Determination of Lunar Days

Determining the Lunar Day 18

...bathing in the afternoon, one who bathes in the river Yamuna original: "bhānujāyam," literally 'daughter of the sun' does not have to look upon the Lord of Death. The ninth day of the bright half of the month of Kartika Kartika Shukla Navami is considered the beginning of an era Yugadi; this should be observed in the forenoon. Even a Shudra achieves success through this. On this day, those whose fathers have passed away should perform the ancestral offerings shraddha. Even if there is an intercalary month an extra month added to the lunar calendar to keep it in sync with the solar year, the ritual should be performed in both months.

Regarding this same period, the "Three Nights of Vishnu" Vishnu Triratra is mentioned in the Hemadri A famous 13th-century legal digest by the scholar Hemadri: "Having reached the ninth day of the bright half of Kartika, one with conquered senses should fashion a golden image of Hari Vishnu together with Lakshmi. One should worship the Lord with various flowers for three days, eating only at night nakta-vrata." By following this prescribed method, one fulfills the ritual for a single goal.

On the eleventh day of the bright half of Kartika, the "Five Days of Bhishma" Bhishma Panchaka vow is mentioned. According to the Naradiya Purana: "In the bright half of Kartika, having bathed properly and followed the vows, on the eleventh day one should take up the five-day vow." On this eleventh day Ekadashi, the breaking of the fast parana should be done when it is not joined with the Revati constellation. If the Revati constellation is present, one should not eat during the meeting of the two; the twelfth day Dvadashi should give way to the eleventh. If the timing without Revati cannot be found, one should at least avoid the fourth quarter of the Revati constellation.

Now, the procedure for the Awakening Eleventh Prabodhini Ekadashi: "On the eleventh day of the bright half of Kartika, when Lord Kesava Vishnu is asleep, Indra, endowed with faith and devotion, should awaken him." This is the method according to the Madana Ratna. The movement of the gods, however, occurs only on the twelfth day. The twelfth day and the full moon of the bright half of Kartika are also considered the "Start of a Manvantara" Manvadi a highly auspicious day marking the beginning of a cosmic age.

On this day, the "Vaikuntha Fourteenth" Vaikuntha Caturdashi occurs. Rama 18 One should choose the day when the fourteenth lunar day prevails at dawn. If it exists on two days, the time of evening pradosha is preferred. "On the fourteenth day of the bright half of Kartika, O King, a man who fasts and worships Hari Vishnu and Shri Lakshmi with controlled senses attains great merit."

Regarding the consecration of Vishveshvara the 'Lord of the Universe,' the primary form of Shiva in Varanasi: when this is performed, the time when the day begins at dawn arunodaya should be chosen. "In the year of the golden inscription, in the beautiful month of Kartika, on the fourteenth day of the bright half at the rise of dawn, one should bathe in the Golden Pool Hema-kunda on the Great Mountain and then worship the one and only Vishveshvara." On that day, a fast should be observed.

Regarding the conclusion of the Kartika vow: On the fourteenth day of the bright half, one should perform the conclusion udyapana. One should build a beautiful small pavilion mandapika over the Tulsi plant. For the Kartika Full Moon Kartika Purnima, the later time is preferred, as stated in the Dipika. "Whenever the Agneya constellation Krittika or the Pleiades coincides with the Kartika Full Moon, it is a great and sharp day for men to bathe and give charity." When the Moon is in the Krittika constellation, it is a rare alignment called the Lotus Conjunction Padmaka-yoga, which is very difficult to find even at the holy site of Pushkara. One who gives a tawny cow kapila as a gift during this Lotus Conjunction at Pushkara is cleansed of all sins and gains the fruit of Vaikuntha the heavenly abode of Vishnu.

In this same month, the incarnation of the Fish Matsya Avatara is also mentioned. Vishnu says, "I take the form of the Fish to save the Vedas." Any penance, charity, sacrifice, or chanting done now is remembered as having imperishable results, according to the Padma Purana. The Bhargavarcana Dipika states: "On the evening of the Kartika Full Moon, the Festival of Tripura celebrating Shiva's victory over the demon 'Three Cities' is held. By offering lamps, one's eyes and the lamps themselves shine with glory."

Now, the Release of the Bull Vrishotsarga: "He who performs the bath and the release of the bull on Kartika Full Moon attains the solar realm; this is known as the Vow of Shiva." Also mentioned here is the "Viewing of Kartikeya" the god of war, son of Shiva. In the Kashi Khanda: "One who views the Great Master Svami-darshana when the moon is in Krittika on the Kartika Full Moon is purified of seven lifetimes of sin and becomes a master of the Vedas." Thus ends the month of Kartika.

The Month of Margashirsha

Now begins the month of Margashirsha. The rules for the first three hours are as before. On the eighth day of the dark half of Margashirsha, the Day of Kala Bhairava Kala-ashtami occurs, and the night-prevailing time should be chosen. "On the eighth day of the dark half of Margashirsha, near Kala Bhairava the fierce 'Black' protector of Kashi, one who fasts and keeps a vigil is liberated from all sins." This is according to the Kashi Khanda. Since this involves the three nights, and in all vows related to Rudra Shiva, the day that begins with the face of the lunar day is used. If the eighth day spans two days, the second one is chosen if it covers the night. Therefore, the time covering midnight is what is specified. If it is full on both days or covers both, the earlier one is chosen based on prior rulings. The breaking of the fast parana is in the morning. "When the lunar day extends beyond nine hours yama-traya, the breaking of the fast must be in the morning"—so says the tradition. Here, the worship of Kala Bhairava is described with various methods and great hymns...