When someone ask us, whats the time?, we say 8:00 am. (Suppose, say on 27th July 2014).
This is based on western or Gregorian calendar System.
If the same is to be represented in Vedic Time system, it takes five parts to express the same.
- Thithi
- Vara
- Nakshatra
- Yoga &
- Karana
These 5 parts of time, ‘Pancha’ – ‘Anga’ is called Panchanga.
For the Above example, 8:00 am on 27th July 2014 can be represented as a Vedic panchangam instance as
- Shukla Paksha Pradhamai Thithi,
- Ravi Vara,
- Poosam Nakshatram,
- Siddhi Yoga,
- Kimstunga Karana.
Whats the purpose of Panchanga?
the five elements of Panchanga, has auspicious and inauspicious influence over the time instance. So when carrying out any event, and choosing a muhurtha to perform that event, considering the influence of the panchangam and its elements, plays a critical role in the outcome of the event.Events like performing a homa for a deity, fixing a marriage muhurtha, installing an idol in the temple, namakarana for a child, upanayanam, pumsavanam, seemantham and so on are all performed in a muhurtha which is an auspicious one by checking panchanga shuddhi( i.e., without any affliction of the panchangam elements for that muhurtha) and electing a more auspicious one is very crutial.
