DECODING PANCHANGAM, THE HINDU ALMANAC.

     

Hi viewer, welcome back to my blog post, this time on Panchangam, the Hindu calendar.

The Hindu units of time:

The Western timekeeping is based on solar time. The solar day is divided into 24 hours of 60 minutes each. Hindu timekeeping is based on sidereal time, with respect to the fixed stars. The reference that is used for calculations is 0° Aries.

The sidereal day is divisible into 60 ghatis of 24 minutes each. Sidereal hours, minutes and seconds can be expressed in terms of solar hours, minutes and seconds, and are sightly longer. (1 sidereal second = 1.002738 solar second). However, as an approximation, sidereal measure and solar measure of hours, minutes and seconds, can be considered equal.

The sidereal year, varsha, begins when the sun enters 0° Aries, and is completed when the sun has traversed through 360° of the rashi chakra in 12 months. As we have seen, the starting point, 0° Aries is calculated using the nakshatra Chitra and locating the point 180° opposite it. The sun’s entry into 0° Aries generally falls on April 14 of the Gregorian calendar. 14th of April marks the first day of the traditional Tamil calendar. The same date in April is observed by most traditional calendars of the rest of India – Assam, Bengal, Kerala, Odisha, Manipur, Karnataka, Punjab etc.

This also coincides with the traditional new year in Burma, Cambodia, Laos, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Nepal and Thailand.

(https://www.anaadifoundation.org/blog/indic-sciences/indian-calendar-part-3-the-panchangam/)

History of Indian Astronomy:

A brief look into this subject will help the reader to appreciate the advanced level of knowledge possessed by our ancestors in the field of astronomy and astrology. 

The Sūrya Siddhānta ('Sun treatise') is a Sanskrit treatise in Indian astronomy in fourteen chapters. The Surya Siddhanta describes rules to calculate the motions of various planets and the moon relative to various constellations, and calculates the orbits of various astronomical bodies.

The Surya Siddhanta is a text on astronomy and time keeping, an idea that appears much earlier as the field of Jyotisha of the Vedic period. The field of Jyotisha deals with ascertaining time, particularly forecasting auspicious day and time for Vedic rituals. Max Muller, quoting passages by Garga and others for Vedic sacrifices, states that the ancient Vedic texts describe four measures of time – savana, solar, lunar and sidereal, as well as twenty seven constellations using Taras (stars).

There were equal contributions from other stalwarts namely, Aryabhatta, Varahamitra, Brahma Gupta, Bhaskara Raya and others. Discussion of time keeping concepts are found in the Sanskrit verses of the Shatapatha Brahmana, a 2nd millennium BCE text. The Jyotisha texts present mathematical formulae to predict the length of day-time, sun rise and moon cycles and the effects of planetary conjunctions on human life.

Their texts asserts that the earth is of a spherical shape. It treats Sun as stationary globe around which earth and other planets orbit, It calculates the earth's diameter to be 8,000 miles (modern: 7,928 miles), the diameter of the moon as 2,400 miles (actual ~2,160) and the distance between the moon and the earth to be 258,000 miles (now known to vary: 221,500–252,700 miles. Such was their precision without any instrumental support. They developed other linear measures of angles, made their calculations differently, introduced the versine, which is the difference between the radius and cosine, and discovered various trigonometrical identities.  

History of Hindu calendar:

The Hindu calendar or ‘’’Panchang’’’ refers to a set of various luni-solar calendars that are traditionally used in the Indian subcontinent and South-east Asia, with further regional variations for social and Hindu religious purposes. They adopt a similar underlying concept for timekeeping based on sidereal year for solar cycle and adjustment of lunar cycles in every three years. 

Of the various regional calendars, the most studied and known Hindu calendars are the Shalivahana Shaka found in the Deccan region of Southern India, Vikram Samvat (Bikrami) found in Nepal, North and Central regions of India, Pambu Panchangam, a Tamil calendar used in Tamil Nadu – all of which emphasize the lunar cycle. In contrast, in regions such as Kerala, the solar cycle is emphasized and this is called the Malayalam calendar and these have origins in the second half of the 1st millennium CE.

