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.

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.

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