Determination of Lunar Days

Lunar Day Decisions 14. Shaiva [tradition] on Thursday. That first lunar day Pratipad should be observed as having the same properties as saffron original: "kuṅkuma-dharma-vat"; likely referring to its auspicious coloring or specific ritual eligibility. Thus ends [this section]. In an intercalary month Malamasa an "extra" month added to the lunar calendar to keep it in sync with the solar year, the Navaratra festival is not observed. Even [regarding] the worship in Ujjain...

In the Madana-ratna a famous medieval legal digest, it is said that even if the first lunar day of the bright fortnight is joined with the previous day's astrological signs, it is acceptable. In the month of Ashvin typically September–October, during the bright fortnight, when Navaratri begins, how should the wise perform the actions during a new Shaiva festival? If ritual impurity Sutaka impurity following a birth or death in the family occurs or arises, the text says: in the Navaratra vow, even when impurity is present, the awakening ritual of the Goddess Devi-jagara and the prescribed offerings should still be performed. In cases of impurity, worship and especially giving gifts are permitted.

Because of the command "directed toward the Goddess, no fault occurs," one should perform the ritual bathing. Since the woman is the performer, she should observe the fast, but she should have the ritual actions involving the hands the physical offerings performed by someone else. During the days of impurity, according to the words [of the sages], the birth of the Sun...

Regarding the fast of the Navaratra vow, using perfume, ornaments, betel nut, flower garlands, and ointments does not spoil the fast, nor does the internal breath or bathing. On the fifth day of the bright Ashvin month, there is the Upanga Lalita Vrata a minor vow dedicated to the Goddess Lalita. In the Puranic stories, no specific time is mentioned for this, but one should not perform the night vigil on the sixth day. Some say the night worship should be performed when the night arrives.

Hemadri a famous 13th-century authority on Hindu law states that since there is no prohibition against night worship in the texts, and the night vigil is appropriate, even a day "pierced" viddha by the previous lunar day may be accepted. In his opinion, one should make images and keep a vigil at night. In all night vows, the connection with the night is the most important.

Rama 14 In the bright fortnight of Ashvin, under the Mula constellation, one should install the Goddess Saraswati the Goddess of Knowledge. One installs the Goddess during the Mula asterism, performs worship during the Purvashadha, maintains the observance during the Uttarashadha, and performs the dismissal visarjana during the Shravana asterism. When the books are installed as the Goddess, the excellent twice-born Brahmin desiring knowledge should not teach, should not write, and should not read.

On the sixth day, the worship of the Bilva tree and the Navapatrika the nine leaves/plants should be performed. The collection of nine plants includes: plantain rambha, taro kacchi, turmeric haridra, barley/sesame jayanti, wood-apple bilva, pomegranate dadima,

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the Ashoka tree, the Arum plant mana, and the paddy plant dhanya—these are the nine leaves. On the lunar days starting from the first, if one is capable, one should fast; otherwise, the ritual can be performed over the last three days starting from the seventh. If one is unable to do that, it can be done on the eighth day. For those unable [to fast completely], eating once a day, eating only unasked-for food, or fasting as much as possible is allowed.

Regarding the Eighth Day Ashtami, the one joined with the following day is to be accepted. The eighth and fourteenth days of the bright fortnight should not be performed if they are "pierced" by the previous day purva-viddha. The eighth day joined with the ninth is fruitful. One should not perform the ninth day joined with the eighth for the worship of the Goddess. The eighth day joined with the ninth is always preferred. The eighth day joined with the seventh causes great distress. A seventh day that slightly overlaps the eighth should always be avoided.

In the Nirnaya-amrita, regarding the Durga festival Durgotsava: the wise should always avoid an eighth day joined with the Mula constellation. If it causes only a little trouble, then it is appropriate. So it is written. When the sun rises on the seventh day and the eighth day begins afterward, one should perform the Durga festival there.

Regarding the Dark Eighth of Ashvin: the Great Eighth Mahashtami in the month of Ashvin is the bringer of auspiciousness. It should be performed when joined with the seventh, especially with the Mula constellation. Great Ninth 14 If the eighth day does not exist on the next day, then according to the Madana-ratna, a son should not perform the fast of the Great Eighth. The Great Ninth Mahanavami of the bright Ashvin month is to be accepted when joined with the previous day.

If there is a "piercing" vedha of three muhurtas a unit of 48 minutes, it should be examined. The Ninth joined with the eighth is known to be the "killer of demons." The Shivaratri and the day of Bali should not be performed when pierced by the previous day. According to the view of Hemadri, a "piercing" consists of five muhurtas. Thus, at sunrise, a Ninth day that lasts for three muhurtas after the eighth is the one to observe.