Panchang

"The word पंचांग comes from two Sanskrit words: पंच—meaning five, and अंग—meaning body parts or limbs. So, पञ्चाङ्ग is essentially the five limbs of time. And yes, these limbs form at the exact moment we are born. Can you imagine that? As we take our first breath, the पंचांग is created. It’s like a cosmic blueprint of our destiny. The we understood concept of पंचमुखी शिव—the five-headed form of Shiva—and how each head represents one of the पंच तत्त्व (five elements). But have you ever noticed the symbolism behind the five-pointed star?

Look at this five-pointed star. Many of you may have seen this symbol before, but do you know what it represents? Yes, it’s a symbol of the पंच तत्त्व—Earth, Water, Fire, Air, and Ether. These five elements form the foundation of everything, including the तारा ग्रह (the planets associated with the five elements), which govern the cosmic energies in our universe. But it doesn’t stop there!

On a higher level, these तत्त्व are intricately woven into the entire zodiac, from अश्विनी to रेवती नक्षत्र. That’s right—there are 27 नक्षत्र (constellations) that cover the entire zodiac, and they are divided among the five elements. Let’s take a closer look at how these नक्षत्र are divided. There are 27 नक्षत्र in total, beginning with अश्विनी and ending with रेवती. These are further divided among the पंच तत्त्व:

1. पृथ्वी तत्त्व (Earth)

   • The first five नक्षत्र: अश्विनी to मृगशीर्ष belong to the पृथ्वी तत्त्व.

     
     

2. जल तत्त्व (Water)

   • The next six नक्षत्र: आर्द्रा to पूर्वाफाल्गुनी belong to the जल तत्त्व.

     
     

3. अग्नि तत्त्व (Fire)

   • The next five नक्षत्र: उत्तराफाल्गुनी to विशाखा belong to the अग्नि तत्त्व.

     
     

4. वायु तत्त्व (Air)

   • The next six नक्षत्र: अनुराधा to श्रवण belong to the वायु तत्त्व.

     
     

5. आकाश तत्त्व (Ether)

   • The final five नक्षत्र: धनिष्ठा to रेवती belong to the आकाश तत्त्व.

     
     

Now, let me introduce you to the concept of काल पुरुष—Time personified. Imagine Time as a person, with limbs, just like you and me. These limbs are what we call the five aspects or limbs of पंचांग. They are:

1. वार (Day)

2. तिथि (Lunar Day)

3. करण (Half Tithi)

4. नक्षत्र (Constellation)

5. योग (Union of the Sun and Moon)

These are the limbs of time, and each one corresponds to a specific तत्त्व. Just like our body has different limbs that work together to keep us functional, these five aspects of पंचांग combine to define time itself."

Now, let’s explore how each of these limbs is related to one of the पंच तत्त्व:

1. वार (Day) – अग्नि तत्त्व (Fire)

   • वार is associated with the अग्नि तत्त्व and is ruled by मंगल (Mars).

   • It represents energy, drive, and the power to take action. Every day of the week carries the energy of a different planet, with Mars bringing that life force.

     
     

2. तिथि (Lunar Day) – जल तत्त्व (Water)

   • तिथि is connected to the जल तत्त्व and is ruled by शुक्र (Venus).

   • It influences our emotions, relationships, and the fluidity of time. Just as water changes its form, the तिथि changes, bringing shifts in our feelings.

     
     

3. करण (Half Tithi) – पृथ्वी तत्त्व (Earth)

   • करण represents the पृथ्वी तत्त्व and is governed by बुध (Mercury).

   • This element provides stability and is about practicality, grounding, and action in the physical realm.

     
     

4. नक्षत्र (Constellation) – वायु तत्त्व (Air)

   • नक्षत्र are linked to the वायु तत्त्व and ruled by शनि (Saturn).

   • They determine our inner mental state, our thoughts, and how we interact with others. वायु is all about movement, communication, and the mind.

     
     

5. योग (Union of Sun and Moon) – आकाश तत्त्व (Ether)

   • Finally, योग corresponds to the आकाश तत्त्व and is ruled by बृहस्पति (Jupiter).

   • आकाश represents the infinite space, knowledge, and spiritual connection. It’s the glue that holds everything together, giving us the perspective to understand the bigger picture.

     
     

So, you see, the पंचांग is not just a calendar or a tool to find auspicious dates. It is a cosmic representation of how the five तत्त्व integrate with time to influence our lives. From the elements grounding us, controlling our action & emotions, moving us, inspiring us, to connecting us to the divine—it’s all an intricate dance of energies.

Imagine this as a cosmic puzzle—each piece represents a part of us and our journey through time. Understanding these five limbs helps us align better with the cosmic rhythms and ultimately make informed decisions. It also provides us insight into how each day, each constellation, and each movement of the Moon and Sun affect us on a spiritual and physical level.

"I encourage all of you to start observing how these five limbs manifest in your day-to-day life. Pay attention to the वार, the तिथि, and the नक्षत्र of the day, and see if you can feel their influence. Once you tune into these cosmic energies, you’ll be amazed at how connected everything truly is.

Om Tat Sat