Panchang Abhyas Varga

A brief summary of Mr. Shriram Page's lecture on September 22, 2019 on Astrology.

The means to impart knowledge and understanding about time is known as Panchang (Almanac)! When tasks are performed in accordance with favorability of the time for that work, success is most likely to be achieved. Stars and planets, in constant motion in the sky, unbeknownst to us make an impact on us through their pull, rays and luminosity. The four (Yug) eras are Krita or Satyayuga, Treta Yuga, Dwaparayuga, and Kaliyuga. The astronomical sciences denoted in our scriptures, consider the creator of the universe as Lord Brahma and one day of his life is termed as a Kalpa. In each of this Kalpa there are 14 Manus (The first person on earth is believed to be the first Manu—implying a total of 14 resets after each Manu within a Kalpa or a single day of the life of Brahma!). In our era today, 6 Manus have passed and we are in the reign of the 7th Manu—Vaivasvat! All four eras, yugs make up a Mahayug (a Mega Era). The duration of Kaliyug is 432000 years, that of Dwapar twice that, Treta thrice that and that of Krut four times that.

Sanvatsar means a year! Shalivahana Shaka has sixty years in a cycle. The first twenty years are considered to be Brahma's, the second twenty years are Vishnu's, and the third twenty years are considered to be Shiva's. This also means creation, preservation, and destruction in that order. Currently, the 'Shobhan' year is underway and is the 37th in the cycle. There is a difference of 78 years between the Shalivahana Shaka and the Christian era (Gregorian calendar). Vikram Samvat is followed in the regions north of the river Narmada, and Shalivahana Shaka in the south.

There is a reason that we only use (of the many versions available) the Deshpande (version of the) Panchang. Our Sadguru, after due consideration, has expressed a preference to this particular Panchang. The primary reason for that being, it is based on the methods prescribed by Surya Siddhant (Surya Siddhant--a loose translation of the title itself maybe 'The Solar Algorithms-is an ancient and widely acclaimed treatise on Astronomical Sciences, dedicated to understanding the nature of time and using multiple methodologies and formulae for its precise calculation). The formula expounded in this treatise is called as Vagvridhi-rasakshaya. This involves an increment in the lunar date by 5 ghatis and decrease by 6 ghatis (vridhi--increment; kshaya-decrease). This implies that there can be at the most 65 ghatika and at a minimum 54. This (range) gets adjusted perfectly throughout the year. Thus the Sadguru, cognizant of its appropriateness has adapted the Surya Siddhant.

 The word Panchang indicates five elements. These consist of Tithee--lunar day, Vaar--Solar day (date), Nakshatra--constellation, Karan (a half of a lunar day), and Yog (an occurance owing to differences in the relative motions of the sun and the moon). Let us understand each in brief.

• Tithee - On the day of Amavasya (New Moon), the Sun and Moon come together. Since the Moon has a (relatively) faster motion, once it crosses ahead of the Sun by 12 degrees, it reaches the next day. Based on this, the full moon (Purnima) falls on the 15th day and the new moon (Amavasya) falls on the 30th day.
• Vaar - The week starts from Sunday.
• Nakshatra - There are a total of 27 constellations in the sky, and each one has its own place and significance. The word itself means immovable.
•  Yog - There are a total of 27 'Yog' or additions of movements of sun and moon (given that the relative motion of the moon is faster than that of the sun, the moon moves 'ahead' during the 'rotation' and 'revolution'). When that (the relative difference between the lunar and solar motion) reaches 13 degrees and 20 minutes, a Yog is created. Of these, 9 are considered inauspicious.
• Karan - Half of a lunar day is called Karan. There are a total of seven Karan, These are of two types, either ‘Stable’ or ‘Mobile’. ‘Vishiti’ karan is also known as Bhadra. A karan occurs when the moon moves ahead by 6 degrees.

