स्वागतम्

तत्त्द् गतिवशन्नित्यं यथा दृक्-तुल्यतां ग्रहाः।
प्रयान्ति तत्प्रवक्ष्यामि स्फ़ुटिकरणमादरात्॥
सुर्य सिद्धान्त ॥

यस्मिन् पक्षे यत्र काले येन दृग्गणितैक्यम्।
दृश्यते तेन पक्षेण कुर्यात्तिथ्यादिनिर्णयम्॥
वशिष्ठ॥

यात्राविवाहोत्सवजातकादौ खेटैः स्फुटैरेवफलस्फुटत्वम्।
स्यात्प्रोच्यते तेन नभश्चराणां स्फुटक्रिया दृग्गणितैक्यकृद्या॥
भास्कराचार्य॥

तिथिर्विष्णुस्तथा वारो नक्षत्रं विष्णुरेव च।
योगश्च करणं चैव सर्वं विष्णु मयं जगत्॥


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Friday, December 30, 2011

2012 Panchangam Available

Thursday, December 29, 2011

Hindu Festivals for 2012

Hindu Festivals for different part of the world is available at http://www.mypanchang.com. Please visit following URL to get observance dates for different part of the world including America, Canada, United Kingdom (UK), India, Malaysia, Australia, Newzeland and Fiji including calendars in pdf forms.

http://www.mypanchang.com/hindufestivals2012.php


Sunday, August 7, 2011

Ahoi Asthami in 2011

Reference: mypanchang.com
Ahoi Asthami:
  • USA/Canada/Europe/Gulf/Africa/India/Western Australia: October 19th 2011
  • Rest of Australia/Newzeland/Fiji: October 20th 2011

Karwa Chauth in 2011

Reference: mypanchang.com
Karwa Chauth:
  • Entire World (Except Newzeland): October 15th  2011  
  • Newzeland: Oct 16th 2011

Sharad Poornima in 2011

Reference: mypanchang.com
Sharad Poornima:
  • USA/Canada/Europe/Gulf/Africa/India: October 11th
  • Australia/Newzeland/Fiji: October 12th

Dussera, Dushera in 2011

Reference: mypanchang.com
Dussera/Dushera:
  • Hawaii: October 5rd 2011  
  • USA/Canada/Europe/Africa/Gulf Countries/India/Australia/Newzeland/Fiji: Oct 6th 2011

Mahanavami in 2011

Reference: mypanchang.com
Mahanavami:
  • Hawaii: October 4th 2011  
  • USA/Canada/Europe/Africa/Gulf Countries/India/Australia/Newzeland/Fiji: Oct 5th 2011

Durgasthami in 2011

Reference: mypanchang.com
Durgasthami:
  • Hawaii: October 3rd 2011  
  • USA/Canada/Europe/Africa/Gulf Countries/India/Australia/Newzeland/Fiji: Oct 4th 2011

Navaratri in 2011

Reference: mypanchang.com
Navaratri Starts:
  • USA/Canada: September 27th  2011
  • Europe/Africa/Gulf Countries/India/Australia/Newzeland/Fiji:  Sept 28th 2011

Pitrupaksha in 2011

Reference: mypanchang.com
Pitrupaksha Start:
  • USA/Canada: September 12th  2011
  • Europe/Africa/Gulf Countries/India/Australia/Newzeland/Fiji: Sept 13th 2011
Pitrupaksha Ends:
  • USA/Canada: September 26th  2011. New York: Sept 27th 2011
  • Europe/Africa/Gulf Countries/India/Australia/Newzeland/Fiji:  Sept 27th 2011

Ganesh Visarjan in 2011

Reference: mypanchang.com
Ganesh Visarjan:
  • USA/Canada: September 10th  2011
  • Europe/Africa/Gulf Countries/India/Australia/Newzeland/Fiji: Sept 11th 2011

Onam in 2011

Reference: mypanchang.com
Onam:
  • Entire World: September 9th 2011

Rishi Panchami in 2011

Reference: mypanchang.comRishi Panchami:
  • USA/Canada (Hawaii/PST/MST/CST): Sept 1st 2011
  • USA/Canada (EST): Sept 2nd 2011
  • Europe/Africa/Gulf Countries/India/Australia/Newzeland/Fiji: SSept 2nd


Samaveda Upakarma in 2011

Reference: mypanchang.com
Samaveda Upakarma:
  • USA/Canada/Europe/Gulf/Africa/India/Western Australia: August 31st
  • Rest of Australia/Newzeland/Fiji: Sept 1st

Ganesh Chaturthi in 2011

Reference: mypanchang.com
Ganesh Chaturthi:
  • USA/Canada: August 31st   
  • Europe/Africa/Gulf Countries/India/Australia/Newzeland/Fiji: Sept 1st

Harittalika Teej Kevada Teej in 2011

Reference: mypanchang.com
Harittalika Teej:
  • Entire World: August 31st 2011

Krishna Janmasthami in 2011

Reference: mypanchang.com
Krishna Janmasthami:
  • USA/Canada/Europe/Africa/Gulf: August 21st      
  • India/Australia/Newzeland/Fiji: August 22nd

