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SANKALPAM (TIME, AGE)

The Sankalpam is chanted in Sanskrit, prior to the beginning of any religious event:

SHUBHE SHOBHANE MUHURTHE ADHYA BRAHMANAHA DVITHIYA PARARDHE SHWETHA VARAHA KALPE VYVASWATHA MANVANTHARE ASHTA VIMSATHITAME KALI YUGE PRATHAME PADHE ............

As the Christrian era is entering the 21st century, Kaliyuga is entering the 52nd century.  The Kaliyuga was born on: 18th February, 3102 BC.  On this day, all the planets were in the same house.

Chitra Sukla Prathama Thithi

Brahman's Age:

Time in relation to Brahman's life is computed as follows:

Krita Yuga =  1728,000  Years

Treta Yuga = 1296,000 Years

Dwapara yuga = 864,000 Years

Kali Yuga = 432,000 Years

Total = 4320,000 Years

1000 Chatur Yugas = 1 day of Brahman (Kalpa)

1000 Chatur Yugas = 1 night of Brahma

2000 Chatur Yugas = 1 Day & night of Brahma

360 days of Brahma = 1 year of Brahma

100 Years of Brahma - Brahma's full age and that is the duration of the great Deluge too.

50 Years of Brahma = Parardha

Two Parardhas = Life span of Brahma ie 100 years which is = 31104,000,00,00,000 or 311040 billion human years

After that, pralaya equal to the duration of 2 parardhas take place, and at its end, a new cycle starts with a new Brahman at its head.

Brahma has now completed 1 Parardha.  He is now on his 51st year.  He has thus passed 50 x 360  = 18,000 Kalpas.

The 1st Kalpa is called Brahma and the last Padma.  The current Kalpa is Swetha Varaha Kalpa.

Brahma creates and his own life time is 2 Parardhas i.e. 100 years of Brahma and his date of death is certain.  He is mortal and has no temple for worship.

From this Brahma's life, the 1st part of our Sankalpa has been taken:

Adhya Brahmanaha = Beginning from Brahma's life

Dvithiya Parardhe = We are now in 2nd Parardha of Brahma's life("Parardha-dveya-jvim" ie the time for 2 Pararshas.  A parardha is half.  Two halves make one)

Swetha Varaha Kalpe = In Swetha Varaha Kalpam

Vyvaswatha Manvanthare = Manu's name is Vyvaswathan (In the reigning period of the current manu Vaaivaswatha)

Ashta Vimsathi Thame = 18000 Kalpas passed (In the 28th mahayuga of the current manvantara)

Kaliyuge = We are in in Kali Yugam

Prathame Pade = 1st Padam, just in 52nd century of Brahma (In the first quarter of this yuga)

Jamboodweepe = This denotes the place where the ritual is performed.  Indian was known as Jambudweepa)

Bharatha Varshe Bharatha Khande = In the land of Bharat

Shakapde Mero Dakshine Parswe = To the south of the Meru mountain

Asmin  Varthamane Vyavaharike - In the current period now reigning

Prabhavadi Shashti SamavatsaraaNaam Madhye = Among the cycle of 60 years starting from Prabhava Nama Samvatsare - In the name of the year in the 60 year Hindu Calendar

Ayane = DakshiNaayane (Aadi to Margazhi) or UttaraayaNe (Thai to ANi)

Ritou = Denotes the  6 seasons or Ritus - Vasantha, Greeshma, Varsha, Sharadh, Hemantha & Shishira

Mase = One of the 12 tamil months

Pakshe = Either Shukla Paksham (day after amavasya till and including PourNami) or Krishna Paksham (day after PourNami till and including Amavasya)

Subha Thithou = One of the 15 days between PourNami and Amavasya (Prathama, Dvithiya, Trithiya, Chaturthi, Panchami, Shashti, Saptami, Ashtami, Navami, Dasami, Ekadashi, Dwadashi, Tryodashi, Chaturdashi, PourNami or Amavasya)

Vasara Yuktaayaam - One of the days of the week (Bhanu, Indu, Bhouma, Soumya, Guru, Brugu & Sthira

Nakshathra Yuktaayaam = The days star or Nakshathram

RASIS

Each star has 4 Padhas.  Hence we have 27 x 4 - 108 Padhas.  Then, 9 Padhas consists of 1 Rasi.  We have total 12 Rasis.  They are:

1. Mesham - Aries = Consists of Asvini - 4; Apa Bharani - 4; Krithika - 1

2. Rishabam - Taurus = Consists of Krithika - 3; Rohini - 4; Mriga Seersha - 2

3. Midhunam - Gemini = Consists of Mriga Seersha - 2; Ardhra - 4; Punarvasu - 3

4. Karkidakam - Cancer = Consists of Punarvasu - 1; Pushyam - 4; Achlesha - 4

5. Simham - Leo = Consists of Magam - 4; Poorva Phalguni - 4; Uthira Phalguni - 1

6. Kanni - Virgo = Consists of Uthira Phalguni - 3, Hastham - 4; Chithira - 2

7. Thulam - Libra = Consists of Chithira - 2; Svathee - 4; Visaka - 3

8. Vrischigam - Scorpio = Consists of Visaka - 1; Anuradha - 4; Jyeshta - 4

9. Dhanusu - Sagitarius = Consists of Moola - 4; Poorvashada - 4; Uthira Shada - 1

10. Makaram - Capricorn = Consists of Uthirashada - 3, Sravana - 4, Sravishta - 2

11. Kumbam - Aquarious = Consists of Sravishta - 2; Sadabishak - 4; Poorva Prosta Pada - 3

12. Meenam - Pisces = Consists of Poorva Prosta Pada - 1; Uthira Prosta Pada - 4; Revathi - 4

Human Age

1) Sankalpa Samvatsaram (Year) = Hindu calendar shows 60 year cycle, listed along with corresponding christian era:

