Chronological Systems of Gujarat

Author(s): Bharati K Shelat
Publisher: Pranav Shelat

Page 20

and Apara"5. From the context the Pūrva (former) seems to denote the bright fortnight, while the Apara (later) seems to stand for the dark fortnight. The word tithi is mentioned with reference to the rising and setting of the Moon16. Pūrnimā and Amāvāsyā were called the parvans17. Divisions of the day are given in some of the Brāhmanas18. Muhūrtas are also mentioned in Taittiriya Brāhmana''. The further divisions of the muhārtas into pratimuhūrtas were also determined20.
During the time of Vedānga Jyotișa, the calendar followed the mean system21. The months were lunar and they contained thirty days each. A month was generaliy divided into thirty parts and one part was called a tithi22
Necessarily an intercalary month was added as a result of the luni-solar year. The names of the twentyseven nakșatras were popular at that time23. The words samvatsara, varșa and abda were used in the sense of the year24. For the computation of seasons solar months also were involved25. Months were generally
15. Taittiriya Brāhmana, 2,2,3,1; 3,10,4,1 16. Shivanath Zarkhandi, Bhāratīya Jyotişa, p. 60 17. Ibid., p. 63. 18. Tai. Brā., 3,12,9,1; Satapatha Brā., 2,4,2,8 19. Tai. Brä., 3,10,9; 3,10,1; 3,10,1,1,2; 3,10,1,2; 3,10,1,3 20. Ibid., 3,10,9,9; 3,10,1,4 21. Gorakhanath, Bhāratīya Jyotişakā Itihās, p. 43 22. To adjust the phase of the Moon, a tithi was occasionally
dropped. 23. Sata. Brā., 2,1,2,11; Tai. Brä., 1,5,1 24. BJ..., p. 137 25. Ibid., p. 138