Sankranti: Differences in Fixation of Date Between Almanac Writers
The three almanac calculations vary.
Kakinada:The Almanac Writers in the two Telugu states have yet again caused confusion among the faithful on date the Sankranti festival is to be celebrated, with their announcement of different dates.
There are three principles of Almanac calculations — the Purva Paddhthi (old method), the Drik Paddathi (modern method after calculating the changes of the Sun) and the Chayarka Karnarka (complete Drikh method) - all made by almanac writers. The three almanac calculations vary.
The Indian calendar followed a decision of the first government headed by Jawaharlal Nehru in 1954-55 vis-a-vis the festival. It came to be known as Drik Siddantham - the visibility of calculations.
As per the Drikh principle upheld by Almanac writers, the Bhogi festival will be celebrated on January 13 (Tuesday), Sankranti on January 14 (Wednesday) and Kanuma festival on January 15 (Thursday).
According to the Purva Paddathi panchagam, the Bhogi festival would be celebrated on January 14 (Wednesday), Sankranthi on January 15 (Thursday) and Kanuma on January 16 (Friday).
The Andhra Pradesh and Telangana governments declared Sankranti on January 15 according to Purva Paddathi (old method of calculations), followed by the Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanam Asthana Siddanthi Panchangam.
Meanwhile, the Drik principle is followed by Indian almanac writers. The Makara Jyothi darshan at the Swamy Ayyappa temple in Kerala is on January 14. On the same day, the Rajamahendravaram Ayyappa Swamy temple would also perform the Makara Jyothi event.
The AP and Telangana Drik Siddantha Almanac writers association adviser Ponnaluru Srinivasa Gargeya trained his guns on the Purva Paddathi Almanac writers. He said, “These writers are misleading society with their wrong calculations.” He asked both the AP and Telangana governments why they have approved the Purva Paddathi almanac calculations that “are totally unscientific and wrong.”
He said Thithi is calculated with the subtraction of sun and moon. According to this principle, the sun planet would enter Makara Rasi by 3.07pm on January 14. This day should be celebrated as Sankranti and the faithful should perform their rituals to their deceased ancestors on Wednesday only; otherwise, their ancestors “can’t take their rituals.”
According to him, the calculations based on the Drik principle “is exactly equal to what’s visible with the Birla Planetarium’’ and the faithful “can see the entrance of the Sun into the Makara Rasi by that time.”
Eminent almanac writer and Srisailam devasthanam Siddanti, Butte Veerabhadra Dyvazna Siddanthi, said Bharat’s ancient traditions guided the almanac calculations of the Guru Tradition, and the Makara Sankramanam would happen by 8.43pm on January 14. The Sankranti festival falls the next day.
The Sakala Jana Jagrutha Jnana Viznana almanac writer Saripella Sri Ramachandra Murthy said that the sun would enter the Uttarashada star by 9.11pm on January 14. The next day, he averred, is Sankranti day.
This, he claimed, is visible in the tracking of the planet by Nasa with a scientific eye. He also challenged the Drik Siddhanta almanac writers to show the movements of planets on their time, and said if so, he would change his calculation.
The Drik Siddhanta almanac writers association honorary President Chinta Gopi Sarma said that he and his followers would celebrate Bhogi festival on Tuesday.