History of Dharmashastra (Ancient and Mediaeval Religious and Civil Law in India) v6.c82.669.2

v6.c82.669.2

twelve such months constitute the solar year,¹⁰¹³ and the first day of a solar year is the first day of the Saura month, Meṣa. If the entry of the sun into the sign is in the day time then that day is the first day of the month. If the entry is in the night, the next day is the first day of the month. The time of entry of the sun into a rāśi differs from almanac to almanac and the result is that the entry may be before sunset in one almanac and after sunset in another Therefore, there may be the difference of one day as to the first day of the month. Owing to the adoption of different ayanāmśas and the difference in the length of the year, the Dṛk, Vākya and Siddhānta almanacs may differ about the first day of the year, about Pongal and other festivals. A Sāvana year is of 12 months of 30 days each, the day being counted from one sunrise to the next. A nākṣatra month is the time taken by the moon to pass through the 27 nakṣatras; the Bārhaspatya year is the time taken by Jupiter to pass through one sign of the zodiac (i. e about 361 days). According to modern astronomy, Jupiter takes 11.86 years (for its revolution round the sun). All these four or five divisions are not mentioned in early works and even in later days all these four divisions do not appear to have been fully utilised, though mentioned in astronomical and dharmaśāstra works. Kauṭilya provides that¹⁰¹⁴ the month for workmen is of thirty days and nights, the Saura month is one half day larger i. e.