Dear Editor,

I SEEK, through the columns of your newspaper, to explain the rules and general principles governing the dates of Hindu holy days, with particular reference to Raksha Bandhan and Krishna Janma Ashtmi.RULE NO. 1: “The Tithi, which prevails at the time of sunrise, is considered as the Tithi for that day, till the next day’s sunrise.” Example: A Tithi begins at 8:30AM (after sunrise) on the 15th August and ends at 7:15AM on the 16th. That Tithi ‘catches’ the sunrise on the 16th. According to the Rule, that Tithi is ‘considered to continue’ for the entire 16th until the next sunrise on the 17th.

In all such cases, there are always two (2) nights for each Tithi. Which of the two is ‘auspicious’? The 1st night of the 15th, when that particular phase of the moon is prevailing is auspicious; it is AMAVASYA VRAT or PURNIMA VRAT, depending. The 2nd night is referred to as just Amavasya or Purnima, since the phase of the moon has changed to the next.

RAKSHA BANDHAN – PURNIMA
Purnima commences at 6:56AM on 17th August and ends at 5:26AM on 18th. It begins after sunrise of the 17th and ends before the next sunrise, i.e. it does not prevail at any sunrise. The question of ‘sunrise’ and the application of the above rule do not arise. Purnima is therefore the night of the 17th, and Raksha Bandhan can only be on the 17th.

KRISHNA JANMA ASHTMI
RULE NO. 2: “Where a Tithi requires the performance of a Vrat, (a Religious Rite), the rules governing that Vrat take precedence.” Thus Krishna Janma Ashtmi, like Diwali, Holi, etc., has its own rules. Krishna Janma Ashtmi is celebrated on the 8th night (Ashtmi) of the dark fortnight of Bhadrapad, where midnight prevails. Ashtmi begins at 12:46PM on the 24th August and ends at 10:37AM on the 25th. Applying Rule No. 1 above, there are two nights here – the nights of the 24th and the 25th. Which of the two nights is Krishna Janma Ashtmi?

The following rules govern the determination of the date for Janma Ashtmi.
(1) If Ashtmi is present at midnight on the first day only, then Janma Ashtmi should be on the first day.
(2) If Ashtmi is present at midnight on the second day only, then Janma Ashtmi should be on the second day. (3) If Ashtmi is present at midnight on both days, and Rohini Nakshatra is not present on any day, then Janma Ashtmi should be on the second day. (4) If Ashtmi is present at midnight on both days, and Rohini Nakshatra is present on one day, then Janma Ashtmi should be on the day when Rohini Nakshatra is present.
(5) If Ashtmi is present at midnight on both days, and Rohini Nakshatra is present on both days, then Janma Ashtmi should be on the second day. (6) If Ashtmi is not present at midnight on any of the two days, then Janma Ashtmi should be on the second day. Rule (1) applies here. Janma Ashtmi should be on the first night, i.e. 24th August. As regards Rohini Nakshatra, the 25th could only be considered if the conditions as at (3) – (5) above were present. As it is, they are not. It should be noted that Rohini Nakshatra is secondary consideration; ‘midnight’ is primary.

FINAL ARBITER
In any vocation – legal, medical, technical, religious – to seek clarity on any matter, the authoritative texts are consulted, and the findings are regarded as conclusive and final. There must be some authoritative texts which should be the final arbiter. The Panchangs (Patras) are the final authority in this matter. All Panchangs -– Kaashi, My Panchang.com, Bhaskar, Kaushik, Bhawani Shankar, and 100-year -– confirm this date. We deny or reject them at our own peril.

Regards,
PT. R. BALBADAR