2012 Hindu calendar

http://www.dipika.org.za/index.php?view=article&catid=1:articles&id...

2012 Hindu calendar

Written by Narottam Das & Arjun Nandlal.

Many have asked us to compile an article on the Hindu calendar for example what are the Festivals dates, Ekadashi, Panchak, Rahu kalam and Eclipse? Firstly the Festival dates are the dates that Hindu observes. This is quite self explanatory. For example for Shree Ganesh Chaturthi, we have a full explanation of this very important festival date on our website. Many ask what is this festival all about and how do we go about celebrating it ...hence this website is meant to make people from all cultures more aware of these important Hindu festival dates. We have included a few more festival dates below that are not generally on the typical Hindu calendar. Prem Namaste, Vanakum, Hare Krsna, Jai Shree Krsna, Jai Shree Raam *** Do note the information given below for the festival dates is from the S.A Hindu Maha Sabha. We dont take any responsibility for the information supplied below. We have done this for Hindu uniformity within South Africa. Should you have any issues with the dates below please do contact them on 031 3091951 or email sahms@worldonline.co.za ***. before a prayer date it means this is not in the {Another point of note when you see a general Hindu calendar that Hindus have in their homes. I have added these dates because these equally important prayer dates seems to be ignored every year}

Fast, Festival or Celebration

Makar Sankranti = 14th January Thai Pongal = 15th January Vasant Panchami = 28th January * Varahadeva Jayanti = 4th February * Nityananda Jayanti = 5th February Thai Poosam Kavady = 6-7th February Maha Shivaratri = 20th February * Gaura Purnima = 8th March Holika Dahan = 8th March Hindi New Year = 23rd March Telugu New Year = 23rd March Ramayana Week (First Navaratri) = 23rd March - 1st April

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Shree Raam Naumi = 1st April Hanuman Jyanthi = 6th April Tamil New Year = 13th April * Sita Jayanti = 30th April Chitra Paruvam = STILL TO BE CONFIRMED Vaikasi Visagam = STILL TO BE CONFIRMED * Nrsimha Appearance day = 5th May * Ganga Puja = 31th May Nirjala Ekadashi = 1st June (Do note the Hindu Calenders state 31st May... this is incorrect. For more info on this please visit our website). Guru Purnima = 3rd July Naag Panchami = 23rd July Vara Lakshmi Vratam = 27th July * Balarama Appearance Day = 2nd August Raksha Bandhan = 2nd August Gita Week = 3rd - 10th August Krishna Ashtami = 10th August Purushottam Adhik Maas = 18th August (starts @17h54 on 17th Aug) 15th September (ends on the 16th @ 04h09) * Purattasi = 17th September - 16th October Ganesh Chaturthi = 19th September * Radhastami = 23rd September * Vamana Jayanti = 26th September Pitr Paksh Starts = 30th Sept @ 05h18. Offer 1st water oblations (Tarpana) in the morning of the 30th after sunrise. Pitr Paksh Ends = 15th October @ 14h01 Mahalaya Paksham = 30th September 15th October Navaratri = 16th October 23rd October (Yes Navaratri is 8 days this year) Shree Saraswati Pooja = 21st October Shree Durga Puja = 22nd October Vijay Dashami = 24th October * Sharad Purnima = 29th October * Start of Damodara (Kartik) Maas = 30th October (starts @ 21h48) 28th November (ends @ 16h44) * Karwa Chauth = 3rd November Dhan Trayodashi = 11th November Naraka Chaturdasi = 12th November Deepavali / Lakshmi Puja = 13th November (Read below for more information) Amavasya (New Moon)starts on the 13th November 03h43 and ends on the 14th at 00h06. Hence the 13th will be Amavasya (New/ No Moon) night. Govardhan Pooja = 14th November Gujarati New Year = 14th November Skanda Sashti = 18th November