The ancient Hindu calendar conceptual design is also found in the Jewish calendar, but different from the Gregorian calendar. Unlike the Gregorian calendar which adds additional days to the lunar month to adjust for the mismatch between twelve lunar cycles (354 lunar days) and nearly 365 solar days, the Hindu calendar maintains the integrity of the lunar month, but inserts an extra full month by complex rules, once every 32–33 months, to ensure that the festivals and crop-related rituals fall in the appropriate season.

The Hindu calendar is also important to the practice of Hindu astrology and zodiac system as well as observing special appearance days of the Lord and fasting days such as Ekadasi.

Hindu scholars kept precise time by observing and calculating the cycles of Surya i.e. the sun, moon and the planets. These calculations about the sun appear in various astronomical texts in Sanskrit, such as the 5th-century Aryabhatiya by Aryabhata, the 6th-century Romaka by Latadeva and Panca Siddhantika by Varahamihira, the 7th-century Khandakhadyaka by Brahmagupta and the 8th-century Sisyadhivrddida by Lalla. These texts present Surya and various planets and estimate the characteristics of the respective planetary motion. Other texts such as Surya Siddhanta dated to have been completed sometime between the 5th century and 10th century present their chapters on various deified planets with stories behind them.

Later, the term Jyotisha evolved to include Hindu astrology. The astrological application of the Hindu calendar was a field that likely developed in the centuries after the arrival of Greek astrology with Alexander the Great, because their zodiac signs are nearly identical. Later medieval era texts such as the Yavana-jataka and the Siddhanta texts are more astrology-related.

An overview of Panchangam:

We shall now explore the significance of a Panchangam, as a tool for selection of appropriate time slots for religious/spiritual purposes, generally used in Hindu households on a day-to-day basis. It is also used to prepare the Jathakam of a person.

Panchang is a collection of 5 (pancha) limbs (angam), based on sunrise, moon’s position, etc.

These five limbs are:

1. Vaasaram or Day of the week (each day is ruled by a planet)

2. Nakshatram (star or constellation in which Moon is transiting)

3. Thithi (moon's phase, with respect to Sun’s position)

4. Karanam (half a lunar day) (each Tithi has 2 Karanas)

5. Yogam (a special calculation for the separating distance of the Sun and Moon)

Monthly positions of all planets are also shown in the Panchangam as a chart, with information on the planetary movements. It covers the 7 planets from Sun to Saturn plus the two imaginary nodal planets, Raghu and Ketu, also called Chaaya Graha or shadow planets. These two planets circulate in opposite directions, since theses are the shadows of moon and earth.

Panchangam gives a geo-centric planetary movement, with earth as the centre and all planets moving around the earth. Calculations of planetary positions on day to day basis involves complex vedic mathematics, as specified in Surya Siddhanta, which was later refined using Drigkanitha methods (Drig means revised or corrected and Kanitha means mathematical calculations). Our Panchangams use Drigkanitha methods, which gives accurate results, corrected to minutes and seconds. and has been tested and proven to be as accurate as the science of Astronomy.

Calendar based on Sun's movements:

In the geo-centric method, all the planets excluding Sun are found to be within 8 degree on both sides of the equator, which gives us a band of 16 degrees. This oval band is called the zodiac band, which in turn is divided into 12 equal parts of 30 degrees each, known as Rasi and is associated with a sign of the zodiac, based on the constellation lying in that area. Each degree of the zodiac is called Bhaga or Amsa. Each bhaga is divided into 60 parts called Kala. Each kala is further divided into 60 Vikala. Each Vikala is divided into 60 parts called Tarpara. This is equivalent of Degree, Minute and Seconds, with additional division of Seconds into 60 parts.

The positions of the planets are then accurately predicted at different levels or angles and positioned in the 12 Rasi band.

There is surprisingly many a resemblance between the name of each Rasi and its western counterparts as given below:

1. Mesha Rasi - symbol Ram - English: Aries

2. Vrushaba Rasi - Bull - Taurus

3. Mithuna Rasi - Man-woman pair - Gemini

4. Kataka Rasi - Crab - Cancer

5. Simha Rasi  - Lion - Leo

6. Kanya Rasi - Virgin in a boat - Virgo

7. Thula Rasi - Man holding a Balance - Libra

8. Vruschika Rasi - Scorpio - Scorpio

9. Dhanush Rasi - Man holding a bow, with horse's feet - Saggitaurius  

10. Makara Rasi -  Crocodile with a deer face - Capricorn

11. Kumbha Rasi - Water bearer - Aquarius

12. Meena Rasi -   Two Fishes - Pisces

Horoscope (Jathakam) consists of these 12 Rasi positions, indicating therein, the planetary positions as at the time and place of birth. Lagnam indicates the birth place in the zodiac band, depending on Earth's rotation, at the time of birth of the person.