Shitala Satam 2011

Reference: mypanchang.com
Shitala Satam (Gujarat):
  • USA/Canada/Europe/Africa/Gulf: August 20th        
  • India/Australia/Newzeland/Fiji: August 21th

Randhan Chhath 2011

Reference: mypanchang.com
Randhan Chhath (Gujarat):
  • USA/Canada/Europe/Africa/Gulf: August 19th       
  • India/Australia/Newzeland/Fiji: August 20th

Naag Pancham (Gujarat) in 2011

Reference: mypanchang.com
Naag Pancham (Gujarat):
  • USA/Canada/Europe/Africa/Gulf: August 18th       
  • India/Australia/Newzeland/Fiji: August 19th

Bolchoth (Gujarat)

Reference: mypanchang.com
Bolchoth (Gujarat):
  • USA/Canada/Europe/Gulf/Africa/India: August 17th
  • Australia/Newzeland/Fiji: August 17th

Raksha Bandhan / Rakhi in 2011

Reference: mypanchang.com
Raksha Bandhan:

(Note: In india no goodtime till 12:04 noon to tie rakhi due to visthi bhadra
karan. Visthi/Bhandra karan isn't appearing during raksha bandhan in USA/Canada
for other cities please visit

http://www.mypanchang.com/panchang2011.html
and select your city, country
and see if karana: Vishti end time. The Rakhi cannot be tied till the duration
of Vishti karana).

  • Entire World: August 13th 2011

Yajurveda Upakarma in 2011

Reference: mypanchang.com
Yajurveda Upakarma:

(Note: This year due to sukra astha new kids who have been given
yanopavait/janeu/poonal cannot do upakarma this year on Yajur upakarma day. It
needs to be done as per the yajurveda shakha for Aapastambha shakha it is:
Bhadrapada Poornima.

  • Entire World: August 13th 2011

Rigveda Upakarma in 2011

Reference: mypanchang.com
Rigveda Upakarma:
  • USA/Canada Hawaii/Pacific Timezone/Mountain Timezone: August
    12th 2011
  • USA/Canada CST/EST, Europe, India. Africa, Gulf Countries,
    Japan, Singapore, Malaysia, Australia, Newzeland, Fiji: August 13th 2011

Vara lakshmi Vratam in 2011

Reference: http://www.mypanchang.com
Vara lakshmi Vratam:
  • Entire World: August 12th 2011

Thursday, August 4, 2011

Madam Sonia Gandhi's recent cancer surgery

Original Writing: August 4th: 7:00 AM Pacific Standard Time

Madam Sonia Gandhi was admitted to a hospital in the United States. When I heard this news the name of hospital was also not announced. The news said "some unknown location in the USA".  I wish her speedy recovery.

I've her chart on http://www.mypanchang.com/jatakam/getfamouscharts.php?id=36 and I opened it to see what's causing her to visit hospital? I found out:
  1. Current dasa of Mercury-Saturn-Moon.
  2. Mercury deposited in the 5th house with Sun, and Ketu.
  3. Sun 24 degrees, Mercury 3 degrees and Ketu 18 degrees.
  4. The lagna is 27 degress of cancer hence born into third drekkana.
  5. The third drekkana means 1st house is pelvis, 2nd hous private parts, 3rd house right ovaries, 4th house right thighs, 5th house right knee, 6th house right calf, 7th house legs, 8th house left calf, 9th house left knee, 10th house left thighs, 11th house left ovary, 12th house anus.
  6. Also natural kala pursha where mesha will rule head, karka --> lungs, tula-> utres, cervix and vrischika -> external private parts
  7. We know that Mercury, Ketu and Sun all are in the 5th house in vrischika rasi denoting external private parts.
  8. Jupiter and Venus are in tula just a degree part 23 and 24 degrees and in nakshatra of 6th lord Jupiter. Venus is also 11th badhaka lord. Jupiter is the 6th lord with mula trikona rasi in the 6th house and hence lord of dieases in war with venus in tula rasi and hence tula rasi is afflicted. Being both badhaka and 6th lord sitting in tula definately afflicts 4th house and tula rasi.
  9. According to medical astrology tula rasi rules on internal reproductive organs.
  10. Dasa lord mercury is in nakshatra of Jupiter.
  11. Antardasa lord Saturn is in own nakshatra and aspected by mars denoting surgery.
  12. Pratyantar dasa lord moon is in rahu's nakshatra and aspected by mars denoting surgery.
  13. Here lagna denotes pelvis area as born into 3rd drekkana and hence saturn being there denotes problem into pelvis area -- internal or external.
  14. Saturn aspects 3rd house, 7th house and the 10th house.
  15. Mars and Ketu can cause cancer. Mars aspecting on Saturn placed in lagna and dasa lord mercury's affliction with ketu denotes cancer. Also Rahu aspects jupiter and venus by rasi dristhi. Thus confirming possiblity of cancer.
  16. Here karka rashi is also afflicted and 4th house and hence chances of having lung cancer is also a possiblity as moon is aspected by mars and rahu together. Combining this i thought she is definately having cancer and may of type cervical, abdomen (intestines, colon) or lung/chest.
  17. Current transit of Saturn over 3rd house aspecting her 5th house adds more trouble. Moreever the Rahu is also transiting over 5th house where Ketu, Mercury and Sun are there. Mercury rules nerves, skin, lower part of abdomen, urinary, bladder, intestines, loss of memory, speech. Mercury affliction can cause one of these diseases depending on other factors like houses from aries, houses based on drekkana and rasi.
  18. Mercury-Saturn period from 2009 is very difficult for her.
Till this point of publishing its not annonced type of cancer she is having. But I suspect is either related to female internal reproduct organs(Cervix, Overies, Utres, etc...), abdomen (intestines, colon) or lungs related. But mostly looking at affliction it seems mostly female reproductive organs. I wish her speedy recovery.

