The Indian Calendars – National and Traditional

Now I feel the need of this post. Most of my cohort readers may be having a panchang or panjika at home for religious or auspicious occasions. All panchangs can be different and quiet varying. Although each one follows some extraterrestrial references as the standard period calculation. Some take Sun’s movement in sky, and some consider the moon’s appearance or some consider both together as reference. Government of India to bring out a standard calendar out of different existing versions proposed the national calendar. This is mainly used in official purposes and to tell this calendar as national calendar like other national emblems and symbols.

Although even after the national calendar the traditional calendars are still used popularly which are of almost 30 types. Most of us are don’t know even the traditional calendars too. Ask an average Indian about all the traditional months serially, probabilities are high that one passes partially only. Try this test yourself too. The reasons are obviously simple as the need of those calendars is redundant. Interesting thing is that even then these Gregorian calendar followers will arrange the auspicious or religious occasions based upon the traditional calendars only. Here it means that the best time is calculated by our traditional calendars only. We feel the need that everyone be well versed with at least the Indian National Calendar although the rituals happen according to the traditional calendars given in second part.

Part 1

***************** NATIONAL CALENDAR *****************

• The Indian National Calendar was introduced in 1957 by Indian calendar reform committee set up in 1952.
• It is also called Rastriya Panchang. Panchang word is a derivative of Sanskrit word panchagam. Panchagam ( pancha = five , anga = limb , the five main limbs of Panchang are: (1) Solar Day (2) Lunar Day (3) the Asterism(a cluster of stars or a small constellation) on which the sun rises (4) the angle of the sun and moon (5) the half lunar day
• This calendar have 365 days normally and 366 days in leap year.
• It is a tropical calendar with fixed days and nights.
• This months in a normal year are:

This chart below have Month’s serial no., Month’s Name , Number of days in the month, The starting day of the Indian month as per the Gregorian calendar, season associated with this month

1. Chaitra --- (30 days) --- 22 March ----- Vasanta .
2. Vaisakha ---(31 days) --- 21 April ------ Grishma.
3. Jyestha ---(31 days) --- 22 May ------ Grishma.
4. Aashaadha ---(31 days) --- 22 June ----- Varshaa.
5. Shraavana ---(31 days) --- 23 July ----- Varshaa.
6. Bhaadra ---(31 days) --- 23 August ---- Sharat.
7. Aashvina ---(30 days) --- 23 September - Sharat.
8. Kaaritka ---(30 days) --- 23 October ---- Hemanta.
9. Agrahayana ---(30 days) --- 22 November ---Hemanta .
10. Pausa ---(30 days) --- 22 December ---Sisir.
11. Maagha ---(30 days) --- 21 January ----- Sisir.
12. Phalguna ---(30 days) --- 20 February --- Vashanta.

• The national calendar year starts with the month of Chaitra. The first day of Chaitra falls on 22 March in normal year and 21 march in leap year. Hence in leap year the first month ,i.e Chaitra is of 31 days.

Saka National = A.D.-78 (from 22 march to Dec.)( for leap year- from 21 march to Dec.)

= A.D.-79 ( from Jan. to 21 march)( for leap year- from Jan. to 20 March)

(Used in national calendar only)

Part 2

***************** TRADITIONAL CALENDARS *****************

Basically for religious purposes and festivals the other local variants are used. These calendars are of three types : Solar calendar and Lunisolar calendar

Lunar Calendar

Lunar calendars are based on the motion of lunar motion .i.e. moon’s motion. The lunar month is calculated as the period between two successive new moons or two successive full moons with average month length of 29.5 days. This calendar has 12 month too thus this calendar does not synchronizes with the tropical year of 365 days. Thus this type of calendar is short each year by 11 days compared to the later tropical calendar. The muslims calendar is a lunar calendar.

Solar Calendar

The Chitra nakshatra a bright star is opposite to sun and it is the point of measurement of relative elliptical movement of the earth round the year. In the movement the total 360degree of rotation is divided into 12 equals of 30degree angles each and in each new part of the angle the sun (relatively) enters into a new Rashi, hence the 12 months. The calculations of calendars are also include the different rules of Samkranti too. The solar calendars are still today used quiet widely.

Saka Traditional = A.D. - 78 (from mid April to Dec.)

= A.D. - 79 (from Jan. to mid April)

(Used in Orissa, Tamilnadu and Bengal)

Bengali San = A.D. - 593 (from mid April to Dec.)

= A.D. - 594 (from Jan. to mid April)

(Used in Bengal)

Kollam = A.D. – 824 ( from mid August to Dec.)

= A.D. – 825 (from Jan. to mid August)

(Used in Karela ,Malayali calendar )

Saka National = A.D.-78 (from 22 march to Dec.)( for leap year- from 21 march to Dec.)

= A.D.-79 ( from Jan. to 21 march)( for leap year- from Jan. to 20 March)

(Used in national calendar only)

Lunisolar Calendars:

Lunisolar months are lunar months and based upon the appearance of the moon. Interestingly there are two kinds of lunisolar months too.

1. Amanta lunisolar months: This months starts with a new moon months and ends with new months. This calendar is synchronized with the nirayana year i.e. with the leap year consideration too. Amanta months is divided into vadi (Sukla paksha) and sudi (Krishna paksha) . Vadi is the period of new moon to full moon (i.e. increasing moon shape), it is also called the waxing phase.Amanta month starts with sudi (sukla paksha)

Sudi is the period of full moon to next new moon (i.e. decreasing moon phase) , it is also called waning phase.

Now amanta lunisolar calendar the new year starts with the amanta month of Chaitra. Some states in calendars also use the amantha months of Kartika or Ashadha as beginning months of the year.

The Southern Amaanta Lunisolar Calendar is predominantly followed in

the South and South-West Indian states of Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka and Maharashtra.

Salivahana Saka = A.D. year – 78 from Mar/Apr to Dec

= A.D. year - 79 from Jan to Mar/Apr

Year starting date : One day after the last new moon before the Mesh Sankranti

Used in Andhra Pradesh , Goa, Karnataka.

In West India, specifically, in the state of Gujarat, the Amaanta calendar is of two forms, one that starts with Aashaadha (Followed in the Kathiawar region)

and one that starts with Kartika (followed all throughout Gujarat).

Vikram Samvat (Ashaadha)= A.D. year +57 from June/July to Dec

= A.D. year + 56 from Jan to Oct/Nov

Vikram Samvat (Kartikadi) = A.D. year +57 from Oct/Nov to Dec

= A.D. year + 56 from Jan to Oct/Nov

2. Purnimanta Months:

This type of calendar uses the full moon ending months. Thus the month start with the day after full moon to the next full moon. Hence it too have vadi and sudi paksha(period) like amanta month. Thus purimantha month starts with Vadi (Krishna paksha).

The Purnimaanta Calendar is followed in most of North India. The variant of purnimaanta month calendars are:

Vikram Samvat (Chaitradi) = A.D. year +57 from Mar/Apr to Dec

= A.D. year + 56 from Jan to Mar/Apr

Year starting date : One day after the full moon day before the Mesh Sankranti.

Used in Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, Uttaranchal Delhi, Himachal Pradesh ,Madhya Pradesh, Chattisgarh, Rajasthan

Any enquiry / suggestions ?