The square grid pattern, with a clockwise arrangement of the houses as

shown below is the common representation of Horoscope in South India.

Meena       Mesha       Vrushabha         Mithuna

12                1                 2                    3

Kumbha                                            Karkataka

11                                                         4

  (clockwise)

Makara                                              Simha

10                                                         5

Dhanus     Vrushchika         Thula        Kanya

9                      8                   7              6

The movement of the Sun into each of the 12 zodiacs is known as "sankramana" and is accurately calculated based on the pronouncement (Vakyam) of Rishis. This corresponds to the 12 Hindu months. This vakyam stands fine tuned later and is known as Drigkanitha method. Still these two methods, Vakyam and Drigkanitham are in use. These months are identified by the sign of the zodiac into which the Sun enters. For example Mesha (Chithirai) month corresponds to entry of Sun into Aries zodiac. The length of these months vary slightly between the two methods.

The entire year is divided into two periods, "Ayanams". The entry of Sun into Karkataka marks the beginning of the Southward movement of the Sun, known as Dhakshinayana punya Kaalam (around 16th July). Sameway, after 6 months, when Sun enters Makara (Thai masam) it marks the beginning of the Utharayana punya Kaalam (around 14th Jan), the northward movement of the Sun.  

Calendar based on Moon's movement:

In contrast to the Calendar based on Sun's movement, explained above, there is another Hindu calendar, which runs concurrently, based on moon's movement around the earth. This is based on the full moon (Pournima) and the new moon (Amavasya) days, which are separated by 15 days. The period between Amavasya to Pournima, when the moon is in growing phase, is known as "Sukla Paksha", Sukla meaning white or bright, indicating the period when moon reaches its full brightness. The other 15 days is called "Krishna Paksha", Krishna referring to black or darkness. (Lord Krishna was called so, as He was black in colour), when the moon reaches its full darkness.

Thithi:

Each of these 15 days, between New moon and Full moon and vice-versa, is called a Thithi.  The fifteen thithis thus repeat every 15 days continuously. The names of these thithis correspond to the number of days either from New moon or from Full moon, written as Sanskrit numerals. 

Prathamai - First

Dwithiyai - Second

Thrithiyai - Third

Chaturthi - Fourth

Panchami - Fifth

Sashti - Sixth

Sapthami - Seventh

Ashtami -Eighth

Navami - Ninth

Dhasmi - Tenth

Ekadasi - Eleventh

Dwadasi - Twelfth 

Thriyodasi - Thirteenth

Chathurdasi - Fourteenth

Fifteenth will be either Amavasya or Pournima. This cycle will then start again from Prathamai.

While most of the religious functions are fixed based on moon's calendar of Thithi, some functions are based on Sun's calendar. One month of moon's calendar thus contains two Pakshas (two fortnights). While Hindu calendar, based on Sun is named depending on the Rasi into which the Sun enters in the zodiac, the names of these months, based on moon's calendar, are based on the nakshatra in which Pournami falls on that month.

When the Sun and Moon dwell together, the longitudes of the Sun and moon are equal, that night is called Amavasya (Ama=together, Vasya= reside together or attract each other). Each thithi is calculated based on the transit of moon by 12 degrees from the Sun. Thus in 15 days the moon covers 180 degrees and in another 15 days, it covers the Sun by one synodic revolution. Each Thithi varies in the time depending on the moons varying speeds and therefore is not equal each day. Thus, it involves complex calculations. However, the Hindu calendar provides for these accurate calculations. It so happens that in some days, there will be two thithis, one following the other. But the thithi which is prevalent at the time of Sun rise is normally taken as the Thithi of the day.

Unlike, western calendar in which the days are calculated from 12 am, the Hindu days are calculated from one Sun rise to next sun rise. The duration of the days, therefore, depends on the time of Sun rise and varies on daily basis. The days are divided into 60 Ghatis or Nazhigais, each ghati corresponding to 24 minutes of time. Two nazhigais constitute one Muhurtham. Thus one muhurtham is always for 48 minutes. Each Ghat or nazhigai is further sub-divided into 60 vighatis.

