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Line 30: − + − + − The lunar or synodic month was measured from full moon to full moon or from new moon to new moon (Taittirīya-saṃhitā, 7. 5. 6. 1<ref>Taittiriya Samhita, Kanda 7, [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%B8%E0%A4%82%E0%A4%B9%E0%A4%BF%E0%A4%A4%E0%A4%BE(%E0%A4%B5%E0%A4%BF%E0%A4%B8%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%B5%E0%A4%B0%E0%A4%83)/%E0%A4%95%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%A3%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%A1%E0%A4%AE%E0%A5%8D_%E0%A5%AD/%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%AB Prapathaka 5].</ref>) as is the case even now.+ − + − The names Caitra etc. based on the nakshatras in which the Moon becomes full do not occur in the early saṃhitās and brāhmaṇas but such terms as phalgunī-pūrnamāsī, citrā-pūrnamāsī, etc. are found to occur in the Taittirīyasaṃhitā (7. 4. 8).<ref>Taittiriya Samhita, Kanda 7, [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%B8%E0%A4%82%E0%A4%B9%E0%A4%BF%E0%A4%A4%E0%A4%BE(%E0%A4%B5%E0%A4%BF%E0%A4%B8%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%B5%E0%A4%B0%E0%A4%83)/%E0%A4%95%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%A3%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%A1%E0%A4%AE%E0%A5%8D_%E0%A5%AD/%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%AA Prapathaka 4].</ref> + − + − + − + − − − − − − −
Vaidika Kala Mapana (वैदिककालमापनम्) (view source)
Revision as of 23:59, 8 April 2020
, 23:59, 8 April 2020→Months, Seasons and Year: Editing
== Months, Seasons and Year ==
== Months, Seasons and Year ==
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" />
In vedic astronomy, months were lunar or synodic and were measured from full moon to full moon and also from new moon to new moon<ref name=":2" /> as mentioned in the Taittiriya samhita (7.5.6.1)<ref name=":1" /><ref>Taittiriya Samhita, Kanda 7, [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%B8%E0%A4%82%E0%A4%B9%E0%A4%BF%E0%A4%A4%E0%A4%BE(%E0%A4%B5%E0%A4%BF%E0%A4%B8%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%B5%E0%A4%B0%E0%A4%83)/%E0%A4%95%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%A3%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%A1%E0%A4%AE%E0%A5%8D_%E0%A5%AD/%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%AB Prapathaka 5].</ref> Originally, these months were named as Caitra etc. based on the nakshatras occupied by the Moon at the time of full moon. And these names do not occur in the early samhitas and brahmanas. Some of their occurrences are as follows:
# phalgunī-pūrnamāsī, citrā-pūrnamāsī, etc. are found to occur in the Taittirīyasaṃhitā (7. 4. 8).<ref>Taittiriya Samhita, Kanda 7, [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%B8%E0%A4%82%E0%A4%B9%E0%A4%BF%E0%A4%A4%E0%A4%BE(%E0%A4%B5%E0%A4%BF%E0%A4%B8%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%B5%E0%A4%B0%E0%A4%83)/%E0%A4%95%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%A3%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%A1%E0%A4%AE%E0%A5%8D_%E0%A5%AD/%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%AA Prapathaka 4].</ref>
# They occur in the Saṅkhāyana and Tāṇḍya-brāhmaṇas, the Vedāṅga-jyautiṣa, and the Kalpa-sūtras.5
# 5Māgha is mentioned in Sāṅkhāyana-brāhmaṇa (= Kauṣītaki-brāhmaṇa) 19. 3;
# Phālguna in Tāṇḍya-brāhmaṇa, 5. 9. 7–12;
# and Srāvana, Māgha and Pauṣa in Ārca-jyautiṣa, 5, 6, 32, and 34 and Yājuṣa-jyautiṣa 5, 6, and 7;
They occur in the Saṅkhāyana and Tāṇḍya-brāhmaṇas, the Vedāṅga-jyautiṣa, and the Kalpa-sūtras.5
# and Mārgaśīrṣa and Śrāvana in Āśvalāyanagṛhyasūtra, 2. 3. 1 and 3. 5. 2 respectively.<blockquote>मार्गशीर्ष्यां प्रत्यवरोहणं चतुर्दश्याम् १</blockquote><blockquote>ओषधीनां प्रादुर्भावे श्रवणेन श्रावणस्य २<ref>[https://sa.wikisource.org/wiki/%E0%A4%86%E0%A4%B6%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%B5%E0%A4%B2%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%AF%E0%A4%A8%E0%A4%97%E0%A5%83%E0%A4%B9%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%AF%E0%A4%B8%E0%A5%82%E0%A4%A4%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%B0%E0%A4%AE%E0%A5%8D Ashvalayana Grhyasutra]</ref></blockquote>Twelve lunar months constituted a lunar year.
However, in due course they were linked with the solar months. Thus, the lunar month (reckoned from one new moon to the next) in which the Sun entered the sign Aries was called Chaitra or Madhu; that in which the Sun entered the sign Taurus was called Vaishakha or Madhava; and so on. And the lunar month in which the Sun did not enter a new sign was treated as an intercalary month.
5Māgha is mentioned in Sāṅkhāyana-brāhmaṇa (= Kauṣītaki-brāhmaṇa) 19. 3;
Phālguna in Tāṇḍya-brāhmaṇa, 5. 9. 7–12;
and Srāvana, Māgha and Pauṣa in Ārca-jyautiṣa, 5, 6, 32, and 34 and Yājuṣa-jyautiṣa 5, 6, and 7;
and Mārgaśīrṣa and Śrāvana in Āśvalāyanagṛhyasūtra, 2. 3. 1 and 3. 5. 2 respectively.<blockquote>मार्गशीर्ष्यां प्रत्यवरोहणं चतुर्दश्याम् १</blockquote><blockquote>ओषधीनां प्रादुर्भावे श्रवणेन श्रावणस्य २<ref>[https://sa.wikisource.org/wiki/%E0%A4%86%E0%A4%B6%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%B5%E0%A4%B2%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%AF%E0%A4%A8%E0%A4%97%E0%A5%83%E0%A4%B9%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%AF%E0%A4%B8%E0%A5%82%E0%A4%A4%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%B0%E0%A4%AE%E0%A5%8D Ashvalayana Grhyasutra]</ref></blockquote>Twelve lunar months constituted a lunar year.
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>
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>