Determination of Lunar Days

Determining the Rituals 97

The sacred offerings should be gathered during the Pushya constellation. On the twelfth day of the dark half of the month of Ashvin Ashvina Krishna Dvadashi, during the southern transit of the sun Dakshinayana, on a Friday, those who are learned should properly perform the rituals for the protection of horses and elephants. In the month of Jyeshtha, during the dark half, one should be careful to avoid negligence regarding the main rituals.

At the onset of night on the thirteenth day of the dark half of Kartika This refers to the Purnimanta calendar where the dark half of Kartika corresponds to the lead-up to Diwali, one should place the Lamp for Yama Yama Deepa outside the house to ward off untimely death. For the pleasure of the Son of the Sun Yama, on the fourteenth day of the dark half of Ashvin, one should observe the moonrise. If this time occurs over two days, the first day is preferred. If it does not occur on either day, the ritual oil bath abhyanga is performed on the first day.

On the fourteenth day of the dark and bright halves of Ashvin, those who fear the afterlife original: "naraka bhīrubhiḥ," literally those fearing hell must bathe using sesame oil. If the fourteenth day coincides with sunrise on both days, one should perform the oil bath on the first day.

According to the Nirnayamrita A classic 14th-century text on religious law: "On the fourteenth day of the dark half of Kartika, at the time of dawn, one should make an effort to bathe." This rule applies when the fourteenth day is not present on the following day. Therefore, even if the fourteenth day exists at dawn on the second day, the oil bath should be performed on that second day. This is the traditional faith. Thus, on the fourteenth day of the dark half of Ashvin, when the gods are active at moonrise, an oil bath is prescribed during the final watch of the night.

As stated in the Chandra-Prakasha: "When the thirteenth day ends in the morning and the fourteenth begins, and if the New Moon starts while Saturday remains, then the thirteenth is the day for the oil bath." However, this is not the conclusion reached by the authors of the Hemadri or the Nirnayamrita. For the "Fourteenth Day of Hell" Naraka Chaturdashi, the preference is for the day where the lunar date encompasses sunrise.

The bath is prescribed specifically during the fourth watch of the night. Rama 97 Even when the lunar day is "burnt" an inauspicious astrological condition, if it coincides with the Swati constellation, then the "Circle of Lamps" Deepavali occurs. One should perform this festival of lamps for three consecutive days. Those who bathe in the middle of the thirteenth day will see their merits wither away. A person who bathes at any time other than dawn loses the religious merit of their actions; there is no doubt about this, as stated in the Divodasiya.

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This refers to the bath performed at dawn. The period of dawn is defined as four ghatikas approximately 96 minutes before sunrise. During the evening pradosha, one should offer beautiful lamps to Brahma, Vishnu, Shiva, and others, as well as to the inhabitants of the earth. By giving a lamp during the evening of the New Moon or the fourteenth day, a person is freed from the darkness of the path of Yama the god of death in the month of Kartika.

Regarding the water libations for Yama Yama Tarpana: according to the Brahma Purana, this may be done while wearing the sacred thread over the left shoulder upavītin or the right prācīnāvītin. Even a man whose father is still living may perform this libation. One should wave the Apamarga plant the Prickly Chaff Flower, used for purification over the head. Then, one performs the bath and libation using the names of the King of Dharma:

"Salutations to Yama, the King of Justice, to Death, to the Ender, to the Son of the Sun, to Time, to the Destroyer of All Beings, to the Threshold-Dweller, to the Supporter, to the Blue One, to the Supreme Abiding One, to the Wolf-Bellied, to the Variegated, and to the Secret Overseer Chitragupta, the celestial record-keeper."

This concludes the rituals for Naraka Chaturdashi. On the morning of the New Moon of Ashvin, one should perform the oil bath. At dawn, the auspicious bath is taken. With devotion, one should worship the Goddess Lakshmi to remove misfortune. If the sun is in the Swati constellation, and the moon also enters Swati, a person who performs the oil bath according to the rules of the fourteenth and fifteenth days and performs the "waving of lamps" nīrājana shall worship Great Lakshmi, as heard in the scriptures.

The "Play of King Bali" Bali-Pratipada is spoken of on the first day of the bright half of Kartika. In the Nirnayamrita, it is said that the worship of King Bali should be performed on this night. According to the Hemadri, for the giving of Bali's offerings, the day joined with the previous lunar date is preferred. "O Son of the Nanda dynasty, offer lamps and gifts for the sake of Bali; these actions are imperishable, as I have shown."

Regarding the first day of the bright half of Kartika Brahmā, it is said that the ritual must be performed at its start. He who is victorious in the gambling match on this day will be victorious for the entire year.

The second day of the bright half of Kartika is Yama Dwitiya known today as Bhai Dooj. It should be joined with the previous day's timing. If it spans two days, the period of midday is preferred. It is said in the Nirnayamrita: "Yama was honored by his sister Yamuna in her own home. Therefore, Yama Dwitiya is famous throughout the three worlds. On this day, a man should not eat in his own house. For the sake of nourishment and strength, he should eat food from the hand of his sister with affection. He should honor her with gifts of clothing, and she will never know widowhood. No man will ever face a difficult death there."