Future:
The recovery now may be temporary. Jupiter and Moon continues to be afflicted and hence she needs extra caution to make sure it doesn't spread to lymphatic system.

From August 2012 she is going to have ketu mahadasa who is in the 5th house and afflicting sun and mercury also with rahu's direct aspect. She needs to be very watchful for 7 years starting from August 2012 as far as her health is concerned.

Update
Tehelka just reported she is admitted to cancer hospital she was admitted to  NY’s Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center so I was 100% sure she had cancer. Then her medical condition and type of cancer wasn't publicly available. Later in the day I found out the doctor who is treating her is the renowned cervix cancer specialist and written many papers on cervical cancer and lung cancer.

Secracy:
People keep asking everywhere why there is so much secrecy over Mrs. Sonia Gandhi's illness?
Answer is simple:
  • Her 1st lord / lagna lord into 12th house. 1st house denotes self, 12th house denotes privacy, seculation. the person having such combination likes to have privacy in all undertakings and personal matters. When the first lord is in 12th the person is also identified or related to distant land which she is.
Last Update: August 5th
1. Decaan Herald published: http://www.deccanherald.com/content/181508/sonia-diagnosed-cervical-cancer.html
2. http://www.timeswireservice.com/news/Sonia_Gandhi_cancer_rumors_turn_out_to_be_true__Rahul_in_charge_in_her_absence_1312612624/
3. http://helloap.com/cervical-cancer-surgery-to-sonia-gandhi-at-sloan-kettering-cancer-memorial-hospital-in-new-york-dr-nori-datthatreyudu/
4. http://indiafirstedition.com/sonia-gandhi-hospitalised-in-new-york-cervical-cancer-suspected/
5. http://www.andhrawishesh.com/funjokes/102-ap-headlines/24214-sonia-has-cervical-cancer-say-reports.html
6. http://www.tvshows9.com/sonia-gandhi-is-being-treated-for-cervical-cancer.html
7. http://hottestnewsnow.info/tag/sonia-gandhi-cancer/
8. http://www.france24.com/en/20110806-sonia-gandhi-out-intensive-care
9. http://www.afternoonvoice.com/today_top_news.html
10. http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5gHi_QO7AaKYeOK0dTHJRWdhOos8Q?docId=CNG.befd9c455532e105279620fc27845ba5.121

Notes:
i have received several aggressive comments from non-believers of astrology. I've not published them here. Only comments are positive or negative published are to discuss the astrology chart.

 i've never claimed to be trikaldarshi or anything like that. for that matter no one is trikaldarshi. Astrology is a huge science. Some things are beyond perception of physical senses but they make perception possible. The whole world is manifested as maya.

Also i am not aligned with any political party anywhere. This article is published just to discuss astrology. It has nothing to do with supporting or opposing any political party. i've taken great care in establishing my non-biased analysis here. If it sounds like biased I beg your pardon.

Thursday, July 21, 2011

How to end sufferings?

Our #Desires, and #karma with #expectations leads to #suffering. As the end result is not same as we expected. Importance of our karmas can be subjective from person to person. When we don't see fruits of completed actions we become sad, we suffer, agony. Remedy #karma without expectation, give up #desires. This will definitely be a key to end of sufferings.

Lord krishna has also mentioned in Shrimad Bhagawat Geeta that one should do their karma without expecting any results. whenever we do a small thing we always think how people will like this? Will they appreciate? Am I going to get any rewards? promotion? etc? The importance of work we do may be high in OUR eyes but not in others eyes. They may view it as a piece of work. Hence when we don't get desired results we become sad, we suffer, we grief, We start hating people or disliking them as they didn't appreciate our work.

If you work hard without expecting any results such selfless work will be noticed ultimately there will be a reward not because you expected it but when you do selfless karma without any results it will have a higher impact, higher quality and reward will come, but do not expect anything. 

According to astrology sufferings come because of weak Saturn or Saturn's aspects. The Saturn wants you to work hard, without any desires. The Saturn means old man. wise who wants to train you. He wants you to work wiser and harder. He wants you to put more efforts. Hence during sade sati only remedy is to follow Shrimad Bhagawad Geeta's teachings is to work hard without any desires and expecting end results of rewards in our mind. 





