar is referred to as the Julian Calendar.<ref name=":2" />
=== Gregorian Calendar and Adjustments ===
[[File:October 1582.png|right|frameless|Julian Vs Gregorian Calendar in October 1582]]
With the introduction of Julian calendar, the difference between a civil year and the natural tropical year was reduced to a great extent. Yet, it amounted to an excess of 0.00781th of a day (i.e., 11 minutes, 15 seconds) over the tropical year. In the course of a 100 years, this difference accumulates to 0.781th of a day.<ref name=":2" />
Pope Gregory XIII (1572 - 1585 A.D.) introduced a further change in the Julian Calendar, especially in the calculation of the date of Easter, which was moving away from the Spring Equinox on March 21. At his time, the excess in the civil year had accumulated to about 10 days. To account for this excess one significant change was introduced in October 1582 - the day succeeding October 4, 1582, Thursday would be considered as October 15, 1582, Friday. In other words, October 5 was changed to October 15, shedding the extra 10 days.<ref name=":2" />
This calendar is popularly called the Gregorian Calendar and is widely used to the present day. The difference between the civil year and a tropical year was reduced to about 0.1216th of a day (i.e., 2 hours, 55 minutes, 6 seconds) in the course of 400 years. This difference adds up to a full day in the course of about 3300 years. After that many years, a day will have to be dropped from the civil calendar.<ref name=":2" />
== Panchangas are based on movements of the Sun and the Moon ==
There are essentially two systems of scientific calculations of the Panchanga followed in Bharatavarsha or Indian sub-continent by different sections of people.<ref name=":2" />
# Solar (Saura)
# Solar (Saura)
# Luni-Solar (Chandra)
# Luni-Solar (Chandra)
The lunar month is seen as the most natural unit of time with clearly visible pramanas, namely Amavasya and Purnima, in the sky. A lunar month is the period from one new moon (Amavasya) to the next or from one full moon (Purnima) to the next; and it is easily observed without a requirement of any calculations or instruments. A solar month is calculated from the entry into a rashi by the Sun (sankranti) to his entry into the next rashi; and arriving at a sankranti time requires some careful observation of the planetary motions. A Panchanga however, describes many planetary events along with their significance and relevance in astronomical, astrological, ritualistic, social fields, thus to a traditional Sanatana Dharma household the annual Panchanga is indispensable. Their lifestyles are completely entwined with the concept of [[Kala (कालः)|Kala]]. The concept of Kala includes both macrocosmic and microcosmic time scales uniquely discussed by Bharatiya shastras, however, of the different such measures of time the daily Panchanga that we use to conduct our activities consists of five aspects.
The lunar month is seen as the most natural unit of time with clearly visible pramanas, namely Amavasya and Purnima, in the sky.
- A '''lunar month''' is the period from one new moon (Amavasya) to the next or from one full moon (Purnima) to the next; and it is easily observed in the sky without a requirement of any calculations or instruments.
== पञ्चाङ्ग॥ Calculations in Panchanga ==
- A '''solar month''' is calculated from the entry into a rashi by the Sun (sankranti) to his entry into the next rashi (zodiac); and arriving at a sankranti time requires some careful observation of the planetary motions.
A Panchanga however, describes many planetary events along with their significance and relevance in astronomical, astrological, ritualistic, social fields, thus to a traditional Sanatana Dharma household the annual Panchanga is indispensable. Their lifestyles are completely entwined with the concept of [[Kala (कालः)|Kala]]. The concept of Kala includes both macrocosmic and microcosmic time scales uniquely discussed by Bharatiya shastras, however, of the different such measures of time the daily Panchanga that we use to conduct our activities consists of five aspects.
Most of the festivals in our country are based on the luni-solar (or lunar) calendar. Each of these falls on a particular tithi of a specified Paksha (fortnight) in a particular month or day and a few festivals are based on the nakshatras. In the states of Tripura, Assam, Bengal, Tamil Nadu, and Kerala, the solar calendar is followed for dates and civil purposes, while the lunar calendar is used for festivals and religious purposes. In Orissa and Punjab though the solar calendar is generally followed, the lunar calendar used is purnimanta.
=== पञ्चाङ्ग॥ Calculations in Panchanga ===
In our country, based on the siddhantas handed down from generations people have evolved calculation systems of the Panchangas. They are still being followed in lineages of families. One who calculates and gives the Panchanga is called a Panchangakarta. The mathematical calculations involved in making a panchanga primarily follows two systems
In our country, based on the siddhantas handed down from generations people have evolved calculation systems of the Panchangas. They are still being followed in lineages of families. One who calculates and gives the Panchanga is called a Panchangakarta. The mathematical calculations involved in making a panchanga primarily follows two systems
# Purvapaddhati
# Purvapaddhati
=== Determining Amavasya (New Moon) and Purnima (Full Moon) ===
=== Determining Amavasya (New Moon) and Purnima (Full Moon) ===
As the Sun and the Moon are moving in the same direction, the point at which they are in the same celestial longitude as seen from the Earth, when the Moon is said to be "new" or is called Amavasya or New Moon Day when we do not see the moon in the sky. After 24 hours, the Moon will have moved ahead of the sun by '''12°10′ time'''. This separation of the moon from the sun goes on increasing at the rate of 12°10′ per day until it completes a 360° revolution and the moon will again be in conjunction with the sun resulting in Amavasya.
