World Vedic Calendar (2006)

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Subscribe Vedic calendar to know about the historical and scientific significance of Indian festivals. To know about the relationship of biological calendar with the astronomical calendar. Vedic calendar goes with the actual movement of constellations and planets. It is based upon Cala Ga‡anÈ (precession of earth). The modern day PancÈ×gas are based upon revision of claendar done by Arya Bhatta some 2000 years ago. Thus the modern day PancÈ×gas available in India are more or less historical PancÈ×gas . They are no more astronomical PancÈ×gas. So read Vedic Calendar to know about the actual astronomical occurrence of Makara Sankranti, Uttarayana, Dakshinayana, Shiva Ratri etc.

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Introduction to Vedic Calendar

Vedic calendar is an astronomical calendar based on movements of heavenly bodies. It has no sectarian or communal colouring. Vedic scientific tradition of KÈlaga‡anÈ (Time calculation) was based upon the science of astronomy. The Vedic ÿ–is started their calendar as per the location of Bharat (India) on the earth. At the early Vedic period the calendar was started from Dak–i‡Èyana (Summer solstice) to Dak–i‡Èyana (Summer solstice) keeping in view the location of Bharat (India) in the southern hemisphere of the earth. Later when Bharat shifted to the equator, the calendar was started from Vasanta SampÈt (Vernal Equinox) to Vasanta SampÈt (Vernal Equinox) and lastly it was started from UttarÈya‡a (Winter solstice) to UttarÈya‡a depending upon the shift of Bhartiya (Indian) continent to the northern hemisphere. Thus in the Vedic period the year was first started from Dak–i‡Èyana , then from Vasanta SampÈt and lastly from UttarÈya‡a . This fact is corroborated by the dates of commencements of present Kaliyuga , other Yugas and various astronomical eras named as Manvantaras and Kalpas which are still fresh in the memory of Vedic scientific tradition. Presently in Bharat (India) the year starts from Vasanta SampÈt (vernal equinox). Whereas in Europe the year is started from January which has no astronomical or scientific basis. The same is currently being followed in the entire world now. Following the Vedic scientific tradition and reviving the old scientific values, the present Vedic Calendar/Almanac has been prepared from UttarÈya‡a (Winter solstice) to UttarÈya‡a (Winter solstice).

Here it may also be clarified that Vedic seers measured the year after the one revolution of earth round the sun and measured a solar month on the basis of sun's transition into one zodiac sign. There being the 12 zodiac signs, 12 solar months were calculated. Moon's revolution round the earth was also made the basis of measurement of one lunar month. The day was measured as the 30 th part of the total time taken by sun into a particular zodiac sign, earth's one rotation round its axis as well as moon's 12 0 revolution round the earth. Thus the Vedic calendar may be called as the solar calendar having synthesis with the lunar calendar so far as the days or tithis are concerned. The present calendar also cites the Vedic names of various solar and lunar months as given respectively in Yajurveda (20.30-31) and Taittiriya BrÈhma‡a (3.10.1). Vedic names of various lunar months have been given along with the presently popular names of lunar months, viz. Pau–a, MÈgha etc. Vedic solar months and Christian months have been cited in separate columns. Vedic names of lunar months have been cited in the last column of Festival/ Parvas .

Indian Standard Time (IST) : Indian standard time (IST) is 5.30 hours behind the Greenwich time For instance, when it si 6.30AM in Greenwich, it will be 12 O' clock in the noon in India. This time for the first time was fixed in July 1905 by the order of the then British Administrator of India, Lord Curzon. During the time of world war second this time was increased by one hour,i.e. it was made 6.30 hours behind. 5.30. After the war was over, it was again fixed at the previous limits, i.e. 530 hours. Actually this was based upon the line of longitude passing through 82`.30 0 east of Greenwich near Mirjapur in UP. The present calendar has been prepared on the basis of IST (82` 30 0 East and 25`.15 0 North) , so that it may become easy for residents in other countries to calculate the timings for their respective countries easily.

Formula for Calculating time for various countries : The present calendar has been prepared according to Indian Standard time (IST) 82.30 0 east of Greenwich. If you want to find out the time of a tithi (lunar day), constellation or the Moon sign or Sun sign, Sa×kranti as per the standard time of a particular country, first subtract 5.30 hours from the Indian standard Time (IST) given in the present calendar. Then subtract the difference of time of a particular place or country from Greenwich time if it is behind the Greenwich time, or add the very difference if it is ahead the Greenwich time. For example Makara Sa×krÈnti starts at 24.00 of Dec. 21, 2005 in India. If we want to find out the time of Kumbha Sa×krÈnti at New York, USA, we shall first subtract 5.30 hours from Indian standard time of 24.00 given in the calendar and get 18.30 of 21 December of 2005 . Suppose the difference of New York time from Greenwich time is 4 hours behind, then these 4 hours have to be subtracted again from 18.40 which works out to be 14.30 of Dec. 21, 2005 . Thus the time of Makara Sa×krÈnti as per New York time will be 14.30 of Dec. 21, 2005 .

