Page 61 - Lokmanya Tilak Samagra (khand 2)

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48 SAMAG.RA TILAK - 2 • THE ORION

asterisms of Chitra ·and Phalguni. In the TaJ)~ya BrahmaJ)a •
Phalgun£-¢rFJQ-masa is rendered by Phalgunt and Jaimini has para-
phrased Chitra-/)Ui'FJQ-masa by Chaitri and Phalgun£ and Chaitr£,
according to PaJ)ini ( iv. 2. 3 ), are the names of days. These in-
terpretations have been accepted by all the Mimansakas including
Siyal)a, and we may do the same especially as there are several
passages in the Taittirtya Sarphita where p{JriJil·masa is used in· a ...
similar sense.t
But why should the Chitra and the Phalgun.i full-moon be called
the beginnings of the year? SayaJ)a thinks that they were so describ-
~d because they occurred during Vasanta or the first of the sea-
sons.:j: But the explanation does not appear satisfactory. I have
previously shown that according to all astronomical works Shishira •
commenced with the winter solstice, and that the three seasons of
Shishira, Vas.anta and Gri*hma were comprised in the Uttarayal)a
as it was then understood. Now in the days of the Taittirtya Sat;1hitli
the winter solstice, as shown in the last chapter, fell in the month
of Magha; and Magha and Phalguna were therefore comprised in
Shishira, and Cbaitra and Vaisbakha in Vasanta. But in order
that Sayal)a's explanation might be correct Pba.lgulia must fall in
the Vasanta season which, as a matter of fact, it did not. In his
commentary on the Baudbayana Sotras§ and also in the Kala-

• See the passlges quoted in the last chapter.
t In Ta1tt. Saf!l. ii. z. 10. I, we find R!&Cii~4116 simllarly used. In
i. S· 10. 3, ~~ are mentioned together; while in ii. S· 4· I,~
and il41i<m.41 are contrasted.
t In his l:ommentary on Taitt. Sa'!'. vii. 4· 8, speaking of ~!fofi­
~ SAyaQa obser\'es ~ ~ llf.H1'1ffi(Vtlfi4l(t-l<'lf~ I ~~'lrflfJt~I'P!lll~
641li111CI'( I ~1\1~1~ I ~--lf'lln' ~: ~\4' ~"t ~I; while
o Miit-'4116 be says 6tsfit "'ttCIA41\\qqiR!t"'lt't'ictt6<(14 ~ I
§The passage is quoted in India; what it can teach us > p. 323;
~y~oa tbere quotes Taitt. Saf!l. vii. 4· 8, and after noticiDf that the
ChittA and ~halgunr full .moon are both said to begin the year, he
observes :- illlifT lfi~gif~ cttRr: ~ "'T ~~ l1t4fr~~ ~
~: I ~'if 61~~"« cffia«:J45qti•l~ llCf1% I The theory of the two.
fold seasons tbus appears to have bee'l started simply to reconc ile-
the two statements about the Chitrl and Phalguni full moons.