Calendar
Solar worship is a holistic way of life, integrating all its aspects. One of them is the aspect of time, which is determined by Sūrya Deva. The whole rhythm of life is governed by the Law of Time and its consequences. It is important to use it well, choosing the right moments for important activities. The ancient temples of the Sun, being a living testimony to astronomical and architectural skill are „clocks” reflecting transience. Understanding the weight of time and the ability to properly determine its cycles is the foundation of conscious living. The traditional astronomical calendar (pañcāṅga) serves this purpose.
Concepts used to describe the phenomena of time in the Hindu tradition differs from Western concepts. To facilitate the ease of use of our calendar, below we present an outline of basic concepts of time.
The first major difference in measuring time is the way days are counted.
The first substantial difference in measuring time is the way days are counted. The day in accordance with tradition begins at sunrise and not at midnight. Within the Hindu tradition, time is measured by the movement of the Sun and not by the hands on a clock. It is therefore important to determine sunrise and sunset in a given geographical location because sunrise and sunset in the extreme points of Poland can differ as much as 30-40 minutes. In our calendar, you will also find the times of the rising and setting of the Moon (soma).
The days of the week (vāra) in the Hindu calendar derive their names from their associated planet:
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Sunday (ravivāra) – Sun (the first day of the week).
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Monday (somavāra) – Moon.
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Tuesday (maṅgalavāra) – Mars.
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Wednesday (budhavāra) – Mercury.
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Thursday (bṛhaspativāra) – Jupiter.
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Friday (śukravāra) – Venus.
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Saturday (śanivāra) – Saturn.
Moon constellations (nakṣatra) constitute 27 (or 28) constellations, thus, the divisions of the ecliptic, which are important in horoscopes and astrological interpretation. Every nakṣatra has its own unique features and symbolism.
The Lunar day (tithī) refers to the units of time within the Hindu calendar. Every tithī lasts from the new moon to the time of the full Moon and vice versa. There exist 30 such lunar days within each monthly cycle. Knowing the lunar days is essential in Hindu astrology and in determining the dates of holy days and rituals.
The unit of time that is half of a tithī is called a karaṇa. Karaṇa translates from Sanskrit as „factor” or „reason”. There are 11 different karanas, which are used to determine favorable and unfavorable moments to perform various activities such as rituals, ceremonies or other important undertakings.
Yoga in the context of the Hindu calendar refers to the specific combinations of the lunar day and the lunar constellation. There are 27 different types of yoga. In Hindu astrology, each yoga has its own character and meaning, which can influence prosperity or failure of the undertaken actions.
The angle of displacement (ayanā ṃśa) is a key concept in astrological calculations in Vedic astrology, which takes into account the precession of the equinox. When using the calendar, set the section „Ayanamsa” to „Lahiri”.
Then select a date and indicate your location by typing its name. If you live in a small town, indicate the nearest county town. Press the 'View results' button to see the results.