Historical and Astronomical Events / Festivals : The present calendar contains the reference to historical and astronomical events/ festivals. The fact is that a calendar needs to be updated every 72 years on account of earth's precession. The present Indian calendar was fixed some 1692 years ago during SiddhÈntic period starting from ¶ryabha——a etc. This calendar has receded behind 23.5 0 which needs to be updated. If an event or festival has been mentioned in the present calendar as historical it has its relation to various periods in the past. But if it is mentioned as astronomical, it denotes the updated one. For example the historical Makara Sa×krÈnti is 1692 years old and astronomical is updated one. Similarly historical MahÈ„ivarÈtri used to take place 5112 years ago and historical Pit‚pak–a goes back prior to Vaivasvata period i.e. more than 13,00,00,000 (130 million) years ago when Indian Continent was tenanting southern hemisphere of the earth. Paura‡ika Festivals have been cited with the word ' Paurȇika ' into brackets.

What is Tithi or Lunar day ? : Moon takes one revolution of 360 0 round the earth in 27 hours 43 minutes and 12 seconds. This one round makes one lunar month. PÊr‡imÈ (full moon ) signals the end of the lunar month. On PÊr‡imÈ , moon and sun are 180 0 apart from each other. After PÊr‡imÈ they start coming closer to each other and at the time of AmÈvasyÈ they are exactly at the same place or house. After AmÈvasyÈ Moon and Sun starts going away from each other. Their 12 0 distance from each other is called one tithi . On the other hand it can be stated that Moon's 12 0 (360 / 30=12) revolution round the earth is called one lunar day or tithi , since month is supposed to consist of 30 days. Note : the dark and bright halves if Lunar months have been shown here by 'K' and 'S' respectively.

What is UttrÈya‡a and Dak–i‡Èyana? On 22 nd of Dec. Sun is down south i.e. perpendicular at 231/2 0 south of the earth. After that it starts moving towards north. This northward movement of Sun from 22 nd of Dec. is known as the start of UttarÈya‡a or winter solstice. Sun's northward movement culminates on 21 st June at the northern most point i.e. at 231/2 0 north. Afterwards its reverse (southward) movement starts from 22 nd of June. That is known as the start of Dak–i‡Èyana of (summer solstice). Thus the period from 22 nd Dec. to 21 st June is known as UttarÈya‡a or winter solstice and the period from 2 nd of June till 21 st of Dec. is known as Dak–i‡Èyana of (summer solstice).

What is Sa×krÈnti ? : Sun's transition from one Zodiac sign to another Zodiac sign is called Sa×kranti . For example Sun's entry into Makara sign is known as Makara Sa×kranti.

What is Pit‚yÈna and DevayÈna ? Sun's presence in the southern hemisphere is known as Pit‚yÈna . Sun tenates in the southern hemisphere from 21 st March to 22 nd Dec. So the period from 23 rd Sept. to 21 st March is known as Pit‚yÈna . Similarly Sun's presence in the northern hemisphere is known as DevayÈna . Sun tenates in the northern hemisphere from 21 st March to 23 rd Sept. So the period from 21 st March to 23 rd Sept. is known as DevayÈna .

What is Manvantara ? : Sun's one revolution round Parame–—hi Ma‡Çal or Galaxy is called as Manvantara . The period of one Manvantara is 30,84,48,000. There are 71 MahÈyugas in a Manvantara . The present Manvantara is known as Vaivasvata Manvantara .

What is Kalpa? : Galaxies in the universe are revolving round the SvÈyambhuva Ma‡Çala (Super Galactic centre). One revolution of our Galaxy round the SvÈyambhÊva Ma‡Çala (Super Galactic center) is called a Kalpa . A Kalpa contains 4,32,00,00,000 years. The present Kalpa is known as ƒveta VÈrÈha Kalpa . There are seven Manvantara or 1000 MahÈyugas in a Kalpa . So far six Manvantaras ( SvÈyambhuva , SvÈroci–a , Uttama , TÈmas , Raivata and CÈk–u–a ) have passed since the commencement of present Kalpa . The present one named as ƒveta VÈrÈha Kalpa is the seventh Manvantara in the series.

How to know the RÈ„Ï (Zodiac Sign/ Star) and Nak–tra (Constellation) of Newly born Baby and Name him/her Accordingly? : The RÈ„Ï / star of a newly born baby should be identified according to the Moon sign (cited in the present calendar) prevalent at the time of his birth. The constellation of a child can also be easily located from the nak–tra / constellation column of this calendar keeping in view the time of his birth. Naming of a newly born baby according to his/her RÈ„Ï /Star of birth can be don e according to the following index. If the child is born in Me–a (Aries) star, his /her name should start with the letters ‘Chu','Che', ‘Cho', ‘La', ‘Li', ‘Lu',‘Le', ‘Lo', ‘A'.