Thus the Panchangam shows the thithi in ghathi and vighathi. For example when it is shown as "Sashti 20-05, it means that the Sashti thithi for the day extends for 20 gratis and 05 vighatis from the Sun rise time on that day.

Karanam:

 

Each of the thithis are divided into two parts, known as "Karanam". There are a total of 11 Karanams which repeat themselves 60 times in a month. There are four fixed Karanams, which appear four times during a lunar month and the balance 56 Karanams are filled by remaining 7 moving Karanams, each appearing 8 times.

Each page of the Panchangam contains two pakshams or one lunar month. A chart indicating the monthly positions of the planets are also given in the page for reference. This chart also indicates the time of entry of planets into various Rasis.

Hora or Hour:

Another concept in the Panchangam is that of Hora. Hora is nothing but "Hour" in western concepts. In this system, each day is divided into 24 Hora (same as Hour). This interestingly defines how the names of the days are arrived at. The seven planets are serialised in a specific order  and each planet is said to rule the day for an hour. For example, Sunday starts with Sun ruling for one hour after Sun rise and thereafter the other planets, namely Sukra (Venus), Bhudha (Mercury), Moon, Shani (Saturn), Guru (Jupiter) and Mangala (Mars), in that order, start ruling for one hour each. Again Sun starts ruling on the 8th hour in that serial order. If you work out in this order, you will find that the next day, i.e., Monday starts automatically with Moon during Sun rise. Similarly all other days are thus ruled by the presiding planets of the day, i.e., Tuesday with Mangala, Wednesday with Bhudha, Thursday with Guru, Friday with Sukra and Saturday with Shani, at the time of Sun rise on that day. 

Vasaram or Day:

The time duration from one sun rise to the next sun rise is reckoned as a vasara in Panchangam. This duration is equal to 24 hora (hora is modern hour of 60 minutes). There are 7 vasara in a week, 7 being the number of the primary grahas in Vedic astronomy and astrology. Each vasara is presided over by a graha. That is how the vasara are named.

Sunday - Bhanu Vaasaram

Monday - Soma Vaasaram

Tuesday - Mangala or Bhauma Vaasaram

Wednesday - Bhudha or Soumya Vaasaram

Thursday - Guru or Brihaspathi Vaasaram

Friday - Sukra or Bhruhu Vaasaram

Saturday - Shani or Sthira Vaasaram.

Yogam:

Another important angam of Panchangam is the "Yogam". There are 27 Yogams associated on daily basis These are arrived at purely through calculations of the sum total of the positions of Sun and Moon with respect to Earth. Each Yoga occupies a time period of 13.20 degrees out of 360 degrees (360 divided by 27). Some Yogams are said to be beneficial, while others are not, for performing rituals and other deeds. 

The 27 yogams are classified as:

-Siddha Yogam and Amrutha yogam (both of which are good).

-Marana yogam (which is bad). 

Siddha yogam is considered good for success in ventures; Amrutha yogam gives health and progeny; Marana yogam is considered not good and prone for material loss, travel troubles etc.

27 Yogams and their Classification

Ananda Yogam - Siddha Yogam

Kaaladanda - Marana

Thumra - Marana

Prajapathi - Siddha

Soumya - Siddha

Thulanksha - Marana

Dhwaja -  Siddha

Srivatsa - Siddha

Vajra -  Marana

Mudkara - Marana

Chathra  - Siddha

Mithra - Amrutha

Manasa - Amrutha

Padma -  Siddha

Lambaka - Marana

Uthpatha - Marana

Mruthyu -  Marana

Kana - Marana

Siddhi - Amrutha

Shubham - Siddha

Amrutha - Amrutha

Musala - Marana

Kada -  Marana

Mathanga - Amrutha

Rakshasa - Marana

Chara -Marana

Sthira - Amrutha

27 Nakshathrams:

In much the same way, there are 27 constellations or Nakshathras in use on daily basis, each one occupying 13.20 degrees. The nakshatram of the day is the one which prevails during midnight (rathrikala) before Sunrise. For performing specific activities, some of the nakshatra are deemed not beneficial and are avoided. Ones own star is also deemed to be not acceptable for performing good deeds. For example, if you are born on Aswini as Janma Nakshatra, and if the star of the day is Aswini, it is considered not good for that person to start any new ventures. 