As the Sun and the Moon are moving in the same direction, the point at which they are in the same celestial longitude as seen from the Earth, when the Moon is said to be "new" or is called Amavasya or New Moon Day when we do not see the moon in the sky. After 24 hours, the Moon will have moved ahead of the sun by '''12°10′ time'''. This separation of the moon from the sun goes on increasing at the rate of 12°10′ per day until it completes a 360° revolution and the moon will again be in conjunction with the sun resulting in Amavasya.<ref name=":2" />
'''Amavasya occurs when Sun and Moon are on the same celestial longitude''' '''(360°)'''
'''Amavasya occurs when Sun and Moon are on the same celestial longitude''' '''(360°)'''
Purnima or a Full Moon Day happens when the Sun and Moon are on the opposite longitudes 180° apart, when we see the fully bright moon in the sky.
Purnima or a Full Moon Day happens when the Sun and Moon are on the opposite longitudes 180° apart, when we see the fully bright moon in the sky.
'''Purnima occurs when Sun and Moon are on the opposite celestial longitudes (180°)'''
'''Purnima occurs when Sun and Moon are on the opposite celestial longitudes (180°)'''
A lunar month can thus be reckoned in two ways both of which are followed in Bharatiya Kalamana, thus we have two calendar systems
A lunar month can thus be reckoned in two ways both of which are followed in Bharatiya Kalamana, thus we have two calendar systems
* '''अमान्त-पद्धतिः ॥ Amanta or Mukhyamana''' - starting from Amavasya (new moon) to the succeeding Amavasya. This system is followed in Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Maharashtra and Gujarat.
* '''अमान्त-पद्धतिः ॥ Amanta or Mukhyamana''' - starting from Amavasya (new moon) to the succeeding Amavasya. This system is followed in Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Maharashtra and Gujarat. The Amanta calendar is followed for all purposes, namely, the counting of days for civil activities, festivals, religious functions, etc., in the these states. The lunar (luni-solar) year in this system commences with Chaitra Shukla Pratipat (tithi) following amavasya, hence called Chaitradi. In Gujarat also, an amanta calendar is followed but the lunar year starts after the Deepavali new moon. The Gujarati lunar new year commences with Kartika Shukla Pratipat, hence called Kartikadi. In Kutch and some parts of Saurashtra, the new commences with Ashadha Shukla Pratipat.<ref name=":2" />
* '''पूर्णिमान्त-पद्धतिः ॥ Purnimanta or Gaunamana''' - starting from Purnima (full moon) to the succeeding Purnima. This system is followed in most of the north Indian states of Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Haryana and Kashmir.
*'''पूर्णिमान्त-पद्धतिः ॥ Purnimanta or Gaunamana''' - starting from Purnima (full moon) to the succeeding Purnima. This system is followed in most of the north Indian states of Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Haryana and Kashmir. In this system a month commences from the moment of the full moon exactly a paksha (fortnight) earlier that the initial new moon, from which time the amanta month of the same name commences. For example, the purnimanta month of chaitra commences a paksha earlier than the amanta month of chaitra. An interesting feature is that although the first month Chaitra starts a paksha earlier, the actual new commences at the same time as the amanta new year.<ref name=":2" />
=== चन्द्रकलाः ॥ Phases of Moon ===
=== चन्द्रकलाः ॥ Phases of Moon ===
=== Names of Samvatsaras (Lunar Years) ===
=== Names of Samvatsaras (Lunar Years) ===
[[File:Names of Samvatsaras.PNG|thumb|400x400px|Names of Samvatsaras (Chandra Mana)]]
[[File:Names of Samvatsaras.PNG|thumb|403x403px|Names of Samvatsaras (Chandra Mana)]]
Each Lunar year is called a Samvatsara. A cycle of 60 samvatsaras is followed by the people. This cycle is five times the Barhaspatya Mana of 12 years. They have specific names and the good or bad effects in a particular year are indicated to a certain extent in the names of these sixty years.
Each Lunar year is called a Samvatsara. A cycle of 60 samvatsaras is followed by the people. This cycle is five times the Barhaspatya Mana of 12 years. They have specific names and the good or bad effects in a particular year are indicated to a certain extent in the names of these sixty years.