Page 60 - Lokmanya Tilak Samagra (khand 2)

CHAPTER IV

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AGRAHAYANA
Phllgunl full-moon, the new year's ~ight-S!yaQa's explanation
unsatisfactory-Ph!lguna could not be a Vasanta month-Two fold
character of the seasons, lunar and solar, superfluous-Discussion of a
passage in Shushruta-Bhlskara Bhatta's explanation. Winter solstice
on the full-moon in PhAlguna-The position of other cardinal points
Vernal equinox m Mrigashiras-Agrahaya i-Native Lexicographers
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explanation of the word-Grammatically objectionable-Its real
meaning according to Pll.Qini-Erroneous rank of Mlrgllfhirsha
amongst months according to the Bbagavad Gitl and Amara-
Mil.rg8fhirsha could not have been the first month of the solstitial or
the eqUJnottial year- It leads to libration of the equinoxes-Possible
renon of -the libration theory-Mriguhiras-Agrah~y~a or the first
Nak,hatra in ,the year-M(lla, its prtmary m&ning-Evidence of the
summer solstice occurring In ~hldrapada-Origin of the annual feasts
to the manes amongst Hindus and Parsis- Comparison of the primitive
Hindu and Parsi calendar-Summary of result~.

THE passage from the Taittirtya Sruphita quoted in the last
chapter states that the Chitra and Phalguni full-moons were the
begiimings of the year, which then commenced with the winter
solstice in the month of Magha. The words used in the original
are Chitra-[J'Urna-masa and Phalgun£-pU,rna-masa and these must be
understood to . denote, not the Chaitra ~nd the Philguna months,
whether sidereal and synodical, as Prof. Weber seems to have, in
one--a~sed, but the full-moon days in each of these months.
This is evident ir<nn e fact that these have been recommended as
alternative times for the c encement of the satra in opposition
to the Ekiithtaka day. In the case of the Phalgun£-/)UrlJil-mdsa we
are further told that Vi~Jht1van coup.tedJrom that time falls during
the rainy season, and it is impossible to suppose that Vithdvan
can be counted from a month. The whole context, therefore, .shows
that it is a discussion as to the particular day best suited to com-
mence the yearly sacrifice, and that Chitra-/)Ur~Ja-masa and Phalgun£-
/)Url}a-masa must mean the days when the moon is full near the