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Prabhodhini Ekadashi = 24th November Karthigai Deepam = 27th November Kartik Purnima = 28th November Gita Jayanti = 23rd December Additional important dates: * Shani (Saturn) Amavasya (New Moon) = 21st April - Saturday. * Somvaar Amavasya (New/No Moon) = 23rd January and 15th October. * Purnima (Full Moon) Monday = 9th January, 4th June and 29th October. * Shani Pradosham (Trayodashi Saturday) = 7th, 21st January, 2nd June, 13th , 27th Oct. * Soma Pradosham (Trayodashi Monday) = 16th July, 12th, 26th November. There always seem to be some conflicting festival dates when the Hindu calendars are published esp. with regards to Diwali... Let me explain. Vedic times are totally different from the Gregorian times, which are followed by the westerners. Fortunately in 2012 Diwali's date is rather straight-forward as compared to other years. The Vedic day starts at sunrise and ends sunrise the next morning. But the Gregorian day starts at midnight and ends the following midnight. Now Diwali is celebrated on the 15th day (Amavasya) of the dark moon in October/November. This year the 15th day (Amavasya) starts at 03h43 on the 13th November and ends just after midnight on the 14th at 00h06. So Diwali is not over two days like the norm rather just one complete day. This info was obtained from this website click (HERE).

Secondly Ekadashi. Ekadashi is a Sanskrit word, which means 'the eleventh day'. Ekadashi occurs twice in a month, on the 11th day of the bright fortnight and the dark fortnight. The special feature of Ekadashi is a fast that one abstains from grains, eating meat, shaving and cutting one's nails. Lord Krishna says that if a person fasts on Ekadashi, "I will burn up all his sins. Indeed this day is the most meritorious day for destroying all kinds of sins." Ekadashi was created as the Supreme Medicine to remove the disease of the material world of having a miserable material body and mind that is full of suffering. According to scriptures we take on sins (and even more obstacles in one's life) on this day if we consume grains since PAAP PURUSHA (sin personified) resides only in grains on this day. Also grains eaten on this day becomes harmful and remains undigested and turns toxic in the body-giving rise to various diseases and ailments. Please try to observe these very important days. If one does not know what to cook on this day then we can advise you on what to do. We will advise you on what to have, what not to have and 100's of very simple recipes to cook on this day. For more info on Ekadashi fasting days plz visit this website click (HERE).
In the 2012 South African Hindu calendar 2 dates will cause some confusion namely Putrada Ekadashi and Nirjala Ekadashi. The Hindu Calender has set aside the 4th of January for Putrada Ekadashi and the 31st May For Nirjala Ekadashi. I don't disagree with this, but these two days Ekadashi are Ashuddha hence the next day is observed viz the 5th January for Putrada Ekadashi and the 1st June for Nirjala Ekadashi. Shuddha means pure and Ashuddha means impure. One should not observe a fast on an Ekadashi thats not pure (Ashuddha) as quoted from the sastric verses on DIPIKA click (HERE) for more info. Therefore at times one has to fast on Dvadashi (the next day the 12thday) if that Ekadashi is not pure. How does an Ekadashi become impure? This happens when the 10th and 11th Vedic days overlaps. Then this Ekadashi is regarded as impure and thus should not be observed. This is the reason why at times during the year we find that the dates we give on DIPIKA is a day off from the Hindu calendars. We can ONLY humbly advise one to follow the dates we have provided below...

EKADASHI DATES for 2012.

Putrada Ekadasi = 5th Jan. Sat-tila Ekadashi = 19th Jan. Bhaimi Ekadashi = 3rd Feb Vijaya Ekadashi = 17th Feb.