If the child is born in V‚–abha (Taurus) star, his /her name should start with letters ‘I', ‘U', ‘E', ‘O' ‘Va', ‘Vi', ‘Vri', ‘Ve', ‘Vo'.

If the child is born in Mithuna (Gemini) star, his /her name should start with the letters ‘K', ‘Ki', ‘Ku', ‘Ke', ‘Ko', ‘Gha', ‘Cha', ‘Ha'.

If the child is born in Karka (Cancer) star, his /her name should start with the letters ‘Hi', ‘Hu', ‘He', ‘Ko', ‘D', ‘Di', ‘Da', ‘De', ‘Do'.

If the child is born in Si×ha (Leo) star, his /her name should start with the letters ‘Ma', ‘Mi', ‘Mu', ‘Me', ‘Mo', ‘Ta', ‘Ti', ‘Tu', ‘Te'.

If the child is born in KanyÈ (Virgo) star, his /her name should start with the letters ‘To', ‘Pa', ‘Pi', ‘Pu', ‘Pe' ‘Po'. ‘Sh', ‘Na', ‘Th'.

If the child is born in TulÈ (Libra) star, his /her name should start with the letters ‘Ra','Ri', ‘Ru', ‘Re', ‘Ro', ‘Ta', ‘Ti', ‘Tu' and ‘Te'.

If the child is born in V‚–cika (Scorpio) star, his /her name should start with the letters ‘To', ‘Na',‘Ni', ‘Nu', ‘Ne', ‘No', ‘Ya', ‘Ye', ‘Yu'.

If the child is born in Dhanu (Sagittarius) star, his /her name should start with the letters ‘Ye', ‘Yo', ‘Bha', ‘Bhi', ‘Bhu', ‘Bhe', ‘Dha', ‘Pha', ‘Tha' .

If the child is born in Makara (Capricorn) star, his /her name should start with the letters ‘Bho', ‘Ja', ‘Ji', ‘Khi', ‘Khu', ‘Khe', ‘Kho', ‘Ga', ‘Gi'.

If the child is born in Kumbha (Aquarius) star, his /her name should start with the letters ‘Gu', ‘Ge', ‘Go', ‘Sa', ‘Si', ‘Su', ‘Se', ‘So', ‘Da'.

If the child is born in Mina (Pisces) star, his /her name should start with the letters ‘Di', ‘Du', ‘De', ‘Do', ‘Tha', ‘Jha', ‘Cha', ‘Chi'.

Computation of time since Creation : The Indian tradition has been able to maintain the full record of time period passed since the origin of this Universe as well as the creation of life on the Earth. The computation of time was regularly done through the tradition of SaŠkalpa PÈ—has read every day at the time of performing Yaj¤as and on the occasion of various rites and ceremonies connected with the compartmentalised life of an individual. This SaŠkalpa tradition is observed uniformly in the various parts of the country except geographical references. Geographical reference has to differ naturally owing to various geographical situations of various regions. The extant SaŠkalpa tradition reads as under :

(adya brahma‡o dvitÏye prÈrddhe „vetavÈrÈha kalpe saptame vaivasvata manvantare a—ÈviŠ„atitame kaliyuge kaliprathama cara‡e 5107 gatÈbde ) .

The above SaŠkalpa tradition computes the time elapsed so far since the end of the previous creation cycle and origin of present cycle. As per the contents of the SaŠkalpa-pÈ—ha first half ( ParÈrdha ) of BrahmÈ has elapsed and the first ( ƒveta VÈrÈhakalpa ) of second ParÈrdha is in currency. First half of the age of BrahmÈ can be calculated as 50 BrÈhma years. This period comes about to be 15,55,21,97,29,49,107 (155 trillion) years. This means that 15,55,21,97,29,49,103 (155 trillion) years have elapsed since end of the previous cycle of creation and the origin of present cycle consisting of SvÈyaŠbhuva Ma‡Çala , Parame–—hi Ma‡Çala (Galaxies), SÊrya Ma‡Çala (Stars), P‚thivi Ma‡Çala (Planets) and Candra Ma‡Çala (Satellites). In this large chain of creation, SvÈyaŠbhuva Ma‡Çala (Super-Galactic centre) originated 14,93,29,49,107 (14.93 billion) years ago. Parame–—hi Ma‡Çala (Galaxies) came into existence 10.61,29,49,107 (10.61 billion) years ago. SÊrya Ma‡Çala (Star of our solar-system) was formed 6,29,29,49,106 (6.29 billion) years ago. The Earth originated somewhere about 4,32,00,00,000 (4.32 billion) years ago and the life sprang on it around 1,97,29,49,107 (1.97 billion) years ago. As the very SaŠkalpa indicates that since the beginning of ƒvetavÈrÈha kalpa 'i.e.' first day (Kalpa) of BrahmÈ's second ParÈrdha , six Manus have elapsed and of the present seventh Vaivasvata Manu , 27 MahÈyugas have also elapsed. The 28th MahÈyuga is in currency, of which K‚ta , TretÈ and DvÈpara have also gone. Of the present Kaliyuga , 5107 years have already passed and the year 5107 is about to end on June 21 st . Thus the 51st century of the present Kaliyuga has ended and the 52nd century is in currency. Concluding the above discussion one may safely and unhesitatingly say that the world has stepped into the 52nd century of 28 th Kaliyuga of the seventh Manvantara of the 51 st Kalpa (or first Kalpa of second Parardha of BrahmÈ) since the beginning of the present creation cycle and the origin of life on this globe and not into the 21st century as is propagated and considered the world over.

