This is an article series. Please read all previous articles before reading this article. The URLs for all previous articles are located in the www.specialthoughts.com section.
Continuing on with the hierarchy of Devata-s, we learnt about Soorya and Chandra, the venerable Devata-s in Level 12. To distinguish between the Devata-s and the astronomical bodies, I’ll use the Sanskrit terms Soorya and Chandra to refer to the Devata-s and use the English words Sun and Moon to refer to the astronomical bodies.
Panchaanga
Almost every calendar that history has seen is based on the movement of the Earth in relation to the Sun and the movement of the Moon in relation to the Earth. The positions of Sun and Moon (as seen from the Earth) become very important in keeping track of the time, i.e., the days, weeks, fortnights, months, years, decades, and so on. The Vedic way of keeping track of time is referred to as the Panchanga. Let us get familiar with some of the terms commonly used and referenced in the Vedic Panchanga.
Please note: Although it is the Earth that revolves around the Sun, we commonly use the terms “Sunrise” and “Sunset” while knowing fully well that the Sun neither rises nor sets. We live on the Earth and view the Sun, the Moon and all the astronomical bodies. Therefore, it needs to be understood that, as seen from the Earth, the Sun seems to rise from the horizon on the East and seems to set at the horizon on the West. And, it should also be noted here that it is not just the Sun, but the Moon, every Star, every Zodiac, every constellation and every astronomical body rises only from the East. All the “Rising” and “Setting” of every astronomical body is because the Earth’s rotation. Earth does not rotate in one way in relation to the Sun and another way in relation to the Moon and yet another way in relation to other astronomical bodies. Earth rotates only one way and therefore every “Rising” and “Setting” happens only at the East.
Samvatsara
As we all know, the duration that the Earth takes to go once around the Sun is referred to as a “Year” in general and as a “Solar Year” in particular. In Sanskrit, this is referred to as Samvatsara. But, standing on the earth, we don’t have a way to see or feel the Earth going around the Sun. From the Earth, all we can see is the Sun going around the Earth every day. Therefore, to comprehend the position of the Earth in its current revolution around the Sun, the astronomers take the Raashi-s (referred to as the Zodiacs in Western terminology) into account. Twelve such Raashi-s are taken as reference points. Their names are Mesha, Vrushabha, Mithuna, Karkaataka (or Karka for short), Simha, Kanya, Tula, Vrushchika, Dhanu, Makara, Kumbha and Meena. These Raashi-s have corresponding Zodiac names, which I’m not that well-versed with. So, I’ll stick to the Sanskrit names.
Maasa
The starting point of the Earth’s revolution around the Sun is when the Sun is seen entering the Mesha Raashi. Continuing on its path around the Sun, the Earth will then come to a position where the Sun will be seen entering the Vrushabha Raashi. This duration – from the time when the Sun enters the Mesha Raashi to the time when the Sun enters the Vrushabha Raashi – is referred to as the Mesha Maasa. Similarly, the duration from the time when the Sun enters the Vrushabha Raashi to the time when the Sun enters the Mithuna Raashi is referred to as the Vrushabha Maasa. Thus, there are 12 Maasa-s, and each Maasa is named after the particular Raashi that the Sun is seen entering. In other words, Maasa is basically a “Month”.
Sankramana or Sankraanti
The actual event of the Sun entering a particular Raashi is referred to as Sankramana (also known as Sankraanti). Each Sankramana has an auspicious time of around 40 Ghatika-s which is referred to as Punya Kaala. Further, there is also a very auspicious time referred to as Mahaa Punya Kaala, which immediately follows the actual moment of Sankraanti when the Sun is seen entering to the next Raashi. Why do we have Punya Kaala and Mahaa Punya Kaala following the actual Sankraanti moment? This is because Sun is not merely an inanimate astronomical body, but Sun is a brilliant abode of Soorya, a Devata in the 12th level in the hierarchy. Similarly, Raashi-s are merely a cluster of stars, but they are abodes of Devata-s. In other words, Sankramana is a time when Soorya is seen along with some Devata-s associated with a certain Raashi. In simple terms, Sankramana marks a very auspicious beginning of a Maasa (Month). And specifically, Mesha Sankraanti marks a very auspicious beginning of the new Samvatsara (solar year).