Tuesday, July 19, 2011

Shravan maasa & Rakhi 2011

Purnimant #Shravan #savan has started from Jul 16  2011(for north india) and will end on August 13th 2011 (north india). North india follows Purnimant month systems. Which means purnima is the last day of the lunar month for them. Where as Gujarat, Maharastra and south india follows amavasyant system in which the last day of the lunar month is amavasya. Amavasyant #shravan will start on Jul 31 (Gujarat, maharastra, southindia) and will end on end on 29 Aug 2011 (india) and 28th Aug  2011 in usa.
This year for tying Rakhi (August 13th for both India and USA) in India no good time till 12:04 PM where as in USA this restriction is not applicable as India has bhadra/visthi karana during the morning and USA doesn't have bhadra/visthi karana in morning.

Friday, July 15, 2011

Mom

6 years: Mom knows everything !
8 years: Mom knows a lot !
12 years: Mom really doesn't know everything !
14 years: Mom knows nothing !
16 years: Mom, what mom !
...18 years: Mom is outdated !
25 years: Maybe Mom knows!
35 years:Before deciding, let's ask Mom!
45 years: I wonder what Mom thinks!
75 years: I wish.Mom was here to ask !

I love you Mom for everything.

Tuesday, July 12, 2011

Guru Poornima 2011

Reference: http://www.mypanchang.com

USA/Canada: July 14th 2011
Rest of World: July 15th 2011

Tuesday, May 31, 2011

Partial Solar Eclipse June 1st 2011

Reference: http://www.mypanchang.com

June 01, Partial Solar Eclipse
Contact: 19:25 GMT
Release: 23:07 GMT
Visible from high latitudes in the Northern Hemisphere.
Not visible in USA, India. But visible in Northern Canada.
If its not visible in your area you don't need to worry about eclipse.

If visible do istha devata mantra japa

Total/Khagras Lunar Eclipse on June 15th 2011

Reference: http:///www.mypanchang.com

June 15 Total Lunar Eclipse
Not visible in usa, canada.
Visible in India, South america, Africa, Australia, Newzeland.
Contact time 18:22 GMT and release at 22:02 GMT. Times in IST:
Contact time: 23:52 and release 03:32 AM (night of june 15th 2011).
If its not visible in your area you don't need to worry about eclipse.
If visible do istha devata mantra japa


Good for: Tula, Karka, Kumbha, and Meena.
Medium for Vrischika, Simha, Mithuna, Mesha
Inauspicious for Dhanush, Kanya, Vrishabha, and Makara

Saturday, May 14, 2011

Nrisimha Jayanthi, Narasimha Jayanthi

This year in 2011. Narasimha Jayanthi falls on May 15th 2011 in countries From USA/Canada and till UK. For other countries like from South Africa, Gulf countries, Dubai, India, Pakistan, Srilanka, Malaysia, Japan, China, Australia and New zeland it will be on May 16th 2011. For more details please visit http://www.mypanchang.com.


Monday, May 9, 2011

Amritsiddhi yoga, Ravi yoga, Sarvartha Siddhi Yoga, Guru Pushyamrita yoga, Ravi Pushyamrita yoga, Mrityu Yoga

Please visit http://www.mypanchang.com to find when these yoga will appear in your city. If you find them in indian panchangam and you live outside of India then they may or may not appear on the same date as mentioned in indian panchangam due to longitude, latitude, timezone, local sunrise, sunset differences.


Please Visit http://www.mypanchang.com and select year and then select your country, state, and City to see the panchangam for your city.



Wednesday, May 4, 2011

Muhurtha: Using it abroad (America, Canada, Middle East, Australia, Newzeland etc...)

Everyone in India has their favorite panchangam and the family priest they use to perform puja and muhurtha. The problem comes here. Whenever you approach him he'll give you muhurtha as per indian time and then will say subtract the time difference from india to your country. This is the wrong thing. If you are living abroad then you should use panchangam for that location because you cannot use muhurtham you have got from one city in india in another city. For example: if you got muhurtham for chennai or hyderabad you cannot use it in New Delhi or Kolkata because their sunrise, sunset, longitude, latitude will be different.


At times people also refer to the readymade muhurtha available in calendars like kaalnirnay or similar panchangas. The readymade muhurtha available in most online panchang or print panchang are based in India (Printing cost is very expensive hence they don't make for other countries), and they are very general purpose for use within india or city they are targeted for. Even if you are living in India, it may not be applicable to you. Those ready made muhurthas are certainly not applicable outside of india. Most people living abroad think that they can safely subtract their time difference from india time and get muhurtha. This is completely wrong assumption. One cannot substract the timezone from muhurtha given in indian panchangam or by an astrologer in india by just subtracting the timezone. If the astrologer has taken longitude, latitude and local sunrise of the place into calculation then its okay. Otherwise it's not. Please remember that panchangam available in india are designed and prepared only for india and they cannot be applicable outside of india. It is sad that most well educated indians who live abroad still think muhurtha abroad = indian muhurtha time - time difference.

Please remember one needs to calculate muhurtha for your city. Please note that that muhurtha calculated for Chennai or Hyderabad will not be applicable to New delhi (And they are in the same time zone. Using those indian muhurtha abroad is different thing altogether).

