Samvatsara
Samvatsara (संवत्सर) is a Sanskrit term for a "year" in Vedic literature such as the Rigveda and other ancient texts.[1] In the medieval era literature, a samvatsara refers to the "Jovian year", that is a year based on the relative position of the planet Jupiter, while the solar year is called varsha.[2][3] A jovian year is not equal to a solar year based on the relative position of Earth and Sun.[3] A Jovian year is defined in Indian calendars as the time Brihaspati (Jupiter) takes to transit from one constellation to the next relative to its mean motion.[3]
There are 60 samvatsara mentioned in the historic Indian calendars, and these are called Brihaspati samvatsara chakra.[3] These are not numbered but each has been given a name. Once all 60 samvatsaras are over, the cycle starts over again.
Omitted Samvatsaras
The ancient text Surya Siddhanta calculates the Jovian year to be about 361.026721 days or about 4.232 days shorter than the Earth-based solar year.[3] This difference requires that about once every 85 solars years (~ 86 jovian years), one of the named samvatsara is expunged (skipped as a shadow year), to synchronize the two calendars.[4]
This system of omission has fallen into disuse in South India. "There is evidence to show that the cycle of Jupiter was in use in Southern India before Saka 828 (A.D. 905-6); but from that year, according to the Arya Siddhanta, or from Saka 831 (A.D. 908-9) according to the Sürya-Siddhanta, the expunction of the samvatsaras was altogether neglected, with the result that the 60-year cycle in the south became luni-solar from that year." [5]
List of Samvatsaras
The sixty Samvatsaras are divided into 3 groups of 20 Samvatsaras each. The first 20 from Prabhava to Vyaya are assigned to Brahma. The next 20 from Sarvajit to Parabhava to Vishnu and the last 20 to Shiva.
Number | Name (IAST)[5][6] | नाम | தமிழ் | సంవత్సర నామం | ಸಂವತ್ಸರಗಳು | Current cycle - | Current cycle
(Gregorian) |
Prior cycle 1 | Prior cycle 2 |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1. | Prabhava | प्रभव | நற்றோன்றல் | ప్రభవ | ಪ್ರಭವ | 2044 | 1987-1988 CE | 1927-1928 CE | 1867-1868 CE |
2. | Vibhava | विभव | உயர்தோன்றல் | విభవ | ವಿಭವ | 2045 | 1988-1989 CE | 1928-1929 CE | 1868-1869 CE |
3. | Śukla | शुक्ल | வெள்ளொளி | శుక్ల | ಶುಕ್ಲ | 2046 | 1989-1990 CE | 1929-1930 CE | 1869-1870 CE |