The 27 nakshatra names are as follows: 

1	Asvini
2	Barani or Apa Barani
3	Krithigai or Krittika
4	Rohini
5	Mrigaseersham or Mrigasira
6	Thiruvaadhirai or Aarudra
7	Punarpoosam or Punarvasu
8	Poosam or Pushya
9	Aayilyam or Aslesha
10	Magam or Magha
11	Pooram or Poorva Palguni
12	Uttaram or Uttara Palguni
13	Hastham or Hastha
14	Chithirai or Chitra
15	Svaathi
16	Visaakam or Visaka
17	Anusham or Anuradha
18	Kettai or Jyesta
19	Moolam or Moola
20	Pooraadam or Poorvashada
21	Uttaraadam or Uttarashada
22	Thiruvonam or Sravana
23	Avittam or Sravishta or Dhanista
24	Sadhayam or Sathabishak
25	Poorataadhi or Poorva Broshtapadha
26	Uttarataadhi or Uttara Broshtapadha and 27 Revathi

All the above nakshatras are in fact constellations or groups of stars, as defined in the Hindu calendars. For example, 

-Ayilyam is a group of 6 stars resembling a serpent,  

-Anusham and Jyeshta are group of 3 stars each, resembling umbrella, 

-Makham is a group of 5 stars resembling palanquin, 

-Pooram is a group of 4 stars resembling the legs of a cot

-Shravana is a group of 3 stars resembling an arrow, 

-Revathi is a group of 3 stars resembling a fish, 

-Purvabhadra and Uttarabhadra are groups of 4 stars resembling the legs of a cot, 

-Krithika is a group of 6 stars resembling a sword.

108 Paadams:

Further, each nakshatra is sub-divided into 4 equal "Paadam". Thus 27 nakshatra comprise of 27 X 4 = 108 paadams. When related to the 12 Rasis in the zodiac, each Rasi will accommodate 9 paadams (108/12 = 9). The movement of all planets are therefore referenced with respect to the Nakshatra in this way, since all planets move through the nakshatra mandalas in the zodiac circle. Thus, when Shani moves from one rasi to other, every 2 1/2 years, we know in which nakshatra it happens. The time period of each nakshatra varies based on the moon's speed to travel that constellation. Certain part of any nakshatra, roughly 1 hour and 48 minutes, is considered inauspicious, called Thyajyam. This is used for fixing Muhurtham timings.

Other concepts: 

Dividing the day by periods of time. 

Brahma muhurtham - before sun rise, (3am to 6am)

Arunodhaya or Prathaha - during Sun rise, 

Madhyanniha or Ucchikala - Noon, 

Pradhoshakala - pre-evening, ( 4.30 pm to 6 pm)

Sayamkala, Sandhiyakalam - Evening sunset, 

Nisheedha or Rathrikala - night period)

Apart from daily calendars, there are yearly cycles, called Ruthu. There are 6 Ruthu's during an year, depending on the season. 

Vasantha Ruthu (Chithirai-Vaikasi), Summer time

Greeshma Rithu (Aani-Adi), 

Varsha Rithu (Avani-Purattasi), Rainy days

Sharath Rithu (Aipasi- Karthigai),  

Hemantha Rithu (Margazhi-Thai), 

Shishira Ritu (Masi-Panguni). 

60 year cycle:

One year period is called Samvatasara. Sixty samvatsaras form one cycle of 60 years, each year having a name, which repeats after the 60 years, starting from Prabhava to Akshaya. Normally, a person performs Shashti Abdha Poorthi after attaining 60 years of age, marking the completion of a cycle of 60 years, getting ready for entering the second cycle as  a Senior Citizen. 

The names of the 60 Samvatsaras are as follows:

Rahukaalam:

 Normally we do have the tradition of starting things on auspicious hours or at least not commencing them on the so called inauspicious period such as Rahu kalam. The time or period of the Rahu refers to an inauspicious time span on every day, which is not considered favourable to start any new activity. In Hindu astrology, it covers a span of 90 minutes everyday between sunrise and sunset. It is considered important in southern India and is strictly avoided while calculating muhurthams. Although, the routine tasks which have already been started can continue as usual in this period.

