History of Dharmashastra (Ancient and Mediaeval Religious and Civil Law in India) v7.c99.395

v7.c99.395

Calendar or Calendars (acc. to context); (see 'Gregorian, Metonic cycle, pañcāṅga, siddhānta, tithi, week-day, year); about thirty c. in use by different communities in India 641-2, 658, absolutely necessary for every Hindu, as he has to repeat many details, such as month, tithi, weekday in every religious rite, 650n, different eras used in India 641-642; European C also is defective and unsatisfactory 643-644, in Ancient Egypt 490 and n; in Ṛg. times, there were probably two calendars, one purely sacrificial (of 360 days), the other where a month was added to bring year in line with visible astronomical data, 490, many C. in South India, 642; meaning of word 'calendar' 641; C. Reform Committee, appointed by Govt of India, with Dr. Meghnad Saha as President, to examine existing pañcāṅgas and for submitting proposals for an accurate and uniform calendar for the whole of India, 711, 713-174; requirements and contents of modern C used for religious and civil purpose 645, several year beginnings in different parts of India 641, some C. based on Nautical Almanac and so called *dṛk* or dṛkpratyaya 642, starting point of Hindu calendar-makers based on Sūryasiddhānta is at present more than 23 degrees to the east of the correct vernal equinox point, the difference being called Ayanāṁśa 711, works for readers interested in Calendar Reform 714n.