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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.  

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.  

== Contents of a Panchanga ==

== पञ्चाङ्ग॥ Calculations in Panchanga ==

 

== पञ्चाङ्ग-विषयाः ॥ Contents of a Panchanga ==

A Panchanga typically gives the microcosmic details of five aspects of the day to day time. They are

A Panchanga typically gives the microcosmic details of five aspects of the day to day time. They are

# तिथिः ॥ Tithi (Lunar Day)

# तिथिः॥ Tithi (Lunar Day)

# ॥ Vara (Day of the week)

# वारः॥ Vara (Day of the week)

# ॥ Nakshatra (Asterism)

# नक्षत्रम्॥ Nakshatra (Asterism)

# ॥ Yoga  

# योगः॥ Yoga  

# ॥ Karana

# करणः॥ Karana

The coordinates for a day include the tithi present at the time of sunrise, the day of the week, the nakshatra in which the moon is present at the time of sunrise, the yoga and karana at sunrise. Thus the calculations for the day starts with the sunrise. It should be noted that sunrise time changes with the places so the factors become different with change in place.

The coordinates for a day include the tithi present at the time of sunrise, the day of the week, the nakshatra in which the moon is present at the time of sunrise, the yoga and karana at sunrise. Thus the calculations for the day starts with the sunrise. It should be noted that sunrise time changes with the places so the factors become different with change in place.

Apart from the above details, additionally, in a Panchanga one finds the information about the following aspects

Apart from the above details, additionally, in a Panchanga one finds the information about the following aspects of the usage of a Panchanga. Texts such as jyotisha granthas (phalita) and Muhurta Chintamani elaborate the various ritualistic activities to be undertaken by people during specific days the spiritual gains by performing them.<ref>Panchanga (2020-2021) by Sri. Kuppa Anjaneya Sastry (Siddhanti of Kanchi Kamakoti Peetha)</ref>

== तिथिः॥Tithi ==

== तिथिः॥Tithi ==

  '''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

* '''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.

* '''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.  

=== चन्द्रकलाः ॥ Phases of Moon ===

=== चन्द्रकलाः ॥ Phases of Moon ===

Phases of the Moon is a term used to describe the course of the Moon during the lunar month. During the course of a lunar month, the size and shape of the moon visible from earth appear to change from day to day. Terms such as new, cresent, half, gibbous, and full and then again in the reverse order, until it is new are used to explain the phases of the moon between two Amavasyas. Fifteen tithis or half of a lunar month is called Paksha (पक्षम्) or a fortnight. The Paksha starting from a new moon to the succeeding full moon is called Shukla Paksha (शक्लपक्षम्) or Bright Fortnight and the other Paksha from the full moon to the next new moon is call Krshna Paksha (कृष्णपक्षम्) or the Dark Fortnight. The names of the tithis remain the same in both pakshas, however, this categorization is significant in determination of the coordinates of a day in a given month. Specific activities are associated with each such tithi in a ritual perspective.  

Phases of the Moon is a term used to describe the course of the Moon during the lunar month. During the course of a lunar month, the size and shape of the moon visible from earth appear to change from day to day. Terms such as new, cresent, half, gibbous, and full and then again in the reverse order, until it is new are used to explain the phases of the moon between two Amavasyas. Fifteen tithis or half of a lunar month is called Paksha (पक्षम्) or a fortnight. The Paksha starting from a new moon to the succeeding full moon is called Shukla Paksha (शक्लपक्षम्) or Bright Fortnight and the other Paksha from the full moon to the next new moon is call Krshna Paksha (कृष्णपक्षम्) or the Dark Fortnight. The names of the tithis remain the same in both pakshas, however, this categorization is significant in determination of the coordinates of a day in a given month. Specific activities are associated with each such tithi in a ritual perspective.<ref name=":2" />

=== तिथयः ॥ Names of Tithis ===

=== तिथयः ॥ Names of Tithis ===

The tithis or lunar days which make a Chandra Masa have the following names. The fifteenth tithi is called Purnima and the thirtieth tithi is Amavasya.  

The tithis or lunar days which make a Chandra Masa have the following names. The fifteenth tithi is called Purnima and the thirtieth tithi is Amavasya as per Panchanga notations.  

 

{{columns-list|colwidth=15em|style=width: 600px; font-style: normal; color: blue|

{{columns-list|colwidth=15em|style=width: 600px; font-style: normal; color: blue|

* Day 1 : Pratipat (प्रतिपत्)

* Day 1 : Pratipat (प्रतिपत्)

* Day 15 : Paurnami (पौर्णमी)}}

* Day 15 : Paurnami (पौर्णमी)}}

=== Names of Lunar Months ===

It has been previously mentioned that Chandramana is a natural unit of time and so also the naming of lunar months is according to the visible changes in the sky. The name of a lunar month is given based on the nakshatra constellation in which the moon is generally present (there is a slight shift) on the Purnima day (that lies between two Amavasya days in Amamta system). It must be noted that these names have been used since Vedic times for determining the days when Yajnas have to be conducted.  