Following important points for calculating muhurtha:

  • Muhurtha is heavily dependent on local events like local sunrise, sunset. Most coutries in northern latitudes beyond 35 degrees north will have sunrise in summer around 4:00 am. The sun will set in winter around 9:30 pm or even beyond. During winter sun will rise after 8:00 AM and will set around 3:30 PM. This isn't case with india.
  • One will note that on Mondays rahukalam starts at 7:30 am. Now during winter if sun rises at 8:15 AM how can rahukalam start at 7:30 AM? before the sunrise? This is another wrong assumption using fix rahukalam timings. The standard time and clocks were introduced by britishers in india, before that we used ghati--gadiyalu etc... Hence this means one can't even use fixed rahukalam even in india using abroad is wrong thing. Rahukalam etc are dependent on local events like the sunrise, sunset etc....
  • Another important factor in calculating muhurtha is the lagna shuddhi. Lagnashuddhi is the boss of muhurtha. Lagna shuddhi means removing afflication by planets at the time of muhurtha. Now to do that we prepare jatakam / kundali at the time of muhurtha which is heavily dependent on local longitude, latitude. This means you cannot convert time to indian time and prepare kundli / jatakam.
  • Among many other factors, one has to check rasi bala,tara bala, surya bala, guru bala, agnivasa, udayastha, chandara mukham (for graha pravesha etc...) and other details.
For more details please visit mypanchang.com


Akshay Tritiya 2011

Reference: http://www.mypanchang.com/hindufestivals2011.php

USA/Canada: May 5th 2011.
Rest of World (UK/Middle East, India, Singapore, Australia: May 6th 2011

Thursday, April 14, 2011

Baisakhi 2011

Reference: www.mypanchang.com

Hawai April 13th 2011,
Rest of the world: April 14th 2011

Vishu Kani 2011

Reference: www.mypanchang.com


USA/Canada: April 14th 2011,
Rest of the world (Except USA/Canada): April 15th 2011


Panchang Sravanam

Wednesday, April 13, 2011

Tamil New Year in 2011

Reference: www.mypanchang.com
Entire world except Newzeland: 14th of April 2011,
Newzeland: 15th April 2011
Panchanga srvanam: http://www.mypanchang.com/panchangasravanam.php

Monday, April 11, 2011

Sri Rama Navami 2011

Sri Rama Navami is on April 12th All over the world. for more details please visit www.mypanchang.com

Saturday, April 2, 2011

Panchanga Sravanam For Kharanama Samvatsara

Panchanga Sravanam Online document for Khara nama samvatsara is available at http://www.mypanchang.com/panchangasravanam.php 

Panchanga Sravanam for Kharanama Samvatsara 2011-2012 Shalivahan Shaka 1933 Vikrami Year 2068

For USA/Canada: Khara Naama samvatsara Panchanga Srvanam for USA/Canada

For India: Khara Naama samvatsara Panchanga Sravanam for India

Yugadi, Hindu New Year, Gudi Padwa 2011

Reference:  http://www.mypanchang.com/yugadi.php

Yugadi dates for 2011

  • Hawaii: April 3rd 2001
  • USA/Canada/Gulf Countries, India, Africa, Australia, Newzeland, Fiji: April 4th 2011

Sunday, March 13, 2011

Karadyan Nombu 2011 dates

Karadyan Nombu USA/Canada/UK/Africa/Gulf Countries/India -- March 14th 2011. For Singapore, Malaysia, Australia, Newzeland, Fiji -- March 15th 2011

Sunday, February 13, 2011

Mahashivaratri dates for 2011

Reference: http://www.mypanchang.com/mahashivaratri.php

Mahashivaratri Dates for 2011
  • USA, Canada: March 2nd 2011
  • Europe, Africa, Gulf countries, Mauritius: March 2nd 2011
  • India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka: March 2nd 2011
  • China, Manglolia, Indonesia: March 3rd 2011
  • Thiland, Vietnam, Hongkong: March 3rd 2011
  • Malaysia: March 3rd 2011
  • Singapore, Japan, Australia, Newzealand, Fiji: March 3rd 2011
Mahashivaratri Pooja Archana

mypanchang.com will be performing full night lord shiva puja. Those who wants to take benefit can donate atleast $11/- to following charitable organization and email us your family member's names and nakshatra to us (archaka at mypanchang dot com) and we'll do sankalpa on your behalf. The last date to send us name is March 1st 2011. You don't need to send us the receipt. It's honor system. We'll take your word for it that you have donated money to those charities. Please send donation money directly to them and you keep the receipt (No need to send us receipt).
  1. American Cancer Society
  2. Akshaya USA
  3. Asha for Education
  4. Shankara Eye Foundation
  5. Cry
  6. St.Jude Children's Research Hospital
  7. Abhayaprada

Wednesday, February 2, 2011

How to display current nirayana planetary positions in a webpage?

I am getting this question a lot. One way to do is to do all calculations yourself. Write all these programs. The another thing to do is use mypanchang.com's widget on your webpage. to use it put following code in your webpage.

