Determination of Lunar Days

Determination of Lunar Days 22 Dharma

The lunar day that extends into the night is the one remembered for the bright fortnight the waxing half of the month. Thus concludes the month of Phalguna February/March. Thus ends the determination of the lunar days for the entire year Samvatsara.

On the Time for Sacrifice

Now, regarding the time for sacrifice Yaga-kala. In that regard, Vaivasvata referring to the progenitor Manu states:
The first day of the lunar fortnight Pratipat and the others are the primary times for sacrifice; this time is declared by the wise to be in the morning when the sun has risen. This applies unless the cooking is not yet ready. Regarding the New Moon Darsha, where it touches the afternoon on two consecutive days, the astronomers Jyotishis say that if the first lunar day is not small i.e., it has significant duration, it should be performed on the first day as it is waning. A flaw is seen in following the calculations of foreigners original: "mleccha," likely referring to non-Vedic or perhaps Islamic astronomical tables emerging at the time when the learned are present. For one who maintains the sacred fires Ahitagni, the rule is that the morning belongs to the Gods and the afternoon belongs to the Ancestors Pitris. original: "pūrvāhṇo vai devānām-aparāhṇaḥ pitṛṇām". Therefore, the growth of the lunar day in the evening and afternoon should be used for the monthly ancestral rites. If the afternoon is longer on one day, that day is preferred. If it is equal on both afternoons, the seventh part of the morning is not seen as the deciding factor by the ancients, unless it lasts for three Muhurtas about 2 hours and 24 minutes before sunset. This is according to the scholar Hemadri.

On the Eleventh Day Fast

Now, regarding the Eleventh Day Ekadashi and following. The overlap Vedha at sunrise is what the wise have declared for the Smartas householders who follow traditional Vedic law. However, the overlap at dawn Arunodaya the period shortly before sunrise is not what the wise prescribe for Smartas. When a "Complete" Eleventh Day Sampurna-Ekadashi one that begins before dawn and covers the whole day occurs again the next morning, it should be observed then if the Twelfth Day Dvadashi follows it.

If the Eleventh and Twelfth days are both contaminated by the Tenth Day Dashami, then the previous day should be abandoned and the Smartas should perform the rite on the following day. Where there is a Complete Eleventh Day that also appears the next morning, how should the fast Upavasa be conducted? In such a case of overlap, even those seeking liberation Mumukshus and Smartas should fast on the second day. Some wise men say the breaking of the fast Parana should then happen on the Thirteenth Day.

The vow of the Eleventh Day Ekadashi Vrata is the most excellent; having abandoned all other single-day rites, the Smartas must perform this one. If the Eleventh Day lasts for sixty Ghatikas a full 24 hours and then continues into the next day, and the Twelfth Day follows after that, it should be performed on that second day. One should strive to obtain the Eleventh and Twelfth together. An "unpierced" uncontaminated by the previous day Eleventh Day should be observed by householders and ascetics alike.

Technical Determination of Timing

Now, the determination of time for when a "pierced" Eleventh Day Viddha-Ekadashi must be performed. An Eleventh Day joined with the remainder of the Tenth Day is usually avoided for fasting.

Rama 22

---

Or if the Twelfth Day is present. Markandeya says: "When there is a Complete Eleventh Day that occurs again the following morning, the one who has worldly desires Kami should fast on the first day, but the one without desires Nishkama should fast on the later day."
Here, the "one with desires" refers to the householder Grihi, and the "one without desires" refers to the ascetic Yati. Another legal text Smriti also says: "Where there is a Complete Eleventh Day that appears again the next morning, the ascetic should perform the later one, but the householder should fast on the earlier one."

Galava states: "If there is a little of the Eleventh Day at sunrise, but the Twelfth Day does not follow afterward, then even if it is a 'good dawn,' it should be abandoned and the Smartas should perform the one joined with the Tenth Day." This is the opinion of the teacher Ulluka.

Now, the Vaishnava devotees of Vishnu determination for the Eleventh Day. Narada says: "When the Tenth Day remains for four Ghatikas about 96 minutes before sunrise, that is an 'overlap at dawn' Arunodaya-viddha, and one should never fast on that day." If the Tenth Day is seen at the time of dawn, that is a contaminated Eleventh Day, and fasting then is the root of sin.

In the Padma Purana: "Even if the Ninth Day lasts for only one moment Pala and the Tenth Day follows it, one should fast on the pure Twelfth Day and break the fast on the Thirteenth." Where there is an unpierced Eleventh Day that is full, but the Twelfth Day is not, or if the Twelfth Day lasts for only a small measure on the Thirteenth Day, this fast should still be performed by the devotees of Vishnu with great effort.

According to the Vishnu Purana: "The breaking of the fast should be done on the Twelfth Day. Having fasted on the Eleventh, one should also fast on the Twelfth. There is no violation of the rules in this, for Hari Vishnu is the deity of both." In the final watch of the night, at dawn, the brahmins should perform bathing, worship, and the giving of gifts.

5

The time of dawn consists of five parts; the "Arunodaya" the reddish dawn is the final five parts. From the time the sun is hidden until it is seen at sunrise, that is the remainder.

The Garuda Purana states: "Keeping a vigil at night Jagarana on the Eleventh Day is the primary part of the fast." If one is physically unable Asamartha to perform the vow when it arrives, then a husband, or a son who is nearby, may perform it. A wife may perform the vow for her husband, and a devoted husband for his wife. If the vow is broken due to such physical inability, no sin is incurred. In times of doubt or distress, the breaking of the fast should be done in the first watch of the Twelfth Day; if one eats again after that, it is not a fault. This concludes the rules for bathing. Now, the Great Twelfth Day...