 

=== चान्द्रमासः ॥ Names of Lunar Months ===

It has been previously mentioned that Chandramana is a natural unit of time and so also the naming of lunar months is according to the visible changes in the sky. The name of a lunar month is given based on the nakshatra constellation in which the moon is generally present (or near those nakshatras) on the Purnima day (that lies between two Amavasya days in Amamta system). It must be noted that these names have been used since Vedic times for determining the days when Yajnas have to be conducted.

Thus in the month when moon is present in the asterism of Chitta at the time of Purnima, that month starting from the Amavasya preceding Purnima and ending with the successive Amavasya is called Chaitra Masa according to the Chandra Mana. The names of the 12 Lunar months are as follows  

Thus in the month when moon is present in the asterism of Chitta at the time of Purnima, that month starting from the Amavasya preceding Purnima and ending with the successive Amavasya is called Chaitra Masa according to the Chandra Mana. The names of the 12 Lunar months are as follows  

{{columns-list|colwidth=15em|style=width: 600px; font-style: normal; color: blue|* Chaitra (चैत्रमासः)

{{columns-list|colwidth=20em|style=width: 600px; font-style: normal; color: blue|1=# Chaitra (चैत्रमासः) : Nakshatra = Chitta

* Vaishakha (वैशाखमासः)

# Vaishakha (वैशाखमासः) : Nakshatra = Vishakha

* Jyestha (ज्येष्टमासः)

# Jyestha (ज्येष्टमासः) : Nakshatra = Jyestha

* Ashadha (आषाढमासः)

# Aashadha (आषाढमासः) : Nakshatra = Purva Ashada or Uttara Ashadha

* Shravana (श्रावणमासः)

# Shraavana (श्रावणमासः) : Nakshatra = Shravana

* Bhadrapada (भाद्रपदमासः)

# Bhadrapada (भाद्रपदमासः) : Nakshatra = Purvabhadra, Uttarabhadra

* Asveyuja (आश्वेयुजमासः)

# Asveyuja (आश्वेयुजमासः) : Nakshatra = Ashvini

* Kartika (कर्तिकमासः)

# Kaartika (कार्तिकमासः) : Nakshatra = Krittika

* Margashira (मार्गशीरमासः)

# Margashira (मार्गशीरमासः) : Nakshatra = Mrgashira

* Pushya (पुष्यमासः)

# Pushya (पुष्यमासः) : Nakshatra = Pushyami

* Magha (माघमासः)

# Magha (माघमासः) : Nakshatra = Magha/Makha

* Phalguna (फाल्गुणमासः)}}  

# Phalguna (फाल्गुणमासः) : Nakshatra = Purvaphalguni or Uttaraphalguni}}

 

=== Vara - Day of the Week ===

== वारः ॥ Vara - Day of the Week ==

The weekdays are seven as in common knowledge globally. They are named after their adhipatis or specific planetary rulers as follows

Vara (वारः) Vasara (वासरः) or weekdays are seven as in common knowledge globally, are based on sunrise. They are named after their adhipatis or specific planetary rulers as follows

{{columns-list|colwidth=15em|style=width: 600px; font-style: normal; color: blue|

{{columns-list|colwidth=20em|style=width: 600px; font-style: normal; color: blue|

* Ravi vasara : रविवासरः (Sunday) also called Bhanuvasara

* Ravi vasara : रविवासरः (Sunday) also called Bhanuvasara

* Soma vasara : सोमवासरः (Monday) also called Induvasara

* Soma vasara : सोमवासरः (Monday) also called Induvasara

* Shukra vasara : शुक्रवासरः (Friday) also called Bhrgu vasara

* Shukra vasara : शुक्रवासरः (Friday) also called Bhrgu vasara

* Shani vasara : शनिवासरः (Saturday)also called Manda vasara

* Shani vasara : शनिवासरः (Saturday)also called Manda vasara

}}

}}

Surya Siddhanta (11.78) mentions how the days of the week have specific rulers in the given succession. The Sun who is fourth from Saturn is the ruler of the 1st day; the Moon, who is the fourth from the Sun is the ruler of 2nd day; Mars, the fourth from the Moon is the ruler of the 3rd day and so on.

Surya Siddhanta (11.78) mentions how the days of the week have specific rulers in the given succession. The Sun who is fourth from Saturn is the ruler of the 1st day; the Moon, who is the fourth from the Sun is the ruler of 2nd day; Mars, the fourth from the Moon is the ruler of the 3rd day and so on.

== References ==

== References ==

[[Category:Vedangas]]

[[Category:Vedangas]]

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