Rahu Kaal is considered in a predefined manner during set times on the different days of the week but can vary as per the sun rise timing as well. Timing of sunrise is marked in Panchang and 12 hours of the "day-time" is divided into eight equal parts (say 06:00 IST morning to 18:00 IST at evening). Rahukal doesn't occur on first part of the day and rest of seven parts are attributed to other different parts of the day:

• Monday- 7.30-9.00 (2nd part)
• Tuesday- 15.00-16.30 (7th part)
• Wednesday- 12.00-13.30 (5th part)
• Thursday- 13.30-1500 (6th part)
• Friday-10.30-12.00 (4th part)
• Saturday- 9.00- 10.30 (3rd part)
• Sunday- 16.30-18.00 (8th part)

Apart from Rahu Kaalam, there are other two periods of the day, namely, Yama Kantam and Kuligai, which are also considered inauspicious. While, during Yema Kantam people tend to stay away from performing good deeds, during Kuligai period, people tend to avoid doing inauspicious karma, (such as pithru karma) since it is believed that whatever done during Kuligai will repeat. Kuligai is not a taboo for auspicious activities.

What is Kari Naal ?:

Kari naal is an inauspicious day, normally followed in Tamil Nadu and Kerala, based on a specific combination of thithi and constellations. A set of calculation is based on dates in Tamil and Malayalam months. These dates are counted as Karinaal for the entire day.

6, 15 in Tamil Chithirai Masam – Malayalam Medam Month

7, 16, 17 in Aani Masam – Edavam Month 

2, 10, 20 in Aadi Masam – Karkidaka Month

2, 9, 28 in Aavani Masam – Chingam Month

16, 19 in Puratassi Masam – Kanni month

6, 20 in Aippasi Masam – Thula Month

1, 10, 17 in Karthigai Masam – Vrischika Month

6, 9, 11 in Margazhi Masam – Dhanu Month

1, 2, 3, 11, 17 in Thai Masam – Makaram Month

15,1 6, 17 in Masi Masam – Kumbham Month

6, 15, 19 in Panguni Masam – Meenam month

Chandraashtamam Day:

Certain days in a month are classified as Chandrashtamam based on your birth star. These are the days when moon travels your constellation and occupies the eight place (ashtamam) in the rasi chart. Moon is associated with the mind - "(Chandarama Manasa"), as in Western methods, where Lunar is associated with the word lunatic. Moon, when it travels through your birth star constellation, is said to affect your mind. During such period of two days, you would be in a state of confusion and may not be in a stable state of mind. These periods are to be avoided for taking any important decisions. 

How to read a Panchangam?

Panchangam is frequently referred in Tamil Nadu households for verifying the auspiciousness or otherwise of any particular day, especially for fixing functions, travel, start of new ventures etc.

Please refer the following page from a Panchangam. 

Each page is dedicated for a Tamil month.

The header gives details of the year and month in various regions.

The sub-header shows if it is Uttarayanam or Dhakshinayanam, with Rithu and kari naal.

Each row provides the details for the particular day. 

First column shows the yogam of the day; "Si" for Siddha yogam etc.

Second, third, fourth and fifth columns show the date of the year in Sakha, Muslim, English and Tamil calendars. 

Sixth column indicates the days, Monday etc.

Then the main content is given as rows in the seventh column, indicating in the following order:

               (Ref: https://www.mahastro.com/how-to-use-vakya-panchangam-or-pambu-panchangam/)

The time shown in brackets after thithi, nakshatram etc indicates the time left after sun rise for that Thithi and Nakshatram;  then Yogam of the day, followed by Karanam of the day and any special remarks for the day like festivals etc. The eighth column, the last one, again emphasises the thithi for quick reference, just like the first column for Yogam, since these two are referred very often. Amavasya, Pournami, Krithigai star are marked with special symbols (Dark circle, hollow circle and star respectively) for quick reference.

There is another page devoted for each month with more details as shown below. This page gives the details for preparing/verifying horoscopes and therefore indicates the positions of all planets, and also contains the zodiac chart for the month for those interested in astrology. This page also contains the main festivals in Tamilnadu on that month.

For those Hindus, who reside outside India, suitable correction needs to be done based on latitude and longitude, sunrise and sun set times etc. Panchangam also indicates accurately the time of solar/lunar eclipses indicating therein the corresponding nakshathrams which are affected by the eclipse.