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Amalaki vrata Ekadashi = 4th March. Paapamochanee Ekadashi = 18th March Kamada Ekadashi = 3rd April. Varuthini Ekadashi = 16th April. Mohini Ekadashi = 2nd May. Apara Ekadashi = 16th May. Pandava Nirjala Ekadashi = 1st June. Yogini Ekadashi = 15th June. Sayana Ekadashi = 30th June. Kamika Ekadashi = 14th July. Pavitropana Ekadashi = 29th July. Annada Ekadashi = 13th August. *** Padmini Ekadashi = 27th August. *** Parama Ekadashi = 12th September. Parshva Ekadashi = 26th September. Indira Ekadashi = 11th October. Papankusha Ekadashi = 25th October. Rama Ekadashi = 10th November. Utthana Ekadashi = 24th November. Utpanna Ekadashi = 9th December. Mokshada Ekadashi = 23rd December. This info was obtained from this website. http://www.vaisnavacalendar.info/calendars/

Thirdly Panchak... This is a very important piece of information that's given. When a person passes on the first thing that you should check is what time the deceased passed on. Panchak is a very bad time for a person to die in. Panchak is a combination of 5 Nakshatras (asterisms/stars) viz. (Dhanishtaa, Shatabhisha, Poorva Bhaadrapada, Uttara Bhaadrapada and Revati). For example on the 4th December 2008 @ 08h39 Panchak starts and ends on the 8th December 2008 @ 22h45. If a person dies within this time then the pundit/priest has to perform a Panchak Shanti puja which takes like a few minutes to perform in the ante chamber of the crematorium. Please please make sure that the priest performs this prayer. I am not going to scare you but if this prayer is not performed then many lives generally 5 lives will be lost within the family within that one year... many Hindu's take Panchak lightly and when problems arise then the family is put thro so much of hardship when it could have been avoided... if the deceased died on Panchak then on the funeral day plz INSIST on the Panchak Shanti puja if the priest doesn't want to perform it. You rather delay the funeral then having problems later on... those that know me know I don't like to scare people but in these cases I am dead (no pun intended) serious. Don't mess the with the dead.
Date............Start......Date...........End 28-12-11 (14h34) - 02-01-12 (12h09)

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24-01-12 (00h02) - 29-01-12 (20h22) 21-02-12 (08h23) - 26-02-12 (16h22) 19-03-12 (14h45) - 24-03-12 (11h38) 15-04-12 (20h13) - 20-04-12 (18h00) 13-05-12 (02h28) - 17-05-12 (23h59) 09-06-12 (10h28) - 14-06-12 (06h19) 06-07-12 (19h52) - 11-07-12 (13h30) 03-08-12 (05h25) - 07-08-12 (21h32) 30-08-12 (13h49) - 04-09-12 (05h51) 26-09-12 (20h17) - 01-10-12 (13h39) 24-10-12 (01h58) - 28-10-12 (20h28) 20-11-12 (08h02) - 25-11-12 (02h25) 17-12-12 (16h23) - 22-12-12 (08h31)

Fourthly Rahu Kalam. Timing in the Hindu or any advance culture is of the utmost importance. Whether it's in the telling of a joke or striking a business deal, there's nothing more important than timing. What you do is important but when you do it is just as important. We all know the importance of timing in the material world. Even little kids understand the importance of timing. When they want their next cool toy, they catch their dads in a good mood and butter them up! Thus we have known the importance of timing right from our childhood. Our sages say that what we need to learn now is that timing is just as important in the world of spirituality. Just as timing is important in the material world, it's important in the world of spirituality too. The efficacy of one's spiritual practices can be increased greatly by timing it according to Vedic injunctions.
According to Vedic astrology, Rahu Kalam is that 1.1/2 hrs of a day, that are inauspicious periods and one should not undertake any auspicious work during these periods - especially any new undertaking, prayers, weddings and so forth. Sunday 12h00 13h30 Monday 07h30 09h00 Tuesdays 13h30 15h00 Wednesday 09H00 10H30 Thursday 15H00 16H30 Friday 10H30 12H00 Saturday 06h00 07h30 and 16h30 18h00

And finally Eclipses... Astronomically speaking, when the Sun, the Moon and the Earth are all in line, with the Moon or the Earth at the centre, a solar or lunar eclipse takes place respectively.

