HINDU PANCHANG (CALANDER)
|
 In a Indian
Lunar Calendar the
majority of information is derived
from calculations based on the Moon. In additions to astrological calculations,
a significant percentage of the Panchang data used by Hindus to determine a
correct time to celebrate traditional Hindu religious events.
The word “Panchang” means “five limbs” in Sanskrit. It
describes five ways to divide the span of a day.
It is said in the Vedas, with the use of
Panchang, the person
can becomes free from all
his sins. Knowledge of Tithi brings Prosperity. Knowledge of Vara prolongs Life. Knowledge of Nakshatras
Removes sins. Knowledge
of Yoga gives
Immunity from diseases. Knowledge
of Karana leads to Success in all endeavors.
Dharma, Artha, Kama and Moksha.
Is Life a Mystery ?
In
the Bhagavad-Gita
(7.16) Lord Krishna describes the four categories of devotees and their
reasons for worshipping God. They are: 1)
The seeker of relief from distress
2)
The seeker of knowledge. 3)
The seeker of wealth 4) The man imbued with
wisdom.
Life has been a great mystery to men. Its origin,
growth, dependence
and disappearance have always exercised his thoughts and emotions.
Through observations and experiences and
through the ages the ancient Hindus realized that life was an art like any other
art in the world. It required cultivation and refinement. Men born and left alone was a
mass of elements, crude and brutal and slightly removed from his fellow-citizens
of the world.
His life stood in need of as much care protection and
cultivation as a plant in a garden. As in philosophy so in rituals life was
regarded as a cycle. It starts where it ends. From birth to death it is a
continuous series of incidents moving round a nucleus of desire to live, to
enjoy, to think and ultimately to retire.
The Hindu Samskaras originated in the past when the problems
and the
needs of the society were different from what they are to-day; the mind of the
people were working under an ideology which was peculiar to its age. To day the
society has changed; the man has changed accordingly; his beliefs, sentiments
and aspirations have all undergone change. Unless the Hindu Samskaras are also
transformed in the light of new developments, they cannot appeal
to the new mind.
By scientific discoveries many mysteries of life
have been solved and man’s control over his environment has immensely increased.
At the source of life man is even to day experiencing the mystic touch of the
invisible. This fact will keep alive the religious sentiments in man. Though the
magic hold of religion in some fields of life will be loosened, the human heart
will not part with that sanctity which is imparted by religious
sanction. The
consecration of life will never cease. Similarly the fact that life is an art
and it requires conscious and planned efforts for its cultivation and refinement
will never die out.
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Panchang
Panchang is a spiritual and scientific Hindu calendar.
It is an ancient art of Vedic astrology that helps to maintain the best days and
time to come. Panchang has been derived from two words Panch(meaning 5) and
ang(meaning aspect). The panchang measures time in lunar months whose names
reveal the secret path of stars and constellations. It lists four weeks of seven
days, identified with planets and gods. This therefore takes into account five
aspects - Din(Vara) or the solar day, Tithi or the lunar day, Nakshatra or the
constellation, Yoga and Karan.
It is far more accurate than conventional
horoscopes and has loads of empowering practical uses like telling you the best
days and times for travel, love, parties, moving, interviews, investments dental
visits & lot. To find the auspicious time to start anything new it considers
the week day of week (Vara), Tithi, Nakshatra(Star), Yogam of the day, Karana of
the day, and the ending moments of all these to determine whether the day is
Amurtha, Siddha and Shubha. The Panchang is always used as the spiritual
expression of time for Hindus and a guide to a life close to God and
religion.