Online Panchangam:

To make things easy, one can use the following link for any city:

https://www.drikpanchang.com/?geoname-id=4644585

Summary of Hindu Calendar:

As per the Hindu calendar system, the average age go human beings was considered as 120 years (thousands of years ago). 

This is made of two cycles of 60 years, each year having a specific name. 

Each year is divided into 2 parts, called Ayanam, based on Sun's movement from South to North and vice-versa. This is named Dhakshinaayana and utharaayana. 

Each Ayanam is further divided based on the season; thus there are six Rithus.

Further sub divisions are made into Maasam of approx 30 days each and were named based on the rasi or zodiac of the sun's movement.

Fortnight consists of 15 days of the moon's waxing and waning cycles, called Sukla Paksha and Krishna Paksha.

Week consists of 7 days and each day is named after the planets ruling on that day.

Each day is associated with a specific Thithi (15), Nakshathram (27), yogam (27) and Karanam (11), which repeat in cycles.

A day consists of periods called Muhurtham, between sun rise and sun set - Brahma Muhurtham, Prathah Kalam, Madhyannam,  Saayam Kalam and Rathri Kalam.

Each day is divided into 60 Nazhigai, each Nazhigai is of 24 minutes duration. 

Apart from this, each day is also divided into 24 Horai.

While looking for an auspecious time for any function, one considers Maasam, Ayanam, Paksha, Thithi, Lagnam, Nakshatram, Yogam, Karanam, Kari Naal, Raghu Kalam, Yama Gantam, Thyajyam, Chandrashtamam  .......(Oof consider yourself lucky if you get a good time slot of your choice, without any compromise). Panchang comes in handy for  all these kind of searches.  Now-a-days, all these are simplified through computer softwares.

That's all folks. Hope you have now gained some basic knowledge on Panchangam. I  have not touched upon the astrological aspects as it is beyond my scope and is a vast subject in itself, on which I have very little or no knowledge.

 

Panchangam and Philosophy:

There has always been a conflict between the ritualist and the rationalist, among the devotees. While the ritualist is oriented towards performing rituals according to sastra, the rationalist believes that God is not bothered how you perform your rites but it is the intention that carries more weight and it is a matter of performance over perfection.

Four factors are said to contribute to the success of any endeavour:

-Yathnam (Effort), 

-Prayathnam (Severe & sincere efforts), 

-Kaalam (Period of doing the activity) & 

-Deivaanugraham (Divine Grace). 

It may not mean that only if the efforts are made during auspicious period, it will yield good results. Really it implies that when sincere efforts are undertaken with a lofty ideal in mind, auspicious kaalam starts instantly, which leads to Divine Grace.

In all our rituals, we begin with the following statements:

तदेव लग्नं सुदिनं तद् एव 

ताराबलं चन्द्रबलं तद् एव ।

विद्याबलं दैवबलं तद् एव

लक्ष्मीपते ते अन्घ्रियुगं स्मरामि ॥

tadeva lagnaṃ sudinaṃ tad Eva 

tārābalaṃ chandrabalaṃ tad eva |

vidyābalaṃ deivabalaṃ tad Eva 

lakṣmīpate the' anghriyugaṃ smarāmi ||

The gist of this sloka goes like this:

"I pray to the Supreme to make this day a good day, in which I commence this activity. May it ensure to be beneficial and give me the strength of stars and the Moon. May this period also give me the knowledge required to do this activity. Let me always remember that simply surrendering myself to the Lord alone is sufficient for success of all my activities". 

This sloka thus declares that any day is a good day and any time is auspecious for performing good deeds if you seek divine grace for any flaws regarding lagnam, auspiciousness of the day, the position of stars and the Moon (in unfavourable positions), lack of knowledge about the pooja/rite or the activity which is about to commence; as also any deficiencies on our part, which may not be pleasing to the Gods. 

In much the same way, we conclude our rituals with the following prayer:

Om mantra heenam, kriya heenam, bhakti heenam Maheshwara; 

Yath poojitham mayaa deva, paripoornam thadasthu me.

It seeks Divine blessings, overlooking our shortcomings in pronouncing manthras, wrong actions during the rites as well as lack of bhakti or seriousness in performing the rites. This, therefore, more or less takes care of all the factors that we might be afraid of while intending to do the rituals properly. 

