Vishuddha Siddhanta Panjika

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Vishuddha Siddhanta Panjika (Bengali: বিশুদ্ধ সিদ্ধান্ত পঞ্জিকা) is a Panjika (almanac) that was first published in 1297 Bengali year (1890 AD). Madhab Chandra Chattopadhyay of the then Bengal of undivided India was the first editor.

Why a new almanac?

The 19th century Bengali almanacs though gave details of tithi, nakshatra etc. were generally not in conformity with the actual position of planets in the sky. A true panjika has to tally with the scientific observation. To meet this end, prominent astrologers of that time viz., almanac reformist of Orissa Mahamahopadhyay Chandrashekhar Sinha Samanta, Lokmanya Bal Gangadhar Tilak of Pune, Western India, Scriptural scholars like Bapudev Shastri and Ketkar, experts like Kashi Madan Mohan Malaviya, Maha mahopadhyay Maheshchandra Nyayaratna, Sasadhar Tarkachudamani, Acharya Yogesh Chandra Roy Vidyanidhi of Bengal advised the publication of Vishuddha Siddhanta Almanac.

Approval and adoption

Vishuddha Siddhanta Almanac is recognized by scholars of scriptures such as Deshikottama Dr Srijiv Nyayaratna, Mathematics scholar Nirmal Chandra Lahiri, internationally known scientist Prof Megh Nad Saha, et al.

This almanac is approved and followed by Sankaracharya Jayendra Saraswati of Kanchi matha, Sri Tarakeshwar Math, worldwide Ramakrishna Math and Ramakrishna Mission, Satsanga Ashrama of Deoghar and Other religious organisations.

Rashtriya panchang

The very fact that the calculations of the almanac are fully done with the help of computers show the accuracy of the renderings and therefore the timing of the puja and parvan for different occasions also are free from any mistake. Hence the Indian national calendar (Rashtriya Panchang) published by the Government of India fully tallies with the almanac. However, the traditional school also has its validity. Because Jyotish Shastra itself is not astronomy, and it is based on the words of Parashara, Garga, Mantreshwara who never used computers or western astronomy. Further, the planetary positions of Jyotish-nakshatra, rashi-or rahu, Ketu etc. depend more on belief and assumptions than science.

What it contains

Vishuddha siddhanta panjika provides articles on astrology and astronomy; besides, annual predictions for the nation on a variety of subjects ranging from agriculture to politics, predictions on individual lagnas, and annual predictions on the basis of birth-stars. There are other regular sections like vedic months and dates from the Indian national calendar.

Daily declination of the Sun, equation of time, sidereal time, planetary aspects, correct times of the eclipses, rising and setting times of the moon in different places, rising and setting times of the sun in Kolkata and seven other cities, monthly description of the night sky and locations of the stars and planets with explanatory sky maps are also given. The dates of the main celebrations for the coming year are mentioned. An important addition is the dates of birth & passing away of many savants and saints of India irrespective of denominational adherence.

External links

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