| List of Festivals |
| Year
2003 |
| 8 December |
2003 |
Purnima |
| 23December |
2003 |
Amavasya Fast |
| Year
2004 |
| 7 January |
2004 |
Purinma |
| 12January |
2004 |
Vivekand Jayanti |
| 21January |
2004 |
Amavasya |
| 6 February |
2004 |
Purinma |
| 18 February |
2004 |
Maha Shivratri |
| 20 February |
2004 |
Amavasya |
| 6 March |
2004 |
Holika Dahan |
| 7 March |
2004 |
Dhulendi |
| 20 March |
2004 |
Amavasya |
| 21 March |
2004 |
Navarati Start |
| 29 March |
2004 |
Ashtami |
| 30 March |
2004 |
Navami |
| 05 April |
2004 |
Purnima fast |
| 13 April |
2004 |
Baisakhi or Half Kumb |
| 19 April |
2004 |
Somavati Amvasaya |
| 04 May |
2004 |
Poornima Fast / Moon Eclipse |
| 04 May |
2004 |
Ujjain Maha Kumb |
| 18 May |
2004 |
Amavasya Fast |
| 29 May |
2004 |
Ganga Dusshera |
| 30 May |
2004 |
Narjala Ekadashi |
| 03 June |
2004 |
Poornima |
| 17 June |
2004 |
Amavasya Fast |
| 02 July |
2004 |
Purnima |
| 03 July |
2004 |
Sawan Krishan Pakish Start |
| 17 July |
2004 |
Amavasya |
| 18 July |
2004 |
Sawan Chatur Month start |
| 31 July |
2004 |
Poornima |
| 16 August |
2004 |
Somavati Amvasya |
| 30 August |
2004 |
Poorima Rakshabadhan |
| 6 September |
2004 |
Janmasthami |
| 14 September |
2004 |
Amavasya |
| 29 September |
2004 |
Patri Paksh Start |
| 14 October |
2004 |
Navaratri Begins |
| 21October |
2004 |
Ashtami |
| 22October |
2004 |
Dusshera |
| 28 October |
2004 |
Poorinma Fast |
| 31 October |
2004 |
Karvachoutha |
| 12 November |
2004 |
Diwali |
| 13 November |
2004 |
VishvaKarma Day |
| 14 November |
2004 |
Bhai Duj |
| 26 November |
2004 |
Purnima |
| 11 December |
2004 |
Amavasya |
| 26 December |
2004 |
Purnima |
| Year
2005 |
| 10 January |
2005 |
Somvati Amvasya |
| 13 January |
2005 |
Lohri |
| 14 January |
2005 |
Makar Sankranti |
| 25 January |
2005 |
Purnima |
| 8 February |
2005 |
Moni Amvasya |
| 13 February |
2005 |
Vasant Panchami |
| 24 February |
2005 |
Purnima |
| 08 March |
2005 |
Maha Shivrati |
| 10 March |
2005 |
Amavasya |
| 25 March |
2005 |
Holika Dahan |
| 26 March |
2005 |
Holi |
| 8 April |
2005 |
Amavasya |
Although it is essential to have the knowledge of arithmetical
calculations to understand Indian Astrology, but for the benefit of the common
people, astrologers have devised a calendar (Panchang) with the help of which,
and simple arithmetical calculations, one can have knowledge about planets, good
or bad for him.
It is not necessary for a common man to be an astrologer in
order to understand the Panchanga. But for a smooth and systematic running of
life, one should know how to interpret 'Phalita'.
Panchang means five organs
to understand the Phalita. These five things are
Tithi
(Date)
Nakshatra (Group of stars)
Yoga (an auspicious moment)
Karan
(Half of the part of Tithi)
Vaar (days of the week)
In the Hindu
method of calculations, although the 365 ¼ days of the revolutions of the earth
round the sun are recognised, the calculations are done according to the
revolution of the moon round the earth, which falls short by approximately 7
days during one year, when compared to calculations done according to the solar
calendar.
The panchang, based on the lunar calendar, which also has 12
months in a year comes level with the "Ayanas" or sun calculation by adding a
month ( known as Loonth or Purshottam Maas) after every three years.
The
time between two consecutive risings of the sun is the day, the Solar day or
Din.( according to the Gregorian calendar the day begins at 12.00 P.M.) ,
according to the Indian calendar the time between two consecutive risings of the
moon is taken as LunarDay or Tithi.
The panchang measures time in lunar
months whose names reveal the secret path of stars and constellations. The face
of the new moon is called Amavasya and it ushers in the new month. The first
fortnight of the full moon is known as Shuklapaksha "the bright half" as the
moon waxes; while the dark half fortnight of the month is called Krishnapaksha
during which the moon wanes.
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