Page:Sewell Dikshit The Indian Calendar (1896) proc.djvu/26

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THE INDIAN CALENDAR.

movement", including the movement of the ayana points), i.e., a saṅkrânti calculated according to tropical longitude—longitude measured from the vernal equinox, the precession being taken into account. According to the present Sûrya-Siddhânta the sidereal coincided with the tropical signs in K. Y. 3600 expired, Śaka 421 expired, and the annual precession is 54″. By almost all other authorities the coincidence took place in K. Y. 3623 expired, Śaka 444 expired, and the annual precession is (1′) one minute. (The Siddhânta Śiromaṇi, however, fixes this coincidence as in K. Y. 3628). Taking either year as a base, the difference in years between it and the given year, multiplied by the total amount of annual precession, will shew the longitudinal distance by which, in the given year, the first point of the tropical (sâyana) sign precedes the first point of the sidereal (nirayana) sign. Professor Jacobi (Epig. Ind., Vol. 1, p. 422, Art. 39) points out that a calculation should be made "whenever a date coupled with a saṅkrânti does not come out correct in all particulars. For it is possible that a sâyana saṅkrânti may be intended, since these saṅkrântis too are suspicious moments."

We have, however, reason to believe that sâyana saṅkrântis have not been in practical use for the last 1600 years or more. Dates may be tested according to the rule given in Art. 160(a).

It will be seen from cols. 8 to 13 of Table II., Part ii., that there are two distinct sets of names given to the solar months. One set is the set of zodiac-month-names ("Mesha" etc.), the other has the names of the lunar months. The zodiac-sign-names of months evidently belong to a later date than the others, since it is known that the names of the zodiacal signs themselves came into use in India later than the lunar names, "Chaitra" and the rest.[1] Before sign-names came into use the solar months must have been named after the names of the lunar months, and we find that they are so named in Bengal and in the Tamil country at the present day.[2]

24. Length of months. It has been already pointed out that, owing to the fact that the apparent motion of the sun and moon is not always the same, the lengths of the lunar and solar months vary. We give here the lengths of the solar months according to the Sûrya and Ârya-Siddhântas.

Serial No. Name of the month. Duration of each month.
Sign-name. Tamil name. Bengâli name. By the Ârya-Siddhânta. By the Sûrya-Siddhânta.
days gh. pa. days hrs. mn. sec. days gh. pa. days hrs. mn. sec.
1 Mesha Śittirai (Chittirai) Vaiśâkha 30 55 30 30 22 12 0 30 56 7 30 22 26 48
2 Vṛishabha Vaigâśi, or Vaiyâśi Jyeshṭha 31 24 4 31 9 37 36 31 25 13 31 10 5 12
3 Mithuna Âni Âshâḍha 31 36 26 31 14 34 24 31 38 41 31 15 28 24
4 Karka Âḍi Srâvaṇa 31 28 4 31 11 13 36 31 28 31 31 11 24 24
5 Siṁha Âvaṇi Bhâdrapada 31 2 5 31 0 50 0 31 1 7 31 0 26 48
6 Kanyâ Puraṭṭâdi, or Puraṭṭâśi Âśvina 30 27 24 30 10 57 36 30 26 29 30 10 35 36
7 Tulâ Aippaśi, or Arppiśi, or Appiśi Kârttika 29 54 12 29 21 40 48 29 53 36 29 21 26 24
8 Vṛiśchika Kârttigai Mârgaśîrsha 29 30 31 29 12 12 24 29 29 25 29 11 46 0
9 Dhanus Mârgaḷi Pausha 29 21 2 29 8 24 48 29 19 4 29 7 37 36
10 Makara Tai Mâgha 29 27 24 29 10 57 36 29 26 53 29 10 45 12
11 Kumbha Mâśi Phâlguna 29 48 30 29 19 24 0 29 49 13 29 19 41 12
12 Mîna Paṅguni Chaitra 30 20 19¼ 30 8 7 42 30 21 12.52 30 8 29 0.56
365 15 31¼ 365 6 12 30 365 15 31.52 365 6 12 36.56
  1. ↑ My present opinion is that the zodiacal-sign-names, Mesha, etc., began to be used in India between 700 B. C. and 300 B. C., not earlier than the former or later than the latter. [S. B. D.]
  2. ↑ It will be seen that the Bengal names differ from the Tamil ones. The same solar month Mesha, the first of the year, is
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