chandra yugaadi and saura yugaadi

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In amAnta scheme, when the paurNami in a month (close to Full Moon)

is in Chitraa nakshatra (almost halfway between Ashwini and Revati),

the first day of that month (month named chaitra) is treated as

chaandra yugAdi or simply yugAdi.

 

Also, on Yugaadi day, the moon traverses on or near Ashwini

nakshatra division.

 

In the shuklAnta scheme, it is on the pratipadA before such paurNami

(i.e., middle of the maasa). Thus, both yugAdi events are one and

the same.

 

Thus, both yugAdi events are one and the same. We should not get

confused with semantics (amAnta mAsa vs. shuklAnta mAsa) -

there are infinite points in a circle that can be treated as

its beginning. amAnta and shuklAnta are just two of them.Both are

pHysically observable natural lunation cycles and in either cycle

yugAdi is the same celestial event. It is nakSatramAna (when Sun AND

moon align with mEshAdi), and the yugAdi-to-yugAdi year duration is

one samvatsara (not varSa).

 

Both the chAndra and saura yugAdi days are symbolic of life's

journey in the cyclical nature -- one based on Moon, the other based

on Sun, both reckoned with final reference to nakshatra divisions.

Since the 'fixed' nakshatra divisions form the reference in either

reckoning, both these days appear close by, and we need not get lost

in debate as to which is the real yugAdi.

 

Popular Misconceptions:

 

1)Word jugglery

 

Saura yugaadi:Niraayana solar calender

chandra yugaadi: Niraayana lunar calender

 

2)Number jugglery

 

luni-solar calender: business of corrections