Origin and Development of Calendars in the World

Today December is considered as the last month of the year throughout the world and so 1 st January is celebrated as the beginning of the new year. So far as the Vedic culture in Bharat is concerned, it doesn't celebrate January as the beginning of the year, rather as per BharatÏya calculations Var–a pratipadÈ (first day of the year) falls either on the day of vernal equinox or winter solstice or summer solstice. As such a curious mind may a ask a question why there is a difference regarding the commencement of new year as per the Indian view and the view of the rest of world.

Here the answer lies in observing scientific and non-scientific attitudes. This difference also reflects the advancement of science and scientific awareness during Vedic age. The Vedic people had enjoyed science and scientific notions to the extent that various rites, rituals, social traditions were developed and organised scientifically in the light of the scientific laws / awareness persisted in that period. Interestingly, in the Vedic period, science was described and defined by the term Dharma . Dharma had different connotations in different scientific contexts. It stood for the scientific laws sustaning universal creation so far as physical and astrophysical sciences are concerned. In the context of metaphysical sciences, Dharma denoted the moral and spiritual laws sustaining the bio-life in this universe. To the Vedic seer everything that was in accordance with Dharma was acceptable and everything standing against Dharma was not acceptable. That is why, there became prevalent the concepts of Dharma and Adharma . Dharma was never taken in the sense of religion or religious sects as we do it today. The above cited Vedic notion of Dharma has been pointed out by YÈska, one of the leading ancient Vedic scholars, in one of his observations as follows :

sÈk–Èt k‚tdharmȇaÌ ‚–ayo babhÊvuÌ ( Nirukta , 1.20)

"That is there were born ÿ–is who visualized universal laws of nature in the form of Vedas."

Following the same Vedic notion of Dharma and Adharma , Dayananda Sarasvati, a living embodiment of Vedic life and thought in the middle of the 50 th century of Kali era (19 th century of Christ) announced in the fifth principle of Arya Samaj : "All the acts should be done in accordance with Dharma i.e. after deliberation of what is true (scientific) and what is not true (unscientific). Thus the concept of Dharma was having a notion of science behind it, and the same was the very basis of Vedic life and thought. That is the reason why, all sorts of Vedic traditions and rituals reflect a kind of scientific attitude of Vedic people and conveys some scientific significance behind them. The same thing holds true with regard to the traditions inherited by modern Indian society from their Vedic ancestors.

Now coming to the very question of celebrating the new year. I have no hesitation to say that howsoever scientifically advanced and developed has become the modern society, it has not come out of its narrow confines of communalism, regionalism, racism and fundamentalism. It is using science in the scientific field and in its personal or social life it is using sectarian and social biases and taboos howsoever unscientific they may be. The old paradigm (i.e. so far as science is concerned, the Earth moves round the Sun and so far as Bible is concerned, Sun moves round the Earth) is still haunting us. So called modern society is still living with double standards. On one hand we claim to be scientifically advance, on the other hand we want to be dwarfed by the narrow sentiments of communalism, regionalism, racism and fundamentalism. We have not yet started living science in our personal and social life which is governed by the above slogans. Until and unless we do so, we will continue to fight and terrorise each other in the name of various -isms.

If we want to get rid of all these problems, we shall have to go back to the Vedas, which was once the way of life on the whole Globe. Vedic society was the society which lived a life according to Dharma (science). It was not ridden with any sort of taboos governed by any sort of -ism. It tried to live what was DhÈrmika or scientific and shunned what was considered to be opposite to Dharma , i.e. unscientific.

We people in the modern age are undoubtedly using science for our convenience and comforts but are living superstitions, delusions, biases of all kind, hypothetical and preconceived notions ignoring science. Whereas Vedic people enjoyed science as well as lived science in their lives. The modern world owes a lot to the Vedas and Vedic tradition inspite of its highest scientific advancement. That is why, which cannot be known with the help of modern science, can easily be unravelled with the help of extant Vedic traditions.