<iframe name='iframe3' id='iframe3' src="http://www.mypanchang.com/jatakam/currentpos.php" scrolling="no" width="350px" height="350px" frameborder="0" style="border:none;" allowTransparency="true"></iframe>

Wednesday, January 26, 2011

Ritu, Seasons and Vedic Calendar

Reference: http://www.mypanchang.com/ritus.php


Ritu -- ऋतुः means seasons. We all know what we learned in high school that how seasons occurs. We mostly see two main seasons -- Winter and Summer. India we have rainy season too that gives us three main ritus -- seasons -- Winter, Summer and Rainy seasons. Vedic rishis have further divided these into 6 ritus. They are:
  • Vasant -- Spring
  • Grishma -- Summer
  • Varsha -- Monsoon
  • Sharad -- Autumn
  • Hemant -- Prewinter
  • Shishir -- Winter
High school science class taught us that Spring (Vasant) starts when the earth's tilt is neighter facing sun nor away from sun. There are twice in a year when this situation arises these points are called equinoxes. The first point is Vernal Equinox -- or in sanskrit/hindi -- Vasant Sampaat. The other point is called Autumnal Equinox -- or Sharad Sampaat. On the day of Vernal equinox the sun is in tropical  zodiac (Sayana) sign/rasi Aries/Mesha.  Autumnal equinox means the sum in the tropical (sayana) Libra /Tula rasi. When the tilt is facing the sun we have summer. Actually when the tilt is facing the sun we have a summer already in a peak. That day is the longest day on the earth and also what we call is begining of dakshinayana. That day the Sun is in tropical (sayana) Cancer/Karka. Exactly opposite point in the sky is when the earth's tilt is facing away from the sun. This marks winter in northern hemisphere and summer in the southern hemisphere.  That time the Sun in the tropical (Sayana) Capricorn/Makara rashi. Hence the season are relative to the earth's tilt and the sayana zodiac.



There are various systems of determining ritus/seasons as per indian astronomy. Most commonly used are:
  • Chandramana -- some dharmashastra favours this
  • Nirayana Saur Masa -- some dharmashastra also favours this.
  • Sayana Saur Masa -- Jyotisha/drika siddhanta favours this. 
The rules for determining ritus / seasons as per chandramana:
  • Vasant -- Spring    (Chaitra and Vaishakha)
  • Grishma -- Summer (Jyestha and Ashadha)
  • Varsha -- Monsoon (Shravana and  Bhadrapada)
  • Sharad -- Autumn (Ashwin and Kartika)
  • Hemant -- Prewinter (Margashira and Pushya/Pausha)
  • Shishir -- Winter (Magha and Phalguna)
Now the problem with this system is sometimes we have adhika masa and lunar year is roughly 10 days shorter than tropical year and hence every year begining of chaitra masa slides by roughly 10 days. This ends up roughly 30 days in 3 years and compelling us to add one more extra month in the hindu calendar we call it adhika masa. We all know that seasons don't really shift based on chandramana. The Chaitra masa can start anywhere between March 20 to April 20. We already know that spring doesn't shift accordingly, likewise summer doesn't change. We already know that monsoon (in india) doesn't start based on this rules. Hence this system is not advised as per jyotisha and drika panchanga siddhanta because seasons are not corrosponding to the chandramana theory. However still some panchangas incorrectly use this system overriding jyotisha.

The rules for determining ritus / seasons as per Nirayana Saur masa:
  • Vasant -- Spring    (the sun in Nirayana Mina, and Mesha)
  • Grishma -- Summer (the sun in Nirayana Vrishabha and Mithuna)
  • Varsha -- Monsoon (the sun in Nirayana Karka and Simha)
  • Sharad -- Autumn (the sun in Nirayana Kanya and Tula)
  • Hemant -- Prewinter (the sun in Nirayana Vrischika and Dhanush)
  • Shishir -- Winter (the sun in Nirayana Makara and Kumbha)
According to some vastanta ritu starts with Mesha samkranti.. so Vasanta will be -- Mesha & Vrishabha, Grishma will be Mithuna & Karka.... so on and so forth.

We already know that due to precession of equinox we have two zodiac -- tropical (sayana), and sidereal (nirayana). At one point of time they were same and every year it slides by 50 seconds.  This means once upon a time the Vasant ritu used to start at March 21st as per the nirayana calendar but now as the zodiac slides due to precision of equinox now that date is around April 14th. After 5000 years it will be somewhere in july or august. Do you ever think of having a Spring in July or August? It will never. The Actual seasons depends on the earth's tilt towards the sun and hence jyotisha grantha doesn't recommend using this system as well. However still some panchangas incorrectly use this system overriding jyotisha.


The rules for determining ritus / seasons as per Drika Siddhanta:
  • Vasant -- Spring    (the sun in Sayan Mina and Mesha)
  • Grishma -- Summer (the sun in Sayan Vrishabha and Mithuna )
  • Varsha -- Monsoon (the sun in Sayan Karka and Simha)
  • Sharad -- Autumn (the sun in Sayan Kanya and Tula)
  • Hemant -- Prewinter (the sun in Sayan Vrishik and Dhanush)
  • Shishir -- Winter (the sun in Sayan Makar and Kumbha)

The actual seasons corresponds to the earth's tilt. If you extend earth's equator into heavens it's celestial equator. The intersection point of sun's annular path -- ecliptic and celestial equator are called Vernal Equinox -- Spring Equinox and Autumnal Equninox. This points are also known as sayana mesha 0 and sayana tula 0 degrees respectively. Hence the positions of sayana sun should be used to determine seasons. Most drika panchanga like Date panchangam, Janmabhoomi panchanga, Govt. Of India's Rastriya panchangam and mypanchang.com will use the position of tropical sun to determine uttarayana, dakshinayana and the seasons -- Ritu.

