KNOWLEDGE FROM COSMOS

  Different Kinds of Months The periodic movement of the Moon generates the month / Maas. The lunar motion is complex, and more so, when it is considered with the motions of the Sun and the Earth, hence, there are many different possible definitions of the month. The length of the month is different for all. These months are Synodic Sidereal Anomalistic Draconic/ Nodal Tropical  The Panchang considers the length of all the different months for various purposes, such as calculating tithi, Adhik Maas, the position of nodes (Rahu and Ketu), Eclipses, type duration, location, etc. A synodic month is used for general purposes in Panchang. It considers a mean length of 29.53 days. The actual time between lunations may range from about 29.27 to about 29.83 days. The beginning of a solar month, Solar Sankranti has many variants (as explained in the previous blog). So when does a Lunar month begin? Two systems are being followed (this is observed right from the Vedi...

  Framing a Calendar/  पंचांग पंचांग is a comprehensive document that includes a civil calendar, a religious calendar, an ephemeris, an almanac, and other religious and ritual information. To make a पंचांगor a calendar, certain aspects are required to be adhered to like Correct lengths of astronomical month and year Civil year and months should have an integral number of days, no fractions The starting days of a month and a year have to be defined. Days and months must correspond to seasons. For continuous dating, an era is required and should be defined Civil Day needs to be defined and distinguished from Astronomical Day A system of adjustment for lunar months is required. Both, the sun, the moon, and to some extent Jupiter, are used as time-markers, and therefore precise knowledge of their motion, position and apogees in the zodiac are essential for the correct calculation of a तिथि,नक्षत्र, करणfor the formulation of an accurate पंचांग. Though the Hindu Year is...

  Measurement of time   One of the most striking features of the Hindu calendar system is its intricacy. It offers a  multidimensional method of structuring time, combining information about lunar days, solar days, lunar months, solar months, the Sun's and the Moon's movements in relation to stellar constellations, and other astronomically defined time spans. This makes the Hindu calendar vastly more complex than the  Western calendar , which is  built around only two basic units of time:  solar days  and  solar years . The Flux of Time is apparently, without a beginning or end, but it is cut up periodically by several natural phenomena, The ever-recurring alternation of daylight and night defined a day The recurrence of the moon's phases, defined as a month The recurrence of seasons, defined as a year It is this recurring phenomenon which is used to make a calendar. In the Vedic period, they observed and used these very natural phen...