4. | Pramodadūta | प्रमोद | பேருவகை | ప్రమోద్యూత | ಪ್ರಮೋದೂತ | 2047 | 1990-1991 CE | 1930-1931 CE | 1870-1871 CE |
5. | Prajāpati | प्रजापति | மக்கட்செல்வம் | ప్రజోత్పత్తి | ಪ್ರಜಾಪತಿ | 2048 | 1991-1992 CE | 1931-1932 CE | 1871-1872 CE |
6. | Āṅgīrasa | अंगिरस | அயல்முனி | ఆంగీరస | ಅಂಗಿರಸ | 2049 | 1992-1993 CE | 1932-1933 CE | 1872-1873 CE |
7. | Śrīmukha | श्रीमुख | திருமுகம் | శ్రీముఖ | ಶ್ರೀಮುಖ | 2050 | 1993-1994 CE | 1933-1934 CE | 1873-1874 CE |
8. | Bhāva | भाव | தோற்றம் | భావ | ಭಾವ | 2051 | 1994-1995 CE | 1934-1935 CE | 1874-1875 CE |
9. | Yuva | युव | இளமை | యువ | ಯುವ | 2052 | 1995-1996 CE | 1935-1936 CE | 1875-1876 CE |
10. | Dhātṛu | धाता | மாழை | ధాత | ಧಾತೃ | 2053 | 1996-1997 CE | 1936-1937 CE | 1876-1877 CE |
11. | Īśvara | ईश्वर | ஈச்சுரம் | ఈశ్వర | ಈಶ್ವರ | 2054 | 1997-1998 CE | 1937-1938 CE | 1877-1878 CE |
12. | Bahudhānya | बहुधान्य | கூலவளம் | బహుధాన్య | ಬಹುಧಾನ್ಯ | 2055 | 1998-1999 CE | 1938-1939 CE | 1878-1879 CE |
13. | Pramāthi | प्रमाथी | முன்மை | ప్రమాధి | ಪ್ರಮಾಥಿ | 2056 | 1999-2000 CE | 1939-1940 CE | 1879-1880 CE |
14. | Vikrama | विक्रम | நேர்நிரல் | విక్రమ | ವಿಕ್ರಮ | 2057 | 2000-2001 CE | 1940-1941 CE | 1880-1881 CE |
15. | Vṛushaprajā | वृषप्रजा | விளைபயன் | వృశాప్రజా | ವೃಷಪ್ರಜಾ | 2058 | 2001-2002 CE | 1941-1942 CE | 1881-1882 CE |
16. | Chitrabhānu | चित्रभानु | ஓவியக்கதி | చిత్రభాను | ಚಿತ್ರಭಾನು | 2059 | 2002-2003 CE | 1942-1943 CE | 1882-1883 CE |
17. | Svabhānu | स्वभानु | நற்கதிர் | స్వభాను | ಸ್ವಭಾನು | 2060 | 2003-2004 CE | 1943-1944 CE | 1883-1884 CE |
18. | Tāraṇa | तारण | தாங்கெழில் | తారణ | ತಾರಣ | 2061 | 2004-2005 CE | 1944-1945 CE | 1884-1885 CE |
19. | Pārthiva | पार्थिव | நிலவரையன் | పార్థివ | ಪಾರ್ಥಿವ | 2062 | 2005-2006 CE | 1945-1946 CE | 1885-1886 CE |
20. | Vyaya | अव्यय | விரிமாண்பு | వ్యయ | ವ್ಯಯ | 2063 | 2006-2007 CE | 1946-1947 CE | 1886-1887 CE |
21. | Sarvajit | सर्वजीत | முற்றறிவு | సర్వజిత | ಸರ್ವಜಿತ್ | 2064 | 2007-2008 CE | 1947-1948 CE | 1887-1888 CE |
22. | Sarvadhāri | सर्वधारी | முழுநிறைவு | సర్వధారి | ಸರ್ವಧಾರಿ | 2065 | 2008-2009 CE | 1948-1949 CE | 1888-1889 CE |
23. | Virodhi | विरोधी | தீர்பகை | విరోధి | ವಿರೋಧಿ | 2066 | 2009-2010 CE | 1949-1950 CE | 1889-1890 CE |
24. | Vikṛti | विकृति | வளமாற்றம் | వికృతి | ವಿಕೃತಿ | 2067 | 2010-2011 CE | 1950-1951 CE | 1890-1891 CE |
25. | Khara | खर | செய்நேர்த்தி | ఖర | ಖರ | 2068 | 2011-2012 CE | 1951-1952 CE | 1891-1892 CE |
26. | Nandana | नंदन | நற்குழவி | నందన | ನಂದನ | 2069 | 2012-2013 CE | 1952-1953 CE | 1892-1893 CE |