'Panchang' has many significant and beneficial aspects for human beings, and so let us try to understand them in brief.

• Ayan - Ayan means 'Movement'. The Sun appears to move towards the north for six months and towards the south for the next six months. The six-month period when the Sun moves towards the north is called 'Uttarayan', and the six-month period when it moves towards the south is called 'Dakshinayan'.
• Rrutu (Seasons) - There are six seasons with a duration of 2 months each. These are: Vasant (spring), Grishma (summer), Varsha (monsoon), Sharad (autumn), Hemant (pre-winter), and Shishir (winter).
• Indian Months - The Indian calendar consists of 12 months, namely Chaitra, Vaishakh, Jyeshtha, Ashadha, Shravana, Bhadrapada, Ashwin, Kartik, Margashirsha, Paush, Magh, and Phalguna.
• 12 zodiac signs - Aries, Taurus, Gemini, Cancer, Leo, Virgo, Libra, Scorpio, Sagittarius, Capricorn, Aquarius, Pisces
• Solar year - From the Ashwini nakshatra until the next, it takes the sun 365 days, 5 hours and 49 minutes to complete a revolution.
• Lunar year - When the moon is in the Chitra nakshatra, it is Chaitra month. When it's in the Vishakha nakshatra, it's Vaishakh month and so on.
• Adhik Maas (the added month) - When there is an 11-day and 6-hour difference between the solar and lunar movements, it takes a certain period of time to catchup and this is compensated by an additional month. This occurs in the lunar month when there is no solar transition of the zodiac sign.
• Panchak - There are five types of faults that are referred to as Panchak. These are 'disease', 'fire', 'royal', 'thief', and 'death'. Disease Panchak is considered averse for marriage and thread ceremony; Agni Panchak for housewarming; Raj (royal) Panchak for official work and the thief Panchak for travel.
• Guru PushyaAmrit Yog – This, widely known especially auspicious, yog occurs when Jupiter enters the Pushya constellations in the Cancer zodiac sign during its orbit.
• The three and a half Muhurt (a specific start time prescribed for the success of any task undertaken) - 1) Chaitra Shuddha Pratipada, 2) Dasara 3) Balipratipada, and the half muhurt occurring on Akshaya Tritiya are celebrated as exceptionally auspicious Muhurts.
• Tithee-var-nakshatra yog – There are certain yog noted in Panchang as determined by the combination of tithee (lunar day), var (day of the week), and nakshatra (constellation), termed as Dagdha yog, Mrityu yog, Yamaghanti yog, and Amrit Siddhi yog.
• Tithee-vasar – Fast undertaken on Bhagwat Ekadashi (eleventh day of the lunar fortnight) to be broken in the first leg of the following day-dwadashi (the 12th).
• Karidin—These are the days following Makar Sankranti (January), Karka Sankranti (July), Bhauka Amavasya (Vaishakh), Holi Eclipse, etc.
• Besides this, the Panchang further provides valuable information on (1) Tithee Vasar, (2) Karidin, (3) Gajchhaya Parv, (4) Ardhodaya and Mahodaya Parv, (5) Kapilashashti Parv, (6) Vahani Yog, (7) Padmak Yog, (8) Pradosh, (9) Amavasya, (10) Chaturthi, (11) Ghadbhad Yog, (12) Nishiddh Kaal etc for the successful completion of various types of fasts, rituals, and auspicious activities.
• When the Panchang regards rainfall, there are nine constellations associated with rain, and the constellation is tagged with its specific vehicle (chariot) as well gender male/female which allows (experts) in rain forcast and an accurate indication of rainfall.
• The impact and other aspects of the eclipses.
• Auspicious and inauspicious muhurt, appropriate Vastu muhurt (the right timing for housewarming), Navagraha worship, auspicious and inauspicious times for birth and death, marriage compatibility chart, information with regards to the added month (Adhik Maas) and other treasure trove of beneficial information is handily found in the Panchang.