The Samvatsara is divided into 2 Ayana-s or half-years. The 2 Ayana-s are Uttaraayana and Dakshinaayana. Uttaraayana begins when the northern hemisphere starts to receive more sunlight. Uttaraayana begins when the Sun is seen entering the Makara Raashi. This day is observed as Makara Sankraanti. Dakshinaayana begins when the northern hemisphere starts to receive less sunlight. Dakshinaayana begins when the Sun is seen entering the Karkaataka Raashi. This day is observed as Karkaataka Sankraanti. Mesha Sankraanti marks the equinox, which is when the length of the day and the night are equal. It also marks the beginning of Summer. Similarly, Tulaa Sankraanti is when the Sun is seen entering the Tulaa Raashi. This marks the completion of half Samvatsara, the equinox, and also the beginning of Winter.
In comparison, the common calendar that everyone uses worldwide is just a count of 365 days. It is also a solar calendar with a leap year resulting in an extra day in February. Each month is just a count of a certain number of days elapsed. Beginning of each month is just a random day with no specific auspiciousness associated with it. So, as long as the week day on December 31 is known, even a 10-year-old kid can write the common calendar. Worse yet, the beginning of the year is usually marked with partying till late in the night, consumption of unmentionable food and beverage and indulgence in unmentionable activities under the influence of unmentionable intoxicants. Who will be pleased by such activities? Certainly not the Devata-s. But yet, this is a calendar that everyone follows and commonality is essential. Therefore, it’s best to make it a point to observe some restrain and not indulge in immoral activities and instead, wake up early on January 1st and do a special Pooja to request continued compassionate care, guidance and protection from the Devata-s.
Dina
The word “Dina” means “Day”. It has the word “Ina” in it, thus indicating that “Dina” pertains to “Ina” i.e., “Soorya”. What starts with Soorya Udaya (Sunrise), is called a “Dina” (Day). According to the western definition, Sunrise is when we see that first ray of light at the horizon. But according to the Vedic way, Sooryodaya is when the Sun is precisely half way up at the horizon. It usually takes about 4 minutes for the Sun to come up precisely half way after the first ray of light is seen. So, in other words, there is approximately 4 minutes difference between the western sunrise and the Vedic Sooryodaya.
In the western way, the “Day” is divided into 24 hours, with each hour having 60 minutes. In the Vedic way, the “Dina” is divided into 60 Ghatika-s; So, how long is each Ghatika?
1 Day = 24 hours = 24 X 60 Minutes = 1 Dina = 60 Ghatika-s
Therefore, 1 Ghatika = (24 x 60) / 60 = 24 Minutes
1 Muhoorta = 2 Ghatika-s = 2 X 24 = 48 Minutes.
Arunodaya or Braahmi Muhoorta
Every new business year day eve witnesses, people ask each other, “What is your new year resolution?”. As mentioned above… for those who are not in the habit of waking up early (and especially those who actually get to bed when one is actually supposed to wake up), a good “New Year Resolution” would be to simply “sleep early and wake up early”. Nighttime, especially after 11 PM, is when all Asura-s will be mostly active. I’ve even heard the wise ones say that nothing good happens after 11 PM. So, any activity done past 11 PM perhaps pleases only the Asura-s. So, how early could/should one wake up? The recommendation is to wake up 4 Ghatika-s or 2 Muhoorta-s (4X24 = 96 minutes) prior to Sooryodaya, which is referred to as Arunodaya (beginning of twilight). Aruna is referred to as the charioteer of Soorya, who arrives about 4 Ghatika-s prior to Soorya. This time of 4 Ghatika-s prior to Sooryodaya is referred to as the Braahmi Muhoorta. I’ve heard the wise-ones say that any studies done during this time sits in the memory much better. Therefore, it is best to wake up, brush, bath/shower as soon as possible and then do morning Pooja to express gratitude to the Devata-s for all that they have done so far and continue to do.
In summary, the Vedic solar calendar involves Samvatsara (beginning of the year), Sankraanti (beginning of the month), Arunodaya (beginning of the twilight), Sooryodaya (beginning of the day), and Dina (the entire day). The word “Pancha” means “Five”. So, with the movement of Sun as the basis, the above can be considered the aspects 5 of Panchanga.
Next week, we’ll be celebrating a festival called Chaandramaana Yugaadi. It is also celebrated as Gudi Paadwa in Maharashtra. To understand the importance of this festival, we’ll need to learn the various aspects of the Vedic time measurement based on the movement of the Moon. We’ll get into this next week.
