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ON KARANAS IN JAINA CALENDAR
S. D. Sharma and Sajjan Singh Lishk A karana denotes the length of half-tithi (half lunar day). In Vedie period, a list of karaņas is found in Atharva Veda Jyotişa (=AJ) wherein a classification of karanas responsible for auspicious and inauspicious acts has also been made. A complete list of karans is also stated in Jaina canonical texts the present recension of which is ascribed to the Council of Valabhai under the presidency of Devarddhi Gaạjạ.! Jambūdvīpa Prajñapti (=JP) 7. states :
j.e. "There are eleven karaņas viz. Bava, Bālava, Kaulava, Strīvilocana, Garādi, Vanijya, Vişti, Sakuni, Catuspada, Nāga (and) Kimstughana. Seven karanas are movable; four Karaņas are immovable. The seven movable karanas are Bava, Bālava, Kaulava, Strīvilocana, Garādi, Vaņijya (and) Visti. The four immovable karaņas are sakuni, Catuspada, Naga (and) Kimstugina".
A list of karaņas is also found in Gaņivijja paionā3 (verses 41-43).
All the karanas have been allocated to various tithis (lupar days). In this context, JP.8 states:
ie. "In the lunar bright half, on first night Bava karana, second day Bālava karana, night Kaulava karana; third day Strivilocana Karana, night Garādi karana fourth day vaņijya; night viști; fifth day Bava karaņa, night Strivilocana karaṇa; Sixth day kolava karaña Night Strivilocana karana; seventh day Garādi karaṇa, night Vanijya karaña; eighth day visti karana, night Bava karaña; ninth day Bālava karaṇa, night Kaulava karana; tenth day Strivilocana karaņa, night Garādi karaņa; eleventh day vanijya karaṇa, night vişti karaņa; Twelfth day Bava karana, night Bālava karana; thirteenth day Kaulava karaṇa, night Strīvilocana karana; fourteenth day Garādi karana, night vanijya karana, pürnimā day vişti karana, night Bava karaṇa.
In the lunar dark half; on first day Balava karana, night Kaulava karana, second day Strīvilocana karaṇa, night Garādi karana, third day Vanijya karana, night viśti karana, fourth day Bava karaṇa, night Bālava karana, fifth day Kaulava karana, night Strivilocana karaṇa, sixth day Garādi karana, night Vanijya karana, seventh day Vişti karana, night Bava karana; eighth day Balava karana, night kaulava karaṇa; ninth day strivilocana, night Garādi karaña, tenth day Vanijya karaņa, night Visti karana; ele. venth day Bava karana, night Bālava karaņa; twelfth day Kaulava karana,
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