Samvatsara Explained

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] A jovian year is not equal to a solar year based on the relative position of Earth and Sun.[3]

A samvatsara is defined in Indian calendars as the time Brihaspati (Jupiter) takes to transit from one sign of the Hindu zodiac (i.e. rashi) to the next relative to its mean motion. The ancient text Surya Siddhanta calculates a samvatsara to be about 361 days, marginally short of a solar year. Hence, one complete orbit of Jupiter through all the twelve signs of the zodiac will approximately equal twelve solar years. Five such orbits of Jupiter (i.e. 12 times 5 = 60 samvatsara) are referred to as a samvatsara chakra.[3] Each samvatsara within this cycle has been given a name. Once all 60 samvatsara are over, the cycle starts over again.

This cycle of 60 samvatsara is based on the relative positions of Jupiter and Saturn in the sky. The orbital periods of Jupiter and Saturn are approximately 12 and 30 solar years respectively. The least common multiple of these two orbital periods is ~60 solar years. Every sixty years, both planets will be positioned at nearly the same sidereal coordinates where they started off sixty years before, thus forming a sixty year cycle.

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."

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.

Samvatsaras!Number!Name (IAST)[5] [6] !Name (Devanagari)!Name (Saurashtra)!Name (Tamil)!Name (Telugu)!Name (Kannada)!Current cycle (Vikram Samvat)!Current cycle(Gregorian)!Prior cycle 1!Prior cycle 2
  1. Prabhavaप्रभवꢦ꣄ꢬꢩꢮꣁபிரபவప్రభవಪ್ರಭವ20441987-1988 CE1927-1928 CE1867-1868 CE
  2. Vibhavaविभवꢮꢶꢩꢮꣁவிபவవిభవವಿಭವ20451988-1989 CE1928-1929 CE1868-1869 CE
  3.Śuklaशुक्लꢯꢸꢒ꣄ꢭꣁசுக்லశుక్లಶುಕ್ಲ20461989-1990 CE1929-1930 CE1869-1870 CE
  4.Pramodadūta प्रमोदूतꢦ꣄ꢬꢪꣂꢣꢹꢡꣁபிரமோதூதప్రమోద్యూతಪ್ರಮೋದೂತ20471990-1991 CE1930-1931 CE1870-1871 CE
  5.Prajāpati प्रजापतिꢦ꣄ꢬꢙꢵꢦꢡꢶபிரசோற்பத்திప్రజోత్పత్తిಪ್ರಜಾಪತಿ20481991-1992 CE1931-1932 CE1871-1872 CE
  6.Āṅgirasa आङ्गिरसꢃꢖ꣄ꢔꢷꢬꢱꣁஆங்கீரசఆంగీరసಅಂಗಿರಸ20491992-1993 CE1932-1933 CE1872-1873 CE
  7.Śrīmukhaश्रीमुख ꢯ꣄ꢬꢷꢪꢸꢓꣁஸ்ரீமுகశ్రీముఖಶ್ರೀಮುಖ20501993-1994 CE1933-1934 CE1873-1874 CE
  8.Bhāvaभावꢩꢵꢮꣁபவభావಭಾವ20511994-1995 CE1934-1935 CE1874-1875 CE
  9. Yuvaयुवꢫꢸꢮꣁயுவయువಯುವ20521995-1996 CE1935-1936 CE1875-1876 CE
10. Dhātṛधातृꢤꢵꢡꢸதாத்ரு / தாதாధాతಧಾತೃ20531996-1997 CE1936-1937 CE1876-1877 CE
11.Īśvaraईश्वरꢅꢯ꣄ꢮꢬꣁஈஸ்வரఈశ్వరಈಶ್ವರ20541997-1998 CE1937-1938 CE1877-1878 CE
12.Bahudhānyaबहुधान्यꢨꢲꢸꢤꢵꢥ꣄ꢫꣁபஹுதான்யబహుధాన్యಬಹುಧಾನ್ಯ20551998-1999 CE1938-1939 CE1878-1879 CE
13.Pramāthi प्रमाथीꢦ꣄ꢬꢪꢵꢣꢶபிரமாதிప్రమాధిಪ್ರಮಾಥಿ20561999-2000 CE1939-1940 CE1879-1880 CE
14.Vikramaविक्रमꢮꢶꢒ꣄ꢬꢪꣁவிக்ரமవిక్రమವಿಕ್ರಮ20572000-2001 CE1940-1941 CE1880-1881 CE
15.Vṛṣaprajāवृषप्रजाꢮꢶꢰꢸவிஷு / வருஷப்ரஜா వృశాప్రజాವೃಷಪ್ರಜಾ20582001-2002 CE1941-1942 CE1881-1882 CE
16.Citrabhānu चित्रभानुꢗꢶꢡ꣄ꢬꢩꢵꢥꢸசித்ரபானுచిత్రభానుಚಿತ್ರಭಾನು20592002-2003 CE1942-1943 CE1882-1883 CE
17.Svabhānu स्वभानुꢱ꣄ꢮꢩꢵꢥꢸசுபானு / ச்வபானுస్వభానుಸ್ವಭಾನು20602003-2004 CE1943-1944 CE1883-1884 CE
18.Tāraṇaतारणꢡꢵꢬꢠꣁதாரணతారణತಾರಣ20612004-2005 CE1944-1945 CE1884-1885 CE
19.Pārthivaपार्थिवꢦꢵꢬ꣄ꢢꢶꢮꣁபார்திவపార్థివಪಾರ್ಥಿವ20622005-2006 CE1945-1946 CE1885-1886 CE
20.Avyaya/Vyayaअव्यय/व्ययꢮ꣄ꢫꢫꣁஅவ்யய / வ்யயవ్యయವ್ಯಯ20632006-2007 CE1946-1947 CE1886-1887 CE
21.Sarvajit सर्वजित्ꢱꢬ꣄ꢮꢙꢶꢡꢸசர்வஜித் సర్వజితಸರ್ವಜಿತ್20642007-2008 CE1947-1948 CE1887-1888 CE
22.Sarvadhārīसर्वधारीꢱꢬ꣄ꢮꢤꢵꢬꢶசர்வதாரிసర్వధారిಸರ್ವಧಾರಿ20652008-2009 CE1948-1949 CE1888-1889 CE
23.Virodhīविरोधीꢮꢶꢬꣂꢤꢶவிரோதிవిరోధిವಿರೋಧಿ20662009-2010 CE1949-1950 CE1889-1890 CE
24.Vikṛti विकृतिꢮꢶꢒꢺꢡꢶவிக்ருதிవికృతిವಿಕೃತಿ20672010-2011 CE1950-1951 CE