Temple Astronomy This blog series explores the connection between temples and celestial events. Part 1 focuses on temples in general, while specific temples associated with unique celestial events will be the subject of future blogs . Temple, as we understand it, is a place of worship where it is easy to connect with the divine. Imagine standing before a towering Hindu temple, its spires piercing the sky like fingers pointing to the stars. For millennia, these sacred structures have stood as more than places of worship—they are cosmic compasses, meticulously aligned with the heavens. Ancient builders oriented them to the various astronomical phenomena and celestial bodies as recommended in the स्थापत्यवेदः and वास्तुशास्त्र . These alignments served multiple sacred purposes. First , they enabled precise ritual timing for a festival with a perfect astronomical combination. Second , they symbolised the profound harmony between the microcosm...
The Logic Behind Indian Festival Dates Vrat and Utsav India’s rituals (Vrat), individual and collective, as well as festivals (utsav), follow a mix of calendrical systems, regional customs, and religious rules. The words "Vrat" and "Utsav" are used in Vedic texts. Many scholars have written treatises to explain the evolution of these words. It is difficult to draw a strict line between vrat and utsav. What are called utsav also have an element of religious rites, and conversely, many vrat have some component of being a festival/ utsav. Dharmasindhu describes Vrat as a kind of religious rite/ pooja, with a resolve or a Sankalp. Utsav is more of a collective observance of Vrat. These vrat connect the practitioner to the divine through discipline and help in spiritual and physical purification. Annual change of dates of these festivals, with respect to the Gregorian calendar, creates confusion and gives an impression that there is something m...