The concept of new year is the glaring example of the above observation. In the early periods, Vedic calendar system was uniformly prevalent all over the Globe, there being only one Vedic culture prevalent on the Earth. Later on when the Vedic people on the entire Globe began to loose their contact with their mainstream in Bharat for want of accessibility from one region to another, there started developing variations and changes in the actual Vedic heritage inherited by people on the various parts of the Globe owing to their particular personal, regional or other reasons. Thus looking back to Vedas we would be able to ascertain the origin and development of calendar system of the world.

As indicated earlier, the calendar system in the world was first discovered by Vedic people during the Vedic age. Vedic people were also the first discoverer of the time calculation system in the world. They discovered both solar and lunar calendars. Later they also discovered a luni-solar calendar based on harmonisation of lunar and solar cycles. This Vedic calendar was known as luni-solar or synodic lunar calendar, being based on the synthesis of both lunar and solar cycles. A lunation or a lunar month has a length of 29.530588 days or roughly 29.5 days based upon moon's revolution round the earth. This period of 29.5 days is divided in the subdivisions with round figures of 30 tithis . Tithi was considered a day. Thus if we divide 29.5 days by 30 tithis, the quotient will be .983 which shows that the tithi is shorter by day by .017 days (1-.983=.017) or .408 hours (.017(24=.408) or 24.48 minutes (.408(60=24.48). Similarly the length of a lunar month (29.5 days) comes shorter by solar month (365.25(12=30.4375 days) by .9375 days (30.4375-29.5=.9375) or 22.5 hours. On the other hand, we can say that with the passing of one synodic (solar) month, a lunation (lunar month) stands in excess of .9375 days or 22.5 hours and so with every 32.46 or say 32.5 solar months exceeds one lunar month. This excess or intercalated month was called Adhika mÈsa or Mala mÈsa during Vedic age.

vedamÈso dh‚tavrato dvÈda„a prajÈvataÌ

vedÈ ya upajÈyate. ( ÿgveda 1.25.8)

"That is the knower of the natural laws, knows the twelve months and the intercalary month."

The calendars formulated on this principle register dual months like two Pau–as , two Maghas , etc. after 32.5 months and dropped the second intercalated month thereafter to allow the lunar months go in line with synodic months. This was one of the method applied in formulating the synodic lunar calendar in the Vedic tradition.

Another method was developed in view of duration of tithis in lunar and solar years. This method used to be applied in the ÿgvedic tradition as pointed out by ÿgjyoti–a . Accordingly, if the length of month and year are measured in tithis , the lunar year has a duration of 30(12= 360 tithis or 354 solar days (29.5(12=354). If we divide 360 tithis by 354 solar days (360(354) we get that one solar day is equal to 1.0169 tithis. Thus a solar year will have (1.0169(365.25=) 371.09 tithis as compare to 360 of a lunar year. Thus a solar year has 371.09-360=11.09 tithis extra than a lunar year, which is called ÿtu„e–a in VedÈ×ga jyotisa . On the other hand we can fairly say that with the passing of one solar year, one lunar year stands in excess of 11.09 tithis . At the end of each solar year, this ÿtu„e–a of 11.09 tithis gets added and ultimately when the total of tithis exceeds 30, they constitute an additional month. Vedic people found out that the exact harmony of lunar and solar years takes place after 19 years where 7 such additional lunations takes place. For instance, total tithis of solar year in 19 years will be 371.09(19=7049.95 and of lunar year be 360(19= 6840. The excess tithis of lunar cycle in 19 years are 7049.95-6840=209.95 days. This number is exactly equal to seven additional months, i. e. 30(7= 210 days. Perhaps these results inspired some schools of Vedas, as is obvious from Lagadh's Veda×ga Jyoti–a , to frame a yuga of 19 years with one leap year in each yuga. Lagadha also records 18 years with 371 lunar days and 19 th year with 372 lunar days. Thus we see that some schools of Vedic thought observed a 19 year yuga cycle consisting of 235 synodic lunar months.

We also find the above method of harmonising the luni-solar calendar, in addition to 19, into the multiple of 19, such as 95 years in the YÈju–a tradition of Vedas. But the 19 years luni-solar cycle remained a popular base.

