History of Dharmashastra (Ancient and Mediaeval Religious and Civil Law in India) v6.c82.647

v6.c82.647

In the *Saṅkalpa* (declaratory formula) for every religious ceremony the performer has to mention the grand divisions and sub-divisions of time beginning with Śvetavārāhakalpa, such as Vaivasvata manvantara, Kaliyuga and its first quarter together with the geographical position of the place of performance in Bharatavarṣa, and the Zodiacal signs occupied by the Sun, Jupiter and other planets, the era, name of year (Jovian), the month, the fortnight, the tithi, nakṣatra, Yoga and Karaṇa. A verse of Devala states that if a man performing a religious rite does not mention the month, the fortnight, the tithi and the occasion (of the rite) he will not reap the merit of the rite.⁹⁹⁶ That is the importance of eras, years and its sub-divisions in the religious life of our people Therefore a calendar (*pañcāṅga*) is absolutely necessary for every religious Hindu