Determination of Lunar Days

Determining the Lunar Day 16

Now we consider the authority over the rites of the tenth day. The conjunction of the Shravana constellation nakshatra is the primary factor here. If the afternoon period aparāhṇa is touched by this constellation on two consecutive days, the first day is preferred. However, if the Shravana constellation exists during the afternoon of the second day, then that later day is chosen; such is the direction of the texts.

Regarding this, there is a special ritual: the prayer to the Shami tree, which is described as the destroyer of the fears of the devotees of Jagannatha.

"O Shami tree, I have approached you; give me strength. O Shami, you remove my fears. You are the unfailing resting place of Rama. You are the destroyer of bad dreams and are blessed; I take refuge in the auspicious Shami. The Shami tree removes sins original: "shamī shamayate pāpaṃ", she of the red thorns. You were the holder of Arjuna’s arrows and spoke kindly to Rama. Just as you were well-spoken to him, make my journey free of obstacles and grant me happiness at the proper time, O you who were worshipped by Shri Rama."

After taking a branch of the Shami tree along with some mango leaves, one should bring them back to one’s home accompanied by the sounds of songs and musical instruments. Here, a great deal of splendor is described. The King should perform the "waving of lamps" nīrājana ritual for his horses and elephants in the proper order, following the royal custom near a body of water or a cowshed.

Next, we discuss the Full Moon of the month of Ashvin known as Ashvin Purnima or Sharad Purnima. One should understand the royal decree regarding this day. The Savitri mantra is used here. According to the authorities, the full moon should be observed when it prevails during the later part of the day. A special condition will be written here:

On the full moon of Ashvin, one should keep a vigil at night. This is the Kaumudi festival literally "moonlight festival", a great forest of light where the divine forms manifest. During the Kaumudi, one should worship Lakshmi and Indra seated upon his elephant Airavata. People should remain awake, offering fragrant scents and flowers, and eating together. One should play games of dice aksha according to the tradition of Ashvalayana.

Furthermore, it is said: "At night, Lakshmi wanders the earth, saying 'Who is awake?' original: "ko jāgarti". To the one who is awake and playing at dice, I shall grant wealth."

Even if the full moon is slightly overlapped by the previous day, it should be accepted according to the authorities of Kamala. The ritual oil massage abhyanga should be done on the first day. Regarding the musical instruments at the gate, it is said by Shaunaka that this should be done during the transition to the new moon festival...

Rama 16

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...regarding the rules of the sacrificial offering niyama. The ritual for the first fruits āgrayaṇa must be understood before the new moon and after the full moon. Each of these offerings—to Shri, to Rama, and to the ancestors—has its time stated in the revealed scriptures shruti.

In the autumn, one should sacrifice with the newly harvested rice vrīhi and barley yava. In the autumn, one may also use wild grains like shyamaka or nivara. For those who do not maintain a perpetual sacred fire anāhitāgni, the barley harvest ritual should be performed according to the domestic rules smārta. For those who do maintain the fire āhitāgni, the barley ritual is a mandatory duty. This is performed on the day of the full moon. If the proper time or celestial alignment is missed, one should perform it in the following month; this has been stated previously. Thus ends the section on the month of Ashvin.

The Month of Kartika

Now begins the month of Kartika. When the sun enters the sign of Libra tulā-saṅkrānti, if this occurs during the night before the midnight hour nishītha, the previous day is holy. If it occurs after midnight, the following day is holy. This has been explained before.

Now, regarding the Holy Bathing in Kartika kārtika-snāna: it begins either on the eleventh day of the bright fortnight or on the full moon, and ends on the following full moon. It is said in the Smriti that the fruit gained by this is equal to bathing at the Panchanada the meeting of five holy rivers in Varanasi. Ritual bathing at dawn is prescribed when the sun is in Libra, Capricorn, or Aries. This practice, combined with a simple diet and celibacy, is the destroyer of great sins. This is stated in the solar calendar rules.

Regarding the Sky Lamp ākāsha-dīpa in Kartika, it is mentioned in the Mṛte: When the evening comes during the sun's stay in Libra, one should offer a lamp to the sky for the sake of Yama the God of Death and Damodara Krishna. This is a form of love and brings prosperity. One should say: "I offer this lamp to Lord Damodara in the month of Libra; I bow to you again and again."

On the fourth day of the bright fortnight of Kartika, there is Karaka Chaturthi popularly known as Karva Chauth. This should be observed when the day is rising. On the eleventh day of the dark fortnight of Kartika, there is the Vatsa Dwadashi the festival of the calf. This should be observed when it prevails during the evening pradosha. According to the Nirnaya-amrita, one should worship a cow and her calf of the same color with sandalwood and other offerings...