21st May = Solar Annular NOT visible in South Africa 4th June = Lunar Partial NOT visible in South Africa 14th November = Solar Total NOT visible in South Africa 28th November = Lunar Penumbral NOT visible in South Africa This info was obtained from this website. http://www.saao.ac.za/public-info/sun-moon-stars/eclipse-index/solar-eclipses2004-2020/ At the time of the eclipse, many people especially of Indian decent bathe in the sacred rivers like River Ganga. They perform charitable acts and donate daan like cows, grains, gold and so forth. The day after the eclipse they feed the poor, the Brahmins and the Sadhus. After the eclipse they clean their houses, vessels, etc., and take a bath before they start cooking.

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One should not take food during the duration of the eclipse. When the eclipse begins the food should by then have been digested. One should take food only after seeing the sun or the moon free from the eclipse. When the clear sun or the moon is not seen before sunset or sunrise, in the case of the solar and lunar eclipse respectively, food can be taken only after the sun or the moon is seen the next day. Pregnant women should not see the sun or the moon during the time of the eclipse. If they do the child born may have some kind of defect. The child may be born deaf, dumb or blind. Householders are forbidden from sexual intercourse on the day of the eclipse, for the same reason. At this time one should take great care in avoiding bleeding, scorpion stings, etc. These have disastrous results. Even an earthworm has a poisonous effect when it bites one during an eclipse. Those who perform Japa at the time of the eclipse derive great benefits. The effect of Japa and Sankirtana (the congregational chanting of mantras with other devotees of the Lord) during the eclipse contributes towards relieving the suffering of humanity and also of the planets. These people receive the blessings of all the devas and Shree Krsna Himself. They attain perfection quickly. Now in these "so called modern times" we hear comments like "Oh this eclipse thing is so psychosomatic, it's all myths and legends etc. Why do we have to follow it so strictly?" Well naturally to the primitive mind any sophisticated and advanced knowledge would be indistinguishable from the masses and be naturally scorned upon. Being confronted with these ideas someone inquired: "Can you prove that these things happen?" "Can anyone prove that they don't", was the reply. A compromise can be reached by the adage: "for one who believes, no proof is required; and for the one who does not believe, no proof exists". From my experience I have seen that those who had this attitude really suffered later and esp. expecting mother didn't want to strictly observe the eclipse and it ended disastrously for them. Remember that the little intellect cannot understand many things in this universe. Hence, have faith in the words of sastras and sages. Ignorance has eclipsed knowledge. However, this eclipse will disappear. You must learn to shine in life with knowledge. The more you study and learn the more humble it makes you because then you realize how little we know. This is the spiritual significance of the eclipse.

AUSPICIOUS MARRIAGE DATES FOR 2012...

Due to time place and convenience most Hindu marriages take place over the weekend. But we are giving all the auspicious dates for the year. Note:- E = Evening January 1, 3, 6, 7, 12, 14, 15, 16, 19, 21, 24, 25, 28, 29, 30 (19th Ekadashi so the wedding food must be non-grain) February 3, 4, 8E, 12, 13, 15, 17, 19, 24, 25, 26 (3rd and 17th is Ekadashi so the wedding food must be non-grain) March 9, 10, 11, 15, 17, 18, 19 (18th is Ekadashi so the wedding food must be non-grain) April 7, 8, 11, 14, 15, 19 May 1, 3, 4, 6, 7, 11, 12, 13, 16, 17, 18, 22, 23, 28, 31 (16th is Ekadashi so the wedding food must be non-grain) June 2, 7, 8, 9, 14, 24, 29

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July 1, 3, 5, 6, 10, 11, 15, 16, 21, 22, 24, 25, 26, 28, 30 August 2, 12 (Aadhik Maas 18 August 16 September) (no weddings are performed in this period) September 17, 18, 21, 23, 25, 26. (Aadhik Maas 18 August 16 September) (no weddings are performed in this period) (26th is Ekadashi so the wedding food must be non-grain) Pitr Paksha 30th September 15th October (no weddings are performed in this period) October 27, 28E, 29 Pitr Paksha 30th September 15th October (no weddings are performed in this period) November 2, 3E, 10, 11, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 23, 24, 25, 29, 30 (10th and 24th is Ekadashi so the wedding food must be non-grain) December 5, 8, 9, 10, 14, 15, 16, 17, 22, 23, 26, 29 (9th and 23rd is Ekadashi so the wedding food must be non-grain) The following is not on the Hindu calendar but I decided to add it anyway for many that email me for this information.

