It is a well known fact that every Hindu temple ritual is being conducted on certain fixed and approved days of the month. These days' names can be found printed on each date-slip of a daily calendar. Do they belong to Astrology only? No, they have been so named simply, with respect to the phases of Moon only. They are called as Tithis (Lunar days, 'Thithis' in Tamil). For every thirty days these tithis repeat themselves. Among them there are two groups each having fifteen tithis.
One group belonging to the waxing phase of the moon ends with the Full moon. The other group belonging to the waning phase ends with the New moon. Both the groups contain fourteen tithis with similar names. These names of tithis start from Pradhamai (meaning the first or the prime) to Chathurdhasi (meaning fourteen+ten --> fourteenth). OK. What is the wonder in them? In ancient times scholars observed good and bad events occurring in Nature at certain periods (climate and weather condition). They inferred from it that human society's health, wealth and culture flourished if works were planned and carried out in that periods! They wanted then to name those periods. At night, after day's work body takes rest and the mind becomes attentive: watching the waxing and waning moon on the night's sky they pondered and named tithis with the numbers of gradual phases of moon to represent the periods. Each lunar day has been allotted and fixed for some work. For example, Tirudhiyai tithi has been ascribed as suitable for nail-clipping and hair-cutting and Tirayodhasi tithi for making love and friendship! Do these hold good for the present day world? Goodness carried out for goodness by good minded people is always good!
These wonder tithis continue to rule the Hindu families even in this modern world of computers and cell phones!
Tithis (Tamil names):
Group I:
Pradhamai
Dwidhiyai
Tirudhiyai
Sathurthi
Panchami
Shashti
Sapthami
Attami
Navami
Dhasami
Ekadhasi
Dwadhasi
Tirayodhasi
Sathurdhasi
Pournami (Full moon)
Group II:
Pradhamai
Dwidhiyai
Tirudhiyai
Sathurthi
Panchami
Shashti
Sapthami
Attami
Navami
Dhasami
Ekadhasi
Dwadhasi
Tirayodhasi
Sathurdhasi
Ammavasai (New moon)
2 comments:
Tithis is an interesting concept. I am going to do some research to learn more about it.
Your site is excellent and is the Nature Site of the Week at Nature Center Magazine.
Emma Springfield
Thanks Emma. I viewed my blog in your blog's post!
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