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[sv-rituals] Re: Tulasi Salagram Vivah

From the Bhakti List Archives

Mani Varadarajan • Thu Oct 24 2002 - 11:42:32 PDT 


--- In sv-rituals@y..., "Malolan Cadambi"  wrote:
> Is there anyway how i can learn to interpret the panchAngam? Mani, 
do you
> suggest any books?
> 
> -Malolan

Hi Malolan,

I don't know much about *interpretation* of the panchanga,
if by that you mean determining auspiciousness or inauspiciousness,
etc. I am a skeptic when it comes to astrology so my only concern
with the panchanga is to find the correct date on which to observe
religious events.

As far as the latter is concerned, it's actually pretty
straightforward after some fundamentals. Once you understand
that there are three primary monthly cycles, each of different
length -- lunar, solar, and nakshatras -- the rest falls into place 
after a few rules are applied.  The rules concern how to determine the
tithi (lunar longitude relative to the sun) and nakshatra
(which constellation is aligned with the moon) when either
spans multiple days.  The rule Sri Vaishnavas generally 
adopt is that whatever is present during sunrise is the
tithi or nakshatra for that day.

Lunar months for South Indians begin with the waxing phase
and is about 29.5 days in length.
Solar months begin on a sankramana -- when the sun crosses
a particular 'rashi'.  The solar month varies in length
but is never more than 32 days.
The nakshatra cycle is 27 days.

There are many special cases which require analysis but for
the most part the above is enough to understand the panchanga.

Mani



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