Here it may also be noted that the time calculations based on lunar and solar cycles led to the origin of lunar dynasties and solar dynasties among the Vedic people in Bharat. Vedic civilisation in Bharat is the oldest civilisation on the Earth. The Vedic people from Bharat were the first people who inhabited the entire globe at various phases of times. These migrations from Bharat to various parts of Globe took place in the early ages as well as after nuclear and atomic war of MahÈbhÈrata. High radiation generated due to nuclear war of MahÈbhÈrata compelled the people from northern parts of Bharat to migrate to safer places. Thus wherever the Vedic people spread on the earth, they took along with them their Vedic heritage. Today also Vedic people on the various parts of Globe can be identified with the remnants of the Vedic heritage they are carrying along with them. For instance, the Vedic migrants from solar dynasties to Egypt are still known as the people belonging to hemitic race and Vedic migrants from lunar dynasties are keeping their history of migration alive in the name of semitic races in China, Arab, Babylon, Syria, Mangolia, Irak, Iran, Tartar, and Judia. The languages of semitic people are known as Semitic ones and hemitic people as Hemitic ones. The word Hema has corrupted from sÊrya or hema as helios. The renowned city of sun in Egypt is known as "Helispolis" and the first king of Egypt "Menes" came from the race of Sun, Vaivasvata Manu. According to Pococke, the writer of India in Greece (P. 178) edited by the present author as ‘ Indian Origin of Greece and Ancient world ', first king of Egypt was associated to the Manu Vaivasvata of Patriarch of the solar race. Thus the entire Bharat was divided into lunar and solar dynasties and the entire world also got divided into hemitic and semitic races according to the solar or lunar class of the migratory people from Bharat. That is why, the entire world is having the signatures of Vedic tradition carried either by the emigrants from lunar race or the solar race. Same is the case with the calendar systems prevalent in various countries.

In China the descendants of King PururavÈ (According to Col. Tod, Annals of Rajasthan , Vol. 1. p. 35, ‘ The genealogists of China and Tartary declare themselves to be the descendants of ‘Awar' son of Hindu King ‘Pururawa') carried along with them the 19-year luni-solar cycle consisting of 235 lunations which represented the 19-year yuga of 235 synodic lunar months developed by Vedic people.

Yadus of lunar race of Bharat now known as Jews migrated to Judia after the great war of India (According Pococke, India in Greece , p.22, ‘The tribe of Yudha is, in fact, the very Yadu of which considerable notice has been taken in my previous remarks. According to Col. Tod, Tod's Rajasthan , p. 529, The annals of the Yadus of Jaisalmer state that long anterior to Vikrama, they held dominion from Ghazani to samarkand). They also carried along with them the Vedic concept of luni-solar calendar based on 19-year cycle with intercalations in 3, 6, 8, 11, 14, 17 and 19 years. The intercalation is made in the months of Adar (Feb.- March).

Vedic emigrants in Babilonia [According to ‘Historical History of the World, vol.1, p. 89, ‘The name of Babilonian storm God was Matu or Martu which, as we have seen, was the same as the Vedic Marut and must have been taken by the Pa‡is and Cholas (of ancient Bharat) to Baylonia. Robert Brown says, ‘ This stellar and originally solar Ram stands at the head of the 10 antediluvian Babylonion kings...'. See ‘ Origin of Week ' by Sham Shastri published in Annals of Bhandarkar Institute vol. iv, Part 1, July 1922)] also used to bring lunar year of 354 days into line with solar year of approximately 365 days. This was accompanied by the use of intercalated month. The special name given to intercalated month was ' iti diring '. But due to loss of memory and for want of connection with the mainstream in Bharat, the intercalation was operated haphazardly according to real or imagined needs and each Sumerian city intercalated months at its will. Later in 380 B.C. they succeeded in computing an almost perfect equivalence in a luni-solar cycle of 19 years and 235 months with intercalations in the years 3, 6, 8, 11, 14, 17 and 19 of the cycle.

The emigrants of lunar dynasty in Arab (The name Arab is derived from Sanskrit ‘ arva ' meaning horse) followed the lunar cycle only for their calendar totally ignoring the solar cycle.

The Vedic migrants in Greek (Considerable evidences of emigration of Indians to Greece have been given by the author of India in Greece ) also used a lunar calendar consistent with solar days. They completed the year in 354 days with 12 lunar months, alternatively consisting of 30 days and 29 days. But they lost the heritage and missed the seasons. King Solan therefore tried to introduce an intercalary month to harmonise the lunar year with seasons, but he was unsuccessful.

In Egypt, the Vedic emigrants (According to Col. Olcott, Theosophist for March 1881, p. 123, ‘We have a right to more than suspect that India, eight thousand years ago, sent a colony of emigrants who carried their arts and high civilisation into what is now known as Egypt.') from solar dynasty used solar calendar. They kept their heritage intact and remembered that an year consists of 365 days. They divided the year in 12 months consisting of 30 days each, and added 5 days at the end of year. Yet the seasons rotated in a cycle of 1460 years due to a mistake of about 1/4 day in an year, because 365(4 = 1460 years. Modern astronomers call the period of 1460 years as Sothic cycle.

The Parasoos, the people of Parasu Ram from Bharat who migrated to Persia ( India in Greece , p. 45) also remembered the year of 365 days and so they also used to add 5 days after an interval of 360 days to constitute an year of 365 days.

