Indian Chronology (Solar, Lunar and Planetary): A Practical Guide to the Interpretation and Verification of Tithis, Nakshatras, Horoscopes and other Indian Time-records, B.C. 1 to A.D. 2000 c9.4

c9.4

But whether in the Tamil country or in Malabar or in Bengal, the measure of the solar months is the same. Like the solar year, each solar month ends at a fraction of the day, that is, at the moment when the next sankrânti takes place. For purposes of computation, the sankrânti, as well as the month to which it gives its name, is reckoned from the very moment at which the previous month ends. But in practice in the Tamil country, when a saṅkrānti takes place after sunset, the next month begins next day; and when the saṅkrānti occurs before sunset, that is the first day of the next month, and the old month loses a day. We shall have occasion, when dealing with the use of the tables, to note some of the practical consequences of the working of this rule, and we shall mention at the same time the corresponding rules in other parts of India. (Secs. 144, 145 infra.)