For
the people of India, time has always been measured in a
spiritual and scientific calendar called the Panchang.
Chronicling five thousand years of Indian civilisation, the
Panchang lists festivals that honour and celebrate the gods and
legends of India. It evokes the universe through mathematical
calulations that predict weather, events, epidemics and personal
fortune.
For
Hindus, the Gregorian calendar is a new meaning of time
introduced and instituted by the British in India. While the
Gregorian calendar is still used by the people and government of
India, the Panchang has always been the spiritual expression of
time fo HIndus and a guide to a life close to God and religion.
The
panchang measures time in lunar months whose names reveal the
secret path of stars and constellations. The face of the new
moon (Aamvasya) ushers in a new month.
The
first fortnight of the full moon is known as Shuklapaksha,
' the bright half ', as the moon waxes. Full moon,
Poornima marks the end of Shuklapaksha.
Krishnapaksha
is the dark half fortnight of the month during which the moon
wanes.
The
Panchang lists four weeks of seven days, identified with planets
and gods.
Day
Panchang
Name
Planet
Dedication
Monday
Somvar
Moon
Shiva
Tuesday
Mangalwar
Mars
Ganapati
Wednesday
Budhwar
Mercury
Krishna
Thursday
Guruvar
Jupiter
Dattaguru
Friday
Shukravar
Venus
Lakshmi
Saturday
Shanivar
Saturn
Hanuman
Sunday
Ravivar
Sun
Surya
Encompassing
the evolution of the universe, the Panchang is much more than
the meaning of time in India. For Hindus, it is the essence of
religion and living, which predicts the spiritual path of people
on a journey towards god.
Indian
Calendar
Ganesh
Chaturti
Durga
Pooja