However some people will argue that for pooja sankalpa only chandramanam should be considerred but that argument is void because as per surya siddhanta and jyotisha grantha only those things should be used in panchanga that corresponds to drika or dryasha siddhanta. Following dates in a year where ritus will start based on drika siddhanta.

  • Vasant: Feb/19 to April/19
  • Grishma: April/20 to Jun/21
  • Varsha: Jun/22 to Aug/22
  • Sharad: Aug/23 to Oct/22
  • Hemant: Oct/23 to Dec/21
  • Shishir: Dec/22 to Feb/18

Now if we look at seasons. Every Ayana has 3 seasons, Uttarayana has 3 and Dakshinayana has 3 seasons. The varsha ritu (in India) starts around Jun/22. Winter is already chilly in december, from October onwards weather gets cold everywhere. The Summer really starts around April 20 where weather gets warmer. If you see a calendar where it doesn't corrosponds to these dates then its not as per drika siddhanta. Why do we have to say wrong ritu in our sankalpa? Sankalpa means resolution. We need to make correct resolutions. Then our puja will come true. Rastriya panchanga, mypanchang.com, Sri Lalbahadur Shastri Rastriya Sanskrit Vidhyapeeth Panchangam, Janmabhoomi panchangam will use drika siddhanta in ritus. However some people will argue that for pooja sankalpa only chandramanam should be considerred but that argument is void because as per surya siddhanta and jyotisha grantha only those things should be used in panchanga that corresponds to drika or dryasha siddhanta. We have learned seasons don't jump based on sidereal positions of luminaries but its completely astronomical thing.

Monday, January 17, 2011

Hora or planetary hours

Reference tool: http://www.mypanchang.com/panchang.html

The Hora shows the focus of the activity at any time, the significations of the Hora lord in that muhurtha. Avoid Hora of the 8th house lord and badhakesh from the signification house in jatakam.
The characteristics of each of the seven lords are most prevalent during his hora times on the day ruled by him. for example: Mercury's significations/characteristics will be high on Wednesday and in Budh Hora. To check hora table please visit http://www.mypanchang.com/panchang.html and select your city then you can click on the hora link to check the daily planetary hora timings.


Monday, January 10, 2011

Makarsamkranti, Bhogi, Lohri, Pongal

Reference:  http://www.mypanchang.com/makarsamkrantipongal.php
(contributed  by Pundit Srinivas Khedam ji -- advisor mypanchang.com)

Makara Sankranti, Pongal, Lohri, Magha Bisu – A Moment of Thanksgiving to Specific gods, Nature and Farm Animals 

Makara Sankranthi is one of the important festivals celebrated all over India in different ways. While it is called Sankranthi or Pongal in South India it is called as Lohri in North India, Magha Bisu in Assam. Though there are a few difference in the way people celebrate in each area, the most common theme of the festival is Thanksgiving to nature and gods who blessed people with a good harvest, mainly Surya(Sun god), Agni(Fire god).

Pongal in South India

This is one of the many festivals associated with seasons, and is associated with winter harvest. It is celebrated for three days. The first day is called Bhogi which is the day for the family. The second day is Sannkrathi which is dedicated to worshipping Surya, the Sun god. The third day is Kanuma which is dedicated to cleaning cows, farm animals and farm equipment and also offering prayers to them for helping with a successful harvest season.

This festival is widely called as Pongal because it is at this time that a special rice pudding (sweet and spicy) is made with new rice from the fresh harvest. The advent of Pongal is associated with spring-cleaning and burning of rubbish, symbolizing the destruction of evil. Decorative designs or rangolis are traced on floors and on the day of the Pongal. These three days the streets in South India look amazingly colorful with different designs of rangolis. Often contest is held for the best rangoli in local communities.

In Andhra Pradesh people eat curry mixed with many vegetables and Jawar roti with sesame seed mix. Also, people take bath with water sesame seeds. In the evenings little children under five are blessed by pouring a bowl of mixture with fruits, nuts and sesame seeds. One belief is that this ritual will take away the crankiness of children. This is called Bhogi Pallu.

Spiritual Importance of Pongal

On the spiritual side, it is at the time of Pongal that Andal, who is also called Goda( the incarnation of Bhoodevi) marries Lord Ranganatha after 30 days of Thiruppavai Vratham. Sri Vaishnavas celebrate the month of Marghazhi reciting Thiruppavai, an amazing poem of thirty verses in praise of Lord Ranganatha, composed by Andal, one of the 12 Alwars(saints immersed in God). Goda Kalyanam is performed in all Sri Vaishanav temples all over South India during the Pongal time.

