Page:Sewell Dikshit The Indian Calendar (1896) proc.djvu/18
is a method by which entirely correct results may be obtained by the use of Tables I. to XI. (Arts. 139 to 160), and though a little more complicated is perfectly simple and easy when once studied and understood. From these results the nakshatra, yoga, and karaṇa can be easily calculated.
3. Calculation of a date may be at once begun by using Part IV. below, but the process will be more intelligible to the reader if the nature of the Indian calendar is carefully explained to him beforehand, for this is much more intricate than any other known system in use.
4. The pañchâṅga. The pañchâṅga (calendar), lit. that which has five (pañcha) limbs (aṅgas), concerns chiefly five elements of time-division, viz., the vâra, tithi, nakshatra, yoga and karaṇa.
5. The vâra or week-day. The natural or solar day is called a sâvana divasa in Hindu Astronomy. The days are named as in Europe after the sun, moon, and five principal planets,[1] and are called vâras (week-days), seven of which compose the week, or cycle of vâras. A vâra begins at sunrise. The week-days, with their serial numbers as used in this work and their various Sanskrit synonyms, are given in the following list. The more common names are given in italics. The list is fairly exhaustive but does not pretend to be absolutely so.
| 1. | Sunday. | Âdi,[2] Aditya, Ravi, Ahaskara, Arka, Aruṇa, Bhaṭṭaraka, Aharpati, Bhâskara, Bradhna, Bhânu etc. |
| 2. | Monday. | Soma, Abja, Chandramas, Chandra, Indu, Nishpati, Kshapâkara, etc. |
| 3. | Tuesday. | Maṅgala, Aṅgâraka, Bhauma, Mahîsuta, Rohitâṅga. |
| 4. | Wednesday. | Budha, Baudha, Rauhiṇeya, Saumya. |
| 5. | Thursday. | Guru, Áṅgirasa, Bṛihaspati, Dhishaṇa, Surâchârya, Vâchaspati, etc. |
| 6. | Friday. | Śukra, Bhârgava, Bhṛigu, Daityaguru, Kâvya, Uśanas, Kavi. |
| 7.[3] | Saturday. | Śani, Sauri, Manda. |
6. The Indian time-divisions. The subdivisions of a solar day (sâvana divasa) are as follow:
| A | prativipala (sura) is equal to 0.006̣ of a second. | ||
| 60 | prativipalas | make 1 vipala (para, kâshṭha-kalâ) = 0.4 of a second. | |
| 60 | vipalas | makedo. 1 pala (vighaṭî, vinâḍî) = 24 seconds. | |
| 60 | palas | makedo. 1 ghaṭikâ (ghaṭi, daṇḍa, nâḍî, nâḍîkâ) = 24 minutes. | |
| 60 | ghaṭikâs | makedo. 1 divasa (dina, vâra, vâsara) = 1 solar day. | |
| Again | |||
| 10 | vipalas | makedo. 1 prâṇa = 4 seconds. | |
| 6 | prâṇas | makedo. 1 pala = 24 seconds. | |
- ↑ It seems almost certain that both systems had a common origin in Chaldæa. The first is the day of the sun, the second of the moon, the third of Mars, the fourth of Mercury, the fifth of Jupiter, the sixth of Venus, the seventh of Saturn. [R. S.]
- ↑ The word vâra is to be affixed to each of these names; Ravi = Sun, Ravivâra = Sunday.
- ↑ In the Table, for convenience of addition, Saturday is styled 0.