27. | Vijaya | विजय | உயர்வாகை | విజయ | ವಿಜಯ | 2070 | 2013-2014 CE | 1953-1954 CE | 1893-1894 CE |
28. | Jaya | जय | வாகை | జయ | ಜಯ | 2071 | 2014-2015 CE | 1954-1955 CE | 1894-1895 CE |
29. | Manmatha | मन्मथ | காதன்மை | మన్మధ | ಮನ್ಮಥ | 2072 | 2015-2016 CE | 1955-1956 CE | 1895-1896 CE |
30. | Durmukha | दुर्मुख | வெம்முகம் | దుర్ముఖ | ದುರ್ಮುಖ | 2073 | 2016-2017 CE | 1956-1957 CE | 1896-1897 CE |
31. | Hevilambi | हेविळंबि | பொற்றடை | హేవిళంబి | ಹೇವಿಳಂಬಿ | 2074 | 2017-2018 CE | 1957-1958 CE | 1897-1898 CE |
32. | Vilambi | विळंबि | அட்டி | విళంబి | ವಿಳಂಬಿ | 2075 | 2018-2019 CE | 1958-1959 CE | 1898-1899 CE |
33. | Vikhāri | विकारी | எழில்மாறல் | వికారి | ವಿಕಾರಿ | 2076 | 2019-2020 CE | 1959-1960 CE | 1899-1900 CE |
34. | Śhārvari | शार्वरी | வீறியெழல் | శార్వరి | ಶಾರ್ವರಿ | 2077 | 2020-2021 CE | 1960-1961 CE | 1900-1901 CE |
35. | Plava | प्लव | கீழறை | ప్లవ | ಪ್ಲವ | 2078 | 2021-2022 CE | 1961-1962 CE | 1901-1902 CE |
36. | Śubhakṛta | शुभकृत | நற்செய்கை | శుభకృత | ಶುಭಕೃತ | 2079 | 2022-2023 CE | 1962-1963 CE | 1902-1903 CE |
37. | Śobhakṛta | शोभकृत | மங்கலம் | శోభకృత | ಶೋಭನ | 2080 | 2023-2024 CE | 1963-1964 CE | 1903-1904 CE |
38. | Krodhi | क्रोधी | பகைக்கேடு | క్రోధి | ಕ್ರೋಧಿ | 2081 | 2024-2025 CE | 1964-1965 CE | 1904-1905 CE |
39. | Viśvāvasu | विश्वावसु | உலகநிறைவு | విశ్వావసు | ವಿಶ್ವಾವಸು | 2082 | 2025-2026 CE | 1965-1966 CE | 1905-1906 CE |
40. | Parābhava | पराभव | அருட்டோற்றம் | పరాభవ | ಪರಾಭವ | 2083 | 2026-2027 CE | 1966-1967 CE | 1906-1907 CE |
41. | Plavaṅga | प्लवंग | நச்சுப்புழை | ప్లవంగ | ಪ್ಲವಂಗ | 2084 | 2027-2028 CE | 1967-1968 CE | 1907-1908 CE |
42. | Kīlaka | कीलक | பிணைவிரகு | కీలక | ಕೀಲಕ | 2085 | 2028-2029 CE | 1968-1969 CE | 1908-1909 CE |
43. | Saumya | सौम्य | அழகு | సౌమ్య | ಸೌಮ್ಯ | 2086 | 2029-2030 CE | 1969-1970 CE | 1909-1910 CE |
44. | Sādhāraṇa | साधारण | பொதுநிலை | సాధారణ | ಸಾಧಾರಣ | 2087 | 2030-2031 CE | 1970-1971 CE | 1910-1911 CE |
45. | Virodhakṛta | विरोधकृत | இகல்வீறு | విరోధికృత | ವಿರೋಧಿಕೃತ್ | 2088 | 2031-2032 CE | 1971-1972 CE | 1911-1912 CE |
46. | Paridhāvi | परिधावी | கழிவிரக்கம் | పరిధావి | ಪರಿಧಾವಿ | 2089 | 2032-2033 CE | 1972-1973 CE | 1912-1913 CE |
47. | Pramādi | प्रमादी | நற்றலைமை | ప్రమాదీచ | ಪ್ರಮಾದಿ | 2090 | 2033-2034 CE | 1973-1974 CE | 1913-1914 CE |
48. | Ānanda | आनंद | பெருமகிழ்ச்சி | ఆనంద | ಆನಂದ | 2091 | 2034-2035 CE | 1974-1975 CE | 1914-1915 CE |
49. | Rākṣasa | राक्षस | பெருமறம் | రాక్షస | ರಾಕ್ಷಸ | 2092 | 2035-2036 CE | 1975-1976 CE | 1915-1916 CE |
