History of Dharmashastra (Ancient and Mediaeval Religious and Civil Law in India) v6.c81.894

v6.c81.894

According to the modern astronomical calculations, the winter solstice occurs on 21st December and on that day commences the Sun's apparent march towards the north. But in India people who follow the almanacs based on the ancient methods and data think that the Sun's march towards the north takes place on the 14th of January. They are thus about twenty three days behind the correct Makarasankrānti owing to the precesion of the equinoxes. This fact was recognized even in the medieval Dharmaśāstra works For example, Hemādri⁵⁷⁴ says that twelve days before the (popular) day of a saṅkrānti, the real puṇyakāla occurs and therefore gifts and the like prescribed on the occasion of saṅkrānti should also be performed on the day twelve days prior to the popular saṅkrānti day.