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History
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India,
the land of Rig Veda and the mesmerizing epics
like Ramayana and Mahabharata and the treasures
of wisdom in the form of her ancient scriptures,
also has long drawn
traditions in panchanga
which has carved a special niche for themselves
in more than 5,000 years old Indian history.
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In the early decades of 20 th century, there
were panchangas, one published by the Nirnaysagar
Press of Mumbai and two others by a press
at Surpur near Gulbarga now in Karnataka.
Besides these, there were two/three panchangas
in Karnataka and one or two sampradaik panchangas
brought by certain sects. However, there was
no unanimity among these panchangas.
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Astronomical
mathematics plays a crucial role in the compilation
of a panchanga. The
Late Shree Laxmanshaastree Date
(Nana) used to wonder how these
panchangas differed from one another even
though they were based on astronomical mathematics.
He felt that this was because these calculations
were based on the theories propounded in the
two scriptures, Surya Siddhanta and
Grahalaghava. The Grahalaghava was
compiled some 600 years ago and Surya Siddhanta
was available ages before that. Therefore
these had become outdated by Nana's times.
The calculations based on these theories did
not match the actual celestial positions,
yet the editors of the panchangas preferred
to stick to these theories since there was
no option for them. They went to the extent
of saying that the calculations only from
Grahalaghava had the sanction of the
Dharmashaastras. |
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The issue of discrepancies among various panchangas
in India was discussed threadbare in 1906
at a conference of Akhil Bharatiya Jyotish
Parishad organised at the instance of Lokmaanya
Bal Gangadhar Tilak, who himself was a mathematician
besides being a veteran journalist and the
freedom fighter.
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Lokmaanya Tilak did not discuss anything about Dharmashatra,
the Bharatiya ethical traditions and guidelines
for the daily chores. He insisted, however,
that a panchanga should be a mirror of the
sky. The mathematical calculations should
be able to provide the positions of grahas
(the planets) and nakshatras (constellations)
in the sky as they are observed. He appealed
to the scholars to adopt Drukpratyayi (what
you calculate is what you see) mathematics,
but they were in no mood to agree to his views.
They continued to argue that Grahalaghaviya
mathematics had the sanction of Dharmashaastras.
They felt that any new theory would have no
religious sanction.
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Next>>>
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The scholars did not agree with the Lokmaanya's
view that panchanga Mathematics and
Dharmashaastra were two different matters.
He had expressed the view that theorists of
panchanga should devise the mathematical calculations
while scholars on religious matters should
advise the people on festivals and rituals
on the basis of these calculations.
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After the conference, the scholars in India continued
to stick to the traditional panchanga-making.
Nana realised eventually that the rise and
setting of the five grahas, namely Mangala
(Mars), Budha (Mercury), Guru (Jupiter), Shukra
(Venus) and Shani (Saturn) and
eclipses of Sun and Moon, did not have any
relation with the Hindu Dharmashaastra.
He consulted renowned scholar K. V. Somanshaastree
and began presenting the calculations in his
panchanga on the Druktulya mathematics
(their actual positions in the sky) since
1944-45. Other panchanga editors followed
suit as the years passed by.
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This was only a half battle won. The remaining
battle for reforms was over when Nana agreed
to follow calculations with high precision
for the positions of Ravi (Sun) and
Chandra (Moon). His son Pandit Dhundirajshaastree
played an important role to convince him about
it. Panchanga scholars all over India
adopted this Sukshma Ganit (Accurate
calculations) gradually. Nana was a scholar
in all the three disciplines, Khagoliya
Ganita, Dharmashatra and Muhoortashaastra,
that are essential for compilation of a panchanga.
His son Pandit Dhundirajshaastree inherited
the wisdom and continued the family tradition.
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Pandit Dhundirajshaastree took over the operations
of Date Panchanga in 1950-51. Scholars
across the country later began recognising
him as the authority on panchanga system.
Any dispute on matters relating to panchanga
was resolved after due consultations with
him. Solapur, the town in south
Maharashtra where the Dates reside, became
the centre for activities relating to panchanga.
Scholars would visit Pandit Dhundirajshaastree
for consultations. The Government of India
sought his advice on various matters and appointed
him on the committee that prepared the National
Panchanga.
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Although there are other panchangas and calendars that
provide details on the lines of panchangas,
the Date Panchanga has retained its
status as the authority among them all. The
House of Dates in Solapur has adhered to the
principles laid down by the Founding Fathers.
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(Excerpts
from the Souvenir brought out by Date Panchanga
Platinum Jubilee Committee on December 10,
1989)
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