Mool Nanakshahi Calendar

Mool Nanakshahi Calendar is the Sikh Calendar. At first glance, one may not know the difference between the current Nanakshahi Calendar (1999 adopted by SGPC and then 3 dates reverted back to Bikrami in 2003 but still referred to as “Nanakshahi") and the Mool Nanakshahi Calendar. A deeper understanding of the history and efforts made by Sikh scholars, to create a distinct Sikh calendar is vital. In 2003, Pal Singh Purewal, who had been working towards the Sikh calendar since the 1960s, introduced the Nanakshahi Calendar.

A Calendar Reform Committee composed of many scholars and representatives of various academic institutions met at the Institute of Sikh Studies in Chandigarh in 1995. In 1996, a formal proposal was submitted to the Shiromani Gurdwara Prabandhak Committee (SGPC).[1] The SGPC issued a General House Resolution asking the Sikhs across the world to adopt the Sikh Calendar.[2] In 2003, although some of the dates were largely adopted as fixed dates, some due to cultural and political concerns were dismissed and reverted back to Bikrami dates, which were later synchronized in 2017 when the Mool Nanakshahi Calendar was introduced to fix all dates.[3]

Pal Singh Purewal, introduced the term Mool (original) Nanakshahi Calendar in 2017.[4] The new term meant to distinguish from the current Nanakshahi Calendar which was altered in 2003 to include movable Bikrami dates in addition to the new adopted dates by the SGPC in 1999. This pre-altered versional of the calendar is was the one proposed by the Calendar Reform Committee in 1995 and accepted by the SGPC in 1999.[5] The original calendar synchronized Mool Nanakshahi (religious) Calendar with Common Era (CE) Calendar, permanently and hence termed Mool Nanakshahi Calendar.

There are notable differences between the Nanakshahi Calendar and the Mool Nanakshahi Calendar. Understanding the motivation and decades of research to reflect the accuracy of historical events is essential.[6] The Mool Nanakshahi Calendar continues to gather support[7] across the world as Sikhs yearn to follow fixed dates which are an accurate historical representation of the Sikh History and an attempt at adding integrity to the Sikh identity.[8][9][10] This provides the platform for Sikhs to agree on a common calendar.[11][12] Sardar Pal Singh Purewal, the main architect of the calendar, has written scholarly articles on this issue[13] and explains the difference between the Mool Nanakshahi Calendar and Bikrami Calendars.[14][15] There is a difference between the Nanakshai Calendar and the Mool Nanakshahi Calendar as such as the Mool Nanakshahi Calendar fixes dates which were movable in the Nanakshahi Calendar.

In 2018, The Akal Takhat Jathedar, Giani Gurbachan Singh asked that the Sikhs should unite and adopt the new Nanakshahi Calendar and that the "majority of Sikh sects, including Nihangs, Nirmalays, Udhasis and Damdami Taksal, observe and want to observe Sikh religious days according to the (amended) Nanakshahi calendar.".[16] The Sikh communities around the world are embracing the calendar.

Sikh Communities Embracing the Mool Nanakshahi Calendar

  • Most Gurdwaras in Jammu and Kashmir
  • Sikh Youth of Punjab (SYP)[17]
  • The American Sikh Council
  • Sikh Religious Society of Wisconsin
  • Sikh Society of Michigan
  • Mata Tripta Ji Gurdwara Sahib, Michigan
  • Singh Sabha of Michigan
  • Tri State Sikh Cultural Society, PA
  • Sikh Gurdwara, Rochester Hills, MI
  • Gurudwara Sikh Center Houston
  • Sikh Centre of Seattle
  • Khalsa Sikh Center, Michigan
  • Guru Nanak Sikh Society, IN
  • Downriver Sikh Temple, Michigan
  • Gurdwara Sahib Guru Nanak Darbar, Ohio
  • Guru Angad Institute of Sikh Studies, Virginia
  • Sikh National Archives of Canada
  • Guru Nanak Darbar Society, Bolingbrook, IL
  • Sikh Religious Society, Palatine, IL
  • Illinois Sikh Community Center
  • Sikh Society of Central Florida

Meaning of the Word Mool

The "Mool" prefix, means "original". SGPC released a calendar that was close to this one on the 300th year of Khalsa's Creation in 1999.