Vedic emigrants in Rome (‘Both among Greeks and Romans - the descendants of colonists from India, continued, specially amongsts the latter people down to and throughout the most historical periods.' India in Greece , p. 142) totally forget this division of zodiac in 12 parts. They used to count 10 months in a year and left some days uncounted. They begin with a fresh year with full moon in spring season as was in their memory. The names of their months were still driven from their original language, the Sanskrit such as unus from eka , duo from dvau , tria from traya , quinque from pa¤ca , sex from –a— , septem from sapta , octo from a–—au , noven from navan , decem from da„an . The presently extant names like September, October, November and December clearly substantiate this fact. The term ambar is indicative of zodiac in the Sanskrit language. These 12 zodiac signs were known as 12 ambars/rÈsis or stars and as a result, the names of months were coined by suffixing ambar /amber to the numbers. With the passage of time, first to six months were renamed either after some historical personalities or some specific historical events, though the last four months survived in their original form signalling their very origin to the Vedic system.

The Romulian calendar consisting of 10 months beginning from March as the first month upto December as last month remained in vogue till 452 B.C. when Numa Pompilius introduced the custom of inserting 23 days at the interval of two years. But the introduction of 23 days became the bone of contention between the religious heads. This was at last removed by Julius Caesar who with the help of Cleopatra, the empress of Egypt reformed the Romulian calendar after the fashion of Egyptian calendar. This reform was known as Julian reform or Julian arrangement of calendar. The history goes like this.

Cleopatra was the empress of Egypt. She was Greek by birth and belonged to the dynasty founded by Tolami, a commander of Alexander. Following the death of Alexander, Tolami declared his domain over Egypt. Cleopatra was from his dynasty. She was born in 3033 Kali era or 68 B.C. Following the death of her father Tolami, the 11th, she took over the reign of Egypt along with her brother Tolami, the 12th. But she was overthrown by her brother in the war of succession. She formed an army in Cypress and tried to recapture power. In the meantime, defeated by Caesar and fled to Egypt a brave soldier named Pompy was guillotined by Tolamy. With the view to please Caesar he (Tolami) presented his body to Caesar, but Caesar got annoyed at this. To make a good use of this event, Cleopatra hiding herself in the precious carpets purchased by Romans met Caesar and he was also taken in by her exquisite beauty. He captured the regime from Tolami and handed it over to Cleopatra. Afterwards, both Caesar and Cleopatra roamed about the banks of the river Nile for many weeks. Cleopatra gave birth to a child who was named as Caesarean, i.e. the Junior Caesar. When the queen of Egypt started domiciliating the palace of Rome as a queen-dowager, the artisans, economists and astrologers were sent for from Alexanderia, the capital of Egypt. Roman taxation system was reformed and a new currency was introduced. Roman calendar was also amended by dividing the whole year into 365 days by adding two more months to the already existing 10 months, after the fashion of Egyptian calendar. Since the time of Julius Caesar (46 B.C.), the Roman calendar used to have 12 months with the new year commencing with March as the first amber (month).

March continued to be the beginning or the legal year in England until 18th century. In France, it was reckoned as the first month of the year until 1564, when by an edict of Charles IX, January was decreed to be the first month, so that the year may end with December, the month of Jesus Christ's birth. Scotland followed the example of France.

The history goes further and we are told that during this arrangement, the quintilis amber (fifth month of Romulian calendar) was named July by the Egyptian astronomers to felicitate Julius Caesar, as he was born on 12th of this month. This month was also assigned 31 days, since Caesar was the most powerful king of Rome. On the other hand Caesar also, in turn, felicitated Cleopatra by constructing a temple of Goddess of Venus. Illuckily, Caesar died after two years in 44 B.C. and Cleopatra had to return to her kingdom, Egypt.

Later Julius Augustus also named the sixth amber (sixtilis) after his name as August and also assigned 31 days to his month, since he considered himself no less brave than Julius Caesar.

Similarly, the first amber was named as Mars or March after the god of war. Actually, this was not only the beginning of the year, but was the open spring season for waging war. That was why, it was named after Mars, the god of war. 'Mars" being the powerful god was also assigned 31 days.

The second amber, April, was named after latin aperire 'to open' in allusion to its being the season when trees and flowers beginning to 'open' and is supported by comparison with the modern Greek word 'opening' for spring. It was given fourth place in Julian calendar.

The third amber was named Maius by Romulus in respect to the senators and nobles of his city, who were called Majores. Being associated with Majores, it was also given 31 days. It became the fifth in Julian calendar, which later came to be known as May.

The fourth amber was called Junius in honour of the youths of Rome ( i.e. Juniares) who served Romulus in war. Junius later came to be known as June.

Januarius (January) and Februarius (February) were added at the end as 11th and 12th amber to the series by Numa Pompilius. Though in Julian arrangement their place was changed otherwise and they were considered to be the first and second months of the year. In fact, the name January is also identifiable with Sanskrit Ganesh. Ganesh of Indian tradition is known as Janus in Roman tradition. Since Ganesh is the symbol of beginning of every act in Indian tradition, the month named after Janus as Januarius was also used by Romans as the beginning of the year. February was spelled by the Romans as Februarius. That also came from Sanskrit Pravar, meaning sage or seer. Thus Pravaresh being the lord of sages. We know that Sanskrit ' p ' was replaced by 'f'' in Europe. Consequently Pravaresh became Februarius in Roman. So the term Pravaresh alias Februarius signified God as the Lord of the sages. This is the actual history of the two months added to the Julian calendar. In practical sense they still continue to be the last months. Since all the additions and subtractions are made to the last member of the series. Feb., being the last one, always adds a day in case of a leap year.