60 year cycle (PDF File)

Name   (Sarvajith)                                  Christian Year  (1947 - 1948)                                 English Year (2007 -2008)

Name   (Sarvadhari)                                  Christian Year  (1947 - 1948)                                 English Year (2008 -2009)

2) Sankalpa Ayanam: According to the calendar based on the solar system the year is divided into two halves following the apparent movement of the sun Northwards and Southwards.  The former is termed Uttaraayanam and the latter Dakshinaayanam.  Generally on January 14th or 15th the sun leaves the Zodiac sign of Sagittarius and enters that of Capricorn, the latter is known as Makaram/Thai.  The event is thus celebrated as "Pongal".

Dakshinayanam (6 months) - Aadi to Margazhi

Uthirayanam (6 months) - Thai to AaNi

3) Sankalpa Rithus: The 12 months of lunar year correspond the following calendar and and make up the 6 seasons (Rithus):

1.  Chaitra (March - April)         

2. Vaisaksh (April - May)          Vasantha Rithou (Spring)

3.  Jyeshta (May - June)

4.  Aashaadh (June - July)          Greeshma Rithou (Summer)

5.  Shraavan (July - August)

6.  Bhadrapad (August - September)          Varsha Rithou (Monsoon)

7.  Ashwin (September - October)

8.  Kaarthik (October - November)          Sharad Rithou (Autumn)

9.  Mrigasheersh (October - November)

10.  Paush (December - January)          Hemantha Rithou (Winter)

11.  Maagh (January - February)

12.  Phalgun (February - March)          Shishira Rithou (Dewey)

Chithirai & Vaikasi = Vasantha Rithou

Aani & Aadi = Greeshama Rithou

Aavani & Puratasi = Varsha Rithou

Iypasi & Karthigai = Saradh Rithou

Markazhi & Thai = Hemantha Rithou

Masi & Panguni = Shishira Rithou (February/March)

4) Sankalpa Thithis:

1. Prathama 2. Dvithiya 3. Trithiya 4. Chaturthi 5. Panchami 6. Sashti 7. Saptami 8. Ashtami 9. Navami 10. Dasami 11. Ekadasi 12. Dvadashi 13. Trayodasi 14. Chaturdasi 15. PorNami 16. Amavasya

5) Sankalpa Months:

1. Chitirai - Mesham 2. Vaikasi - Rishabam 3. Aani - Mithunam 4. Aadi - Kadakam 5. Aavani - Simham 6. Puratasi - Kanni 7. Iypasi - Tulam 8. Karthigai - Virchikam 9. Markazhi = Dhanur 10. Thai - Makaram 11. Masi - Kumbam 12. Panguni - Meenam

6) Sankalpa Week:

Sunday = Bhanu Vasara; Monday = Indu/Soma Vasara; Tuesday = Bhowma Vasara; Wednesday = Soumya Vasara; Thursday = Guru Vasara; Friday = Brugu Vasara; Saturday = Sthira Vasara

7) Sankalpa Nakshatram:

1. Aswini 2. Bharani 3. Krithika 4. Rohini 5. Mruga Seersha 6. Ardhra 7. Punarvasu 8. Pushyam 9. Aslesha 10. Maka 11. Purva Phalguni 12. Uthira Phalguni 13. Hastha 14. Chitra 15. Swathi 16. Visaka 17. Anuradha 18. Jyeshta 19. Moola 20. Poorvashada 21. Uthirashada 22. Sravana 23. Sravishta 24. Sadhabishak 25. Poorva Prosta Padha 26. Uthira Prosta Padha 27. Revathi

The ecliptic is divided into 27 nakshatras, which are variously called lunar houses or asterisms. These reflect the moon's cycle against the fixed stars, 27 days and 7¾ hours, the fractional part being compensated by an intercalary 28th nakshatra. Nakshatra computation appears to have been well known at the time of the Rig Veda (2nd–1st millennium BCE).

An additional 28th intercalary nakshatra, Abhijit (alpha, epsilon and zeta Lyrae - Vega - between Uttarashadha and Sravana), is in between Uttarashada and Sravana. Last two (third and fourth) Padas of Uttrashada and first two (first and second) Padas of Sravana are considered to be Abhijit.

The nakshatra in which the moon lies at the time of sunrise of a day is the nakshatra for the day.

Before we perform any Sankalpam for any auspecious beginning, "Good" or "Not Good" time in a week should be checked.  A period of 1 1/2 hrs in a day is called Muhurtham.  Rahu Kalam and Yema Kandam should be avoided for any auspecious beginning.

Compiled by Vish

CHART FOR THARPANAM