We also finish the rites by uttering "Sarvam Narayanayethu samarpayami" - thus entirely dedicating the effect of performing the rites to Narayana and feel relieved from bad reactions.

Saint Arunagiri Nathar has beautifully explained this concept in his famous work called "Kandar Kali Venba".

பாடல் 38:
நாளென் செயும்வினை தானென் செயுமெனை நாடிவந்த
கோளென் செயுங்கொடுங் கூற்றென் செயுங்கும ரேசரிரு
தாளுஞ் சிலம்புஞ் சதங்கையும் தண்டையுஞ் சண்முகமுந்
தோளுங் கடம்பு மெனக்குமுன் னேவந்து தோன்றிடினே.

சொற்பிரிவு:
நாள் என் செயும்? வினைதான் என் செயும்? எனை நாடி வந்த
கோள் என் செயும்? கொடும் கூற்று என் செயும்? குமரேசர் இரு
தாளும் சிலம்பும் சதங்கையும் தண்டையும் சண்முகமும்
தோளும் கடம்பும் எனக்கு முன்னே வந்து தோன்றிடினே.

பதவுரை:

நாட்கள் அடியேனை என்ன செய்யும்? வினைதான் என்ன செய்யும்? அடியேனைத் தேடிவந்த கோள் தான் என்ன செய்யும்? கொடிய யமனால்தான் என்ன செய்யமுடியும்? குமரக்கடவுளின் இரண்டு திருவடிகளும் சிலம்புகளும் சதங்கையும், தண்டைகளும் ஆறு திருமுகங்களும் பன்னிருதோள்களும் கடப்ப மலர் மாலையும் அடியேனுக்கு முன்வந்து தோன்றிடுமே. 

Meaning of Arunagiri's sayings:

When Lord Muruga is there with us, no day, no time, no planet, and no karma and no kaala can do harm to us.

Thus, while we earnestly desire to begin the activities on an auspicious hour, let us not forget that it is equally important not to postpone good activities in the name of inauspicious periods. "Subhasya Seegram"- Do good deeds immediately. Let us give equal importance to the "Do's", as we give to "Don'ts".

Let me conclude this blog with the following poem. Thirugnana Sambandar has compsed a set of verses called 'Kolaru pathigam'- the mitigation of evil effects of planets. The first verse talks about all planets:

வேயுறு தோளி பங்கன் விடமுண்ட கண்டன் மிகநல்ல வீணை தடவி
மாசறு திங்கள் கங்கை முடிமேல் அணிந்து என் உளமே புகுந்த அதனால்
ஞாயிறு திங்கள் செவ்வாய் புதன் வியாழன் வெள்ளி சனி பாம்பிரண்டும் உடனே
ஆசறு நல்ல நல்ல அவை நல்ல நல்ல அடியாரவர்க்கு மிகவே .

In effect, it means that all planets are good to all those who are sincere and honest. Staunch believers are less bothered about the consequences and accept the results of their hard work and good efforts, as it is. 

However, for those who want to pass on our tradition, no doubt, it gives solace and comfort to follow the tradition as far as possible, without any let. The number of such traditional minded are dwindling fast. Let us allow at least a few of us to follow tradition for the sake of all the others and let us offer our full support to them to keep it alive for the future generations to choose from.

Conclusion:

There are many questions in many minds, such as:

1.Whether the inauspiciousness is being caused by the planetary movements?

2.While Rahu is considered to be a node, & not a planet, how can it influence the living beings?

3.Whether there is any scientific proof to the fact that Rahukalam or Yamakantam may prove harmful?

While the classification into thithis such as Prathama, Dvithiya etc depends on lunar movement, the significance of grouping into days, Sunday, Monday etc & the specific influence of Rahu on specific hours has not been explained in many books. It is simply being followed as a tradition, not necessarily only out of faith but also out of fear of avoiding the evil. 

We generally tend to believe in our tradition, passed on to us by many experts, especially when it has survived thousand years in our society. 

One needs a thorough knowledge of the ancient Hindu astronomy / astrology to explain properly and comment on the authenticity or otherwise of these traditions, which is clearly beyond my scope. We can however tend to agree that only in pre-planned events, auspicious hours can be adhered to & not during exigencies.