Purnima (Full Moon) Dates for 2012

Do note a comprehensive Full moon dates with beginning and ending times are given in another article on DIPIKA called "Comprehensive 2012 Dates, Times and Puja proper for FM, NM". Due to space in this article I decided to keep it short. 9 January, 7 February, 8 March, 6 April 6 May, 4 June, 3 July, 2 and 31 August 29 September, 29 October, 28 November, 28 December

Us Hindus consider, the full moon day, (Purnima) sacred as its a day that Lord Vishnu presides over. Some Hindus (health permitting) observe a fast on this day, or at any rate take only light food in the night. A Human Being is composed of about 60% liquid and 40% solid. You may wonder how? Well, blood is liquid, is it not? The Moon has an effect on the sea, making the tides rise or fall. In the same way, the Moon also has an effect on the liquid content in humans. The above results in a person becoming tense and irritable. That is how the term 'lunatic' came into being. 'luna' means 'moon' in latin. Lunatic means 'insane'. Our great Sages and Rishi's, knew how to combat the evil effects on human behavior during the full moon and new moon days. They found that light food on these days would lower the acidic content in our system, which helps human beings to retain their mental balance. By fasting or taking light food the whole system is given a rest. By praying a person would not allow his/her emotions to run wild. When the system is at rest psychologically also there is rest in a person. He/she feels comfortable physically and psychologically and will not be prone to irritation and outburst of temper. Fasting creates remarkable endurance in a person, a special feeling of empathy and a sense of equality between the rich and the poor. Fasting occasionally, is key to good health. HOW TO OBSERVE A FULL MOON FAST:- On this day many don't consume white grains and observe a fast starting from sunrise without salt or without water depending on ones capabilities and health until the evening when the moon is sighted. For Moon times in your area in South Africa please visit this website http://www.saao.ac.za/public-info/sunmoon-stars/ . Some offer milk and water on a plant while viewing the Moon. After performing this act then the devotee consumes solid food with salt.

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Because Lord Vishnu rules Purnima day, the most auspicious Shree Satya Narayana Vrata Puja is the most apted puja to perform on this day. And the times to perform this sacred puja is given above. The D.I.Y Shree Satya Narayana Vrata Puja proper with Havan is given on our website DIPIKA... cant find it click

The Mritunjaya Havan performed on Full Moon

The Maha Mritunjaya havan is a very simple yet extremely powerful havan. This havan should preferably be performed on Purnima (full moon) when auspiciousness is at maximum. After having a bath, wear clean clothes. Prepare about a medium size bowl of sweet rice. Then add about 200 g of Black sesame (til) seeds, cut about a stand of kush grass into very small pieces (if you don't have Kush grass not to worry), add 100g of vegetable or butter ghee and finally add to the sweet rice. Mix all these ingredients together. Place wood in the havan kund (which should already have a little sand in it. The reason for this is so that the ghee does not leak out.) Take a little Ganga water and sip it three times chanting "Om Vishnu". I recommend that those who are sitting down for the havan chant the very auspicious Hanuman Chalisa. Then place camphor on the wood and light it. Thereafter invite Lord Vishnu and the devis and devas to the havan by saying " O Lord Vishnu, Sarva Devis and Devas I ________(your name) invite you all to this auspicious havan. Now start the offerings by the chanting the Mritunjaya mantra, which is, as ff: "Om trayam bakkam yajaa-mahe sugan-dhim pushti-vardhanam urvaa-rooka-miva bandha-naam mrityor mooksheeya maamritaat Om" swaahaa Offer the sweet rice after you say Om (the second Om above) and chant swaahaa. Do this for 108 x's. Once this is complete ask Lord Visnu and all the devi and devas for forgiveness for any mistakes that was committed during the havan and chant the Maha Mantra " Hare Krishna Hare Krishna Krishna Krishna Hare Hare Hare Rama Hare Rama Rama Rama Hare Hare " 21 times to allay for any mistakes committed during the havan. Then request Lord Visnu and the Devi and devas to kindly return to their abodes. Requirements for the Havan: One packet havan wood; 100g ghee; 200g black til; One small bowl sweet rice, one strand of kush grass, havan kund, 2 blocks of camphor.