From the foregoing discussion it can unhesitatingly be inferred that all the English months can be traced back to Sanskrit via Greek, Roman and Egyptian ones.

However, the above discussion sheds an ample good light on how the scientific arrangement of months of an year done by Vedic people got an unscientific and communal colouring at the hands of their emigrant in Europe and else where. The assignment of 31 or 30 days too to various months of the year was done in tune with the slogans of 'Might is right' ignoring any justification or norms. Similarly the assignment of the status of last (12 th ) month to the 10 th month simply because Jesus Christ was born in that month shows the communal bias of Christians to christianise the whole world or allow the whole world to celebrate and practise the Christian traditions in disguised forms. Here it may not be out of context to inform everybody, even to our Christian brothers, that the word christ-mas do not signify the birth day of Christ, but the month of the birth of Christ. Since -mas is formed from Sanskrit term ‘mÈsa' meaning ‘month'. In Vedic times, the measurement of month didn't owe either to rotation or revolution of the Earth but it owed to the Moon's revolution round the Earth. The following statement of ÿgvedic ÿ–i is noteworthy:

aru‡o mÈsak‚d v‚kaÌ ( RV . 1.105.18)

Moon is the maker of months.

Yaska's commentary is noteworthy here.

aru‡aÌ Èrocano mÈsak‚n mÈsÈnÈŠ cÈrdha mÈsÈnÈŠ ca kartÈ bhavati candramÈ v‚kaÌ

That is, Moon is the maker of months and fortnights.

In fact, the term mÈsa is formed from -mas of Candra-mas itself. MÈsa means to measure - mÈsÈ mÈnÈt ( Nirukta , 4.27). Since the moon measures the constellations in the sky, the action of measuring is associated with Moon. Keeping in view the same measuring action, Greeks called it the Moon.

Here it would not be out of context to know as to how the lunar months were named in Indian tradition. Months in Indian tradition were formed on the basis of Moon's revolution round the Earth. Similarly, names of months were also given after the asterism which comes into conjunction with Moon at the end of PÊr‡imÈ , the full Moon day. For instance name of the month Caitra has been given on the basis of conjunction of Moon with CitrÈ constellation after the full Moon day. Here one more thing may be remembered that when Moon is in conjunction with a particular constellation at the end of PÊr‡imÈ , the Sun is housed 180 0 apart from the Moon or say right opposite to Moon. Thus when the Sun is in A„vini constellation, Moon will be in CitrÈ at the end of PÊr‡imÈ and the month's name will also be Caitra after CitrÈ . Thus one can see during the long span of time the calculation of year and its months came down to us in its most scientific form without any communal, regional, personal, racial or other type of bias. Let us come out of -isms and biases and be Vedic (scientific) in our practical life and in our attitude.

Various Eras of the World

Indian Eras

Brahma Era (Vedic Era for Universal creation) : 15,55,21,97,29,49,107 (155 trillion years)

Kalpa or Sristi Era (Vedic Era for biologiccal Creation on Earth) : 1,97,29,49,107 (1.9 billion years)

Manvantara Era : 12,05,33,107

Tikha SaŠvat : 6914

Saptarshi Samvat : Ardra 82 or 5182 (starting from MaghÈ April 9)

Yudhisthir SaŠvat : 5180

Kaliyuga Era : 5107 (starting from 21 st June)

Buddha SaŠvat : 3843 (starting on May 23)

Mahavir Nirvana SaŠvat : 2533 (Starts on Nov. 1)

ƒÈkÈ SaŠvat : 1929 (starting on March 22)

Kalchuri SaŠvat : 1755

Vallabhi or Gupta SaŠvat : 1689

Harsha SaŠvat : 1400

Nanakshahi SaŠvat : 538 (starting on March 15)

Khalsa SaŠvat : 308 (starting on April 13)

Dayananda SaŠvat : 124

Other Eras of the World

Old Chinese Era : 9,60,02,502 (900 million years)

Hittite Era : 8,88,40,378 (800 million years)

Chaldean Era : 2,15,00,38 (200 million years)

Persian Era : 1,89,972 (1 million years)

Finishian Era : 30,008 (30 thousand years)

Egyptian Era : 28,669 (28 thousand years)

Old Turkish Era :7,612 years

Irani Era : 6,010 years

Jewish Era : 5,766 years

New Chinese Era : 4,362 years

New Turkish Era : 4,296 years

Greek Era : 3,578 years

Roman Era : 2,755 years

Christian Era : 2006 years

Hizri Era : 1,428 years