A Panchangam is a type of Hindu calendar, which tells the Hindu timekeeping, and presents important dates and their calculations in a prescribed format. It is sometimes spelled Panchangamu, Pancanga, Panchanga, Panchaanga. In certain parts of India, the term Panchangam refers to Panjika.
Panchangams are published in India by professionals mainly related to Astrology and Vedic studies. Different publications differ only a little bit, since all the Panchangams tells only the same result. Through this Panchangams, we could predict the future happenings such as solar eclipses, rain and much more!
The study of Panchangams involves understanding Rasi phala (also pronounced ‘Rashi phala’), the impact of the signs of the zodiac on the individual. Astrologers consult the Panchangam to set auspicious dates for weddings, corporate mergers, and other activities as per their religion.
The casting of a Panchangam involves elaborate mathematical work involving high level of spherical geometry and sound understanding of astronomical phenomena, such as sidereal movements of celestial bodies. However, in practice the tabulation is done on the basis of short-cut formulations as propounded by ancient Vedic sages and scholars.
A typical Panchangam may state tabulations of positions of Sun, Moon, and other planets for every day of the year on a fixed place (longitude, latitude) and time of day (in 24-hour format IST). The users calculate the remaining data using their relative difference from this fixed place and time.
There are several panchangas that contain information for more than one year. There is one, Vishvavijaya Panchangam, that covers 100 years.
The theories propounded in the two scriptures, Surya Siddhanta and Grahalaghava formed the basis for the myriad calendars or Panchangas in the past in different regions of India.
The Grahalaghava was compiled about 600 years ago and Surya Siddhanta was available long before that. These had become outdated and did not tally with actual astronomical events and did not tally with each other. Hence, a committee was appointed by the Government of India with experts in the field drawn from various parts of the country who were involved with preparation of Panchangam in local languages to draw up a reliable Panchangam in which the mathematical calculations provides the positions of grahas (the planets) and nakshatras (constellations) in the sky as they are observed.
Accuracy of attributes depending upon the Moon’s motions were considered most crucial for the reliability of a panchangam, because the Moon is the fastest among all heavenly entities shown in traditional panchangas. Tithi, Nakshatra, Rasi, Yoga, and Karana depend upon Moon’s motions, which are five in number. Panchanga is a Sanskrit word, literally meaning “having five limbs”. If these five limbs, for example, the five attributes depending upon Moon, are accurate, an almanac is held to be reliable, because other elements are not so difficult to compute due to their slow rates of change.
There are three popular meanings of panchāngam:
In Vedic astrology, meaning “five attributes” of the day. They are:
Tithi – Ending Moment (EM) of elongation of the Moon, the lunar day, the angular relationship between Sun and Moon (Apparent Moon minus Apparent Sun). One Tithi equals 12 degrees difference between Moon and Sun.
Nakshatram – EM of asterism of the day, that is, the stellar mansion in which Moon is located for an observer at the center of the Earth. One Nakshatra equals 13 degrees:20 minutes. There are 27 Nakshatra in 360 degrees.
Yoga – EM of the angular relationship between Sun and Moon (Apparent Moon plus Apparent Sun). One Yoga equals 13 degrees:20 minutes. There are 27 Yogas in 360 degrees.
Karana – EM of half of a Tithi. One Karaṇa equals 6 degrees difference between Moon and Sun.
Vara, weekday, the seven weekdays.
Monier-Williams gives “solar day” instead of Rāśi as the fifth limb. Some people enumerate Vara (days of the week) instead. Vara or solar days do not involve intricate computations, unlike EM of Raśi; however, in the Hindu system the five elements only constitute the five limbs of the Panchangam.
An almanac that contains the astronomical / astrological daily details also came to be called a panchangam because of the importance of five attributes.
Panchanga-pujan, which is a part of Ganesh-Ambika-pujan. In Vedic astrology, the basic tenet of astrology was integrated with celestial events and thus was born various branches of Vedic astrology and the Panchanga. In simple terms, “Panchanga” means the Day, Nakshatra (Star), tithi, Yoga and Karana every day. It is a mirror of the sky. The document used as Panchangam has evolved over the last 5000 years. The theories propounded in the two scriptures, Surya Siddhanta and Grahalaghava formed the basis for the plethora of calendars or Panchangas in the past in different regions of the country – a culturally complex system.
The five Angas or parts of Panchangam are elaborated in the following paragraphs but before that the composition of the Samvatsara OR Years (60 Years cycle), Varsha or Year and Masa or month are first explained, as these important calendar events are part of every Panchanga. All the components of Panchangam are relevant in Predictive Astrology, Prasna Shastra (electional astrology), etc.
All followers and practitioners of Vedic astrology must know how to read a Panchangam and in this context it is necessary to know the terminology used in the Panchangam for different time slots of the day. Panchangas are also published in English as Ephemeris – The Lahiris Ephemeris is most widely used, which gives all the details as contained in a traditional Panchangam published in Sanskrit or Hindi and all the regional languages of the country.
Some youngsters used to describe the old people as Palaya Panchangam, which means still you, old people, follows only the ancient customs and traditions!
In my home, I used to keep Pambu Panchagam readily, and I used to buy it as soon as the Panchangam arrive in the shops!
“OM SRI PANCHAPAKESAVAYA NAMO NAMAHA”
WRITTEN BY
R. HARISHANKAR