In the News

The extensive 2 day Mool Nanakshahi Calendar Implementation Conference in Chicago detailed the significance of the changes. Several scholars and topics on this topic lead the presentations and discussions.[18]

  • Mool Nanakshahi Calendar gains momentum across the world.[19][20]
  • March 2020, Pakistan Sikh Gurdwara Prabadhak Committee released the Mool Nanakshahi Calendar.[21]

Significant Resolutions

Significant resolutions were adopted at the Chicago conference in December 2017.[22] More importantly 3 dates were fixed for the upcoming years so that the Nanak's Gurpurab, Bandee Chorrd Divas, and Holla-Muhalla fall on the same date each year. The fixed dates, in addition to the already constant Vaisakhi April 14th date, are:

  • Bandee Chorrd Divas – February 12 every year
  • Holla-Muhalla – March 14 every year
  • Guru Nanak's Gurpurab – April 14 every year
  • Vaisakhi - April 14 every year[23]

Months

The months in the Mool Nanakshahi calendar are:[24]

No.NamePunjabiDaysGregorian MonthsSeason[25]
1Chetਚੇਤ3114 March – 13 AprilBasant (Spring)
2Vaisakhਵੈਸਾਖ3114 April – 14 MayBasant (Spring)
3Jethਜੇਠ3115 May – 14 JuneGarikham (Summer)
4Harhਹਾੜ3115 June – 15 JulyGarisham (Summer)
5Sawanਸਾਵਣ3116 July – 15 AugustRut Baras (Rainy season)
6Bhadonਭਾਦੋਂ3016 August – 14 SeptemberRut Baras (Rainy season)
7Assuਅੱਸੂ3015 September – 14 OctoberSard (Autumn)
8Katakਕੱਤਕ3015 October – 13 NovemberSard (Autumn)
9Magharਮੱਘਰ3014 November – 13 DecemberSisiar (Winter)
10Pohਪੋਹ3014 December – 12 JanuarySisiar (Winter)
11Maghਮਾਘ3013 January – 11 FebruaryHimkar (late Winter/early Spring)
12Phagunਫੱਗਣ30/3112 February – 13 MarchHimkar (late Winter/early Spring)

[26]== References ==

  1. http://www.purewal.biz/nshahi.pdf
  2. http://fateh.sikhnet.com//Sikhnet/discussion.nsf/SearchView/29C049011AB2B9978725697A006D371F!OpenDocument
  3. https://www.bbc.co.uk/religion/religions/sikhism/customs/nanakshahi.shtml
  4. Samachar, Asia (2017-12-07). "Adopt Mool Nanakshahi Calendar, stop confusion, says Sikh Chicago meet – WSN". Asia Samachar. Retrieved 2020-06-05.
  5. "Institute of Sikh Studies, Chandigarh". sikhinstitute.org. Retrieved 2020-06-05.
  6. http://www.purewal.biz/compnsbk.pdf
  7. https://www.theworldsikhnews.com/guru-gobind-singh-gurpurab-5-jan-gathers-momentum/
  8. https://gurvichar.com/2018/01/28/the-calendar-issue-part-4-the-bikrami-saka-and-purewals-mool-nanakshahi-calendar/
  9. http://www.sikhs.org/dates.htm
  10. "World Sikh News".
  11. https://www.sikhiwiki.org/index.php/Vaisakhi
  12. Singh, Irwin Preet. "Mool Nanakshahi Calendar Plugs Bikrami Gaps".
  13. Purewal, Pal. "Gurbani and Nanakshahi Calendar" (PDF).
  14. Purewal, Pal. "Difference Between Nanakshahi and Bikrami Caldenar" (PDF).
  15. http://nanakshahicalendar.com
  16. https://www.hindustantimes.com/punjab/ht-explainer-know-about-the-controversial-nanakshahi-calendar/story-UeKm0yTcDtat1FCRIel86K.html
  17. https://www.theworldsikhnews.com/sikh-youth-of-punjab-releases-genuine-nanakshahi-calendar/
  18. "The Chicago Tribune".
  19. "Parkash Purab Guru Gobind Singh Ji Gathers Momentum".
  20. "World Sikh News".
  21. https://www.tribuneindia.com/news/punjab/nanakshahi-calendar-out-in-pakistan-55644#.
  22. "Adopt Mool Nanakshahi Calendar".
  23. https://www.sikhiwiki.org/index.php/Vaisakhi
  24. J. Gordon Melton, Martin Baumann (2010) Religions of the World: A Comprehensive Encyclopedia of Beliefs and Practices, 2nd Edition [6 volumes]. ABC-Clio
  25. Kohli, Surindar Singh (1992) A Conceptual Encyclopaedia of Guru Granth Sahib.Manohar Publishers & Distributors
  26. http://nanakshahicalendar.com
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