The Extraction of Determinations for Lunar Days

This constitutes the second view. In the writings of Hemadri a celebrated 13th-century scholar and minister who authored the Chaturvarga Chintamani, a massive compendium on ritual law, a third view is presented: that it may be performed along with the New Moon of the preceding month.

Regarding this, there are two positions: whether the daily rituals should be performed as separate, distinct acts, or as a single, continuous observance. One position holds that the daily "unions" or ritual timings are entirely distinct. Following this, the Shraddha an ancestral rite involving offerings of food and water to the deceased is repeated every day. In this first view, a Dakshina a ritual fee or honorarium given to the presiding priests must be offered every single day.

In the second (latter) view, the ritual fee is given only on the concluding day, as the entire period is treated as a single, unified ritual procedure. Auspiciousness One must also consider the specific technicalities regarding the release of the Darsha the New Moon ritual and one's own state of ritual purity.

Some authorities argue that a person in poverty may perform the entire rite on any single day that they are able; however, this claim is considered without basis original: tan-nirmūlam; meaning it lacks a foundation in the authoritative Vedic or legal texts.

Starting from the fifth lunar day Tithi of the fifth fortnight after the full moon of the month of Ashadha falling around June/July, until the following fifth day, the ritual should be performed on any of the lunar days that are not specifically prohibited.

If the ritual is not performed during that time due to unavoidable circumstances, it may be performed as long as the Sun remains in the sign of Virgo original: Kanyagata; this usually corresponds to the month of September-October. If it is still not performed during that window, it may be extended until the Sun enters Scorpio original: Vrishchika; occurring around November.

Regarding the prohibited times for the Maha-alaya the "Great Abode," referring to the peak ancestral fortnight, the sage Bhrigu one of the legendary seven sages (Saptarishi) and a primary authority on sacred law and astrology states:

"A householder should avoid performing these rites on Saturdays, Sundays, Tuesdays, or Fridays original: Manda-Arka-Arya-Bhargava-dine, nor on the thirteenth lunar day, nor during the three birth-constellations Trijanma. To do so would cause the loss of both sons and wealth."

The term "three births" refers specifically to one's own birth constellation Janma Nakshatra, the tenth constellation thereafter, and the nineteenth constellation thereafter.