New (Amavasya) Moon Dates for 2012

Do note a comprehensive New moon dates with beginning and ending times are given in another article on DIPIKA called Comprehensive 2012 Dates, Times and Puja proper for FM, NM. Due to space in this article I decided to keep it short. 23 January, 21 February, 22 March, 21 April, 20 May, 19 June, 19 July, 17 August, 16 September, 15 October, 13 November, 13 December... The new moon day is called Amavasya and is observed as a day of fasting in many Hindu households. Since the Hindu calendar is organized according to the lunar month, Amavasya is the beginning of the new lunar month which lasts approximately 30 days. Many festivals, the most famous being Diwali, are observed on this day. The importance of Amavasya is that it is a day of new beginnings. It is a time to discard the old (habits, thought processes, failures and negative influences) and embrace the promise of new 'light' that the new moon brings to us. The 'dark' side of the moon is revealed on this day as the moon completes its waning cycle of approximately 15 days. (On New Moon days one can offer food to ones ancestors. Whatever one cooks on that day he/she can offer to them just as one does in Pitr Paksha. By performing this act great merits awaits that person. In the Garuda Purana Preta Khanda II 10.50-55 Lord Vishnu says to Sri Garudaji " On the day of Amavasya (new moon day), the airy manes (the ancestors) stand at the door of their descendents in order to receive their food. They remain there till sunset. When they do not receive their food they fall in despair and out of suffering heave long sighs and go back cursing the descendents. Therefore, one should carefully perform shraddha (offer food) to your ancestors on the new moon day (Amavasya) every month. Well why are you hearing this for the first time? Well that's a million dollar question, which I can't answer.

Trayodashi Dates 2012

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Do note a comprehensive Trayodashi dates with beginning and ending times are given in another article on DIPIKA called Comprehensive 2012 Dates, Times, Puja Proper Chaturthi and Trayodashi. Due to space in this article I decided to keep it short. 7, 21 January 5, 19 February 6, 20 March 4/5, 18 April 4, 18 May 2, 17 June 1, 16, 31 July 15, 29 August 14, 27 September 13, 27 October 12, 26 November 11, 25 December Pradosha vrata is a vrata (Fast) of Lord Shiva and Mother Parvati. The Pradosha worship is done in the evening twilight on the Trayodashi of both lunar fortnights (Shukla and Krishna Paksha). These are the 13th tithi, or lunar days, from the New Moon (Amavasya) and Full Moon (Purnima). The performance of the vrata involves a fast followed by a vigil. A bath is taken one hour before sunset and Lord Shiva, Mother Parvati, Shree Ganesha, Lord Skanda (Muruga), and Nandi are worshipped. Following this, Lord Shiva is invoked. The Pradosha story is read out after the formal worship is concluded. Thank you for taking time to read this article. We are trying to reach out not only to Hindus but to others of other faiths as well. By compiling and publishing these articles we hope that others will understand what a beautiful and diversified way of life Hinduism (Sanathan Dharma) really is. Please alert your friends and family of this website. You may pass these articles to friends and family who do not have access to the Internet or even print them and keep them in a file. These articles are published so that it will be a reference to you and your family when you need clarification of certain topics. Jai Shree Krishna. Compiled (for the upliftment of Sanathan Dharma- the Eternal Religion) Narottam Das & Arjun Nandlal. nd@h4all.org

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