North India Lohri

In North India this is the festival of rabi crops(Wheat, Barley, Mustard, Peas, Oats, etc.). On this day people light a bonfire, offer prayers to fire god, dance around fire singing traditional Punjabi songs and songs related to the season with all the joy, and then have a feast with fresh harvest. People dress up in colorful clothes, invite family and friends over and spend the day in sharing food and gifts with each other. This is the time people give charity to those who are less fortunate to demonstrate how sharing and caring is most important quality of human beings. Eating sesame and jaggery is believed to take away the bad elements from the minds and hearts of people.

Many stories are associated with the festival of Lori, like the name originates from the name of Sant Kabir’s wife, Loi. According to another legend Holika and Lohir were sisters. Another legend says that the festival came into practice after a highway robber Dulla Bhatti carried a good deed by stopping a girl being taken into prostitution and marrying her with a Hindu bod.

Irrespective of different traditions this is a Pongal/Lohri is a great occasion to be thankful to gods, friends, families, nature, farm animals and all those who help to make life happy in many ways. And it is these age old traditions and practices that make India a land of mysteries and wonders.  Hence maintaining these traditions and passing them onto our next generations is highly important and perhaps the duty of every Hindu, so that the richness of our culture continue to live for many generations to come. 

Uttarayana / Dakshinayana

Contributed by Pundit Mahesh Shastriji

There is a common misconception that Makar Samkranti is the Uttarayana. This is because at one point in time Sayana and Nirayana Zodiac were same. Every year equinoxes slides by 50 seconds due to precision of equinoxes, giving birth to Ayanamsha and causing Makar Samkranti to slide further. As a result if you think Makar Samkranti is uttarayana then as it’s sliding it will come in June after 9000 years.  However Makar Samkranti still holds importance in our rituals as a Samkranti. All Drika Panchanga makers will use the position of the tropical Sun to determine Uttarayana and Dakshinayana. Hence January 14th isn’t Uttarayana.  

The season occurs based on tropical sun (without ayanamsha).  This is due to earth’s tilt of 23.45 degrees. The earth circles around sun with this tilt. When the tilt is facing the Sun we get summer and when the tilt is away from the Sun we get winter. Because of this tilt it seems like the Sun travels north and south of the equator. This motion of the sun is called Uttarayana – The sun is moving towards North and Dakshinayana the sun is moving towards South.  This motion of the sun moving towards the north is called Uttarayana. When it is moving towards the south it is called Dakshinayana. This causes rise to seaons. They are dependent on equinoxes and solstices. Actual Uttarayana occurs on December 21st/22nd of every year. All drika panchangam like Janmabhoomi/Daate panchang/Govt. of India's Rastriya panchanga will mention December 21st/22nd as Uttarayana.

Dates of Lohri in 2012

  • USA, Canada, UK, Arabian Gulf Countries: January 13th 2012
  • India, Singapore, Malaysia, Australia, Newzeland: January 14th 2012

Bhogi dates in 2012

  • USA, Canada: January 13th 2012
  • UK, Arabian Gulf, India, Singapore, Malaysia, Australia, Newzeland: January 14th 2012

Dates of Makarsamkranti in 2012

  • USA, Canada, UK, Arabian Gulf Countries: January 14th 2012
  • India, Singapore, Malaysia, Australia, Newzeland, Fiji: Jan 15 2012

Pongal dates in 2012

  • USA, Canada: January 14th 2012
  • UK, Arabian Gulf, India, Singapore, Malaysia, Australia, Newzeland: January 15th 2012
Note: To find Rahukalam, Yamagandam, Durmuhurtham, and Gulikai Please click on the panchangam link, and then scroll down to your city and click on your city. If you are from South India, Gujarat or Maharastra please click on Amavayant panchangam, and if your are from North India please click on poornimant panchangam. You will find Rahukalam, Yamagandam, Durmuhurtham, and Gulikai, Varjyam timings along with Abhijit Muhurtha and Amrit kala timings. We also provide information like local sunrise, sunset, Tithi, nakshatra, yoga, karana, sun's rasi, moon's rashi, moodyami of guru and shukra. We also have everyday chogadia and lagna table. To learn how to read panchanga please visit this link.

Makarsamkranti, Bhogi, Lohri, Pongal 2012

Reference: http://www.mypanchang.com

Also read: http://www.mypanchang.com/makarsamkrantipongal.php

Lohri dates in 2012


  • USA, Canada, UK, Arabian Gulf Countries: January 13th 2012
  • India, Singapore, Malaysia, Australia, Newzeland: January 14th 2012

Bhogi dates in 2012

  • USA, Canada: January 13th 2012
  • UK, Arabian Gulf, India, Singapore, Malaysia, Australia, Newzeland: January 14th 2012

Dates of Makarsamkranti in 2012

  • USA, Canada, UK, Arabian Gulf Countries: January 14th 2012
  • India, Singapore, Malaysia, Australia, Newzeland, Fiji: Jan 15 2012

Pongal dates in 2012

  • USA, Canada: January 14th 2012
  • UK, Arabian Gulf, India, Singapore, Malaysia, Australia, Newzeland: January 15th 2012

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