50. | Nala/Anala | आनल | தாமரை | నల | ನಲ (ಅನಲ) | 2093 | 2036-2037 CE | 1976-1977 CE | 1916-1917 CE |
51. | Piṅgala | पिंगल | பொன்மை | పింగళ | ಪಿಂಗಲ | 2094 | 2037-2038 CE | 1977-1978 CE | 1917-1918 CE |
52. | Kālayukta | कालयुक्त | கருமைவீச்சு | కాళయుక్తి | ಕಾಲಯುಕ್ತ | 2095 | 2038-2039 CE | 1978-1979 CE | 1918-1919 CE |
53. | Siddhārthi | सिद्धार्थी | முன்னியமுடிதல் | సిద్ధార్థ | ಸಿದ್ಧಾರ್ಥಿ | 2096 | 2039-2040 CE | 1979-1980 CE | 1919-1920 CE |
54. | Raudra | रौद्र | அழலி | రౌద్రి | ರೌದ್ರ | 2097 | 2040-2041 CE | 1980-1981 CE | 1920-1921 CE |
55. | Durmati | दुर्मति | கொடுமதி | దుర్మతి | ದುರ್ಮತಿ | 2098 | 2041-2042 CE | 1981-1982 CE | 1921-1922 CE |
56. | Dundubhi | दुन्दुभी | பேரிகை | దుందుభి | ದುಂದುಭಿ | 2099 | 2042-2043 CE | 1982-1983 CE | 1922-1923 CE |
57. | Rudhirodgāri | रूधिरोद्गारी | ஒடுங்கி | రుధిరోద్గారి | ರುಧಿರೋದ್ಗಾರಿ | 2100 | 2043-2044 CE | 1983-1984 CE | 1923-1924 CE |
58. | Raktākṣi | रक्ताक्षी | செம்மை | రక్తాక్షి | ರಕ್ತಾಕ್ಷಿ | 2101 | 2044-2045 CE | 1984-1985 CE | 1924-1925 CE |
59. | Krodhana/Manyu | क्रोधन | எதிரேற்றம் | క్రోధన | ಕ್ರೋಧನ | 2102 | 2045-2046 CE | 1985-1986 CE | 1925-1926 CE |
60. | Akshaya | अक्षय | வளங்கலன் | అక్షయ | ಅಕ್ಷಯ | 2103 | 2046-2047 CE | 1986-1987 CE | 1926-1927 CE |
See also
- Hindu Calendar
- Panchangam
- the Chinese sexagenary cycle
References
- Bettina Bäumer; Kapila Vatsyayan (1992). Kalātattvakośa: A Lexicon of Fundamental Concepts of the Indian Arts. Motilal Banarsidass. pp. 215–216. ISBN 978-81-208-1044-0.
- Bettina Bäumer; Kapila Vatsyayan (1992). Kalātattvakośa: A Lexicon of Fundamental Concepts of the Indian Arts. Motilal Banarsidass. pp. 217–218. ISBN 978-81-208-1044-0.
- Robert Sewell; Śaṅkara Bālakr̥shṇa Dīkshita (1896). The Indian Calendar. S. Sonnenschein & Company. pp. 5, 32–33.
- Robert Sewell; Śaṅkara Bālakr̥shṇa Dīkshita (1896). The Indian Calendar. S. Sonnenschein & Company. p. 33.
- Robert Sewell; John Faithful Fleet (1924). The Siddhantas and the Indian Calendar. Asian Educational Services. pp. 292–294. ISBN 978-81-206-0364-6.
- S. Balachandra Rao (2000). Indian Astronomy: An Introduction. Universities Press. p. 59. ISBN 978-81-7371-205-0.
Sources
- Robert Sewell; Śaṅkara Bālakr̥shṇa Dīkshita; Robert Schram (1995). The Indian Calendar, with Tables for the Conversion of Hindu and Muhammadan Into A.D. Dates, and Vice Versa. Motilal Banarsidass. pp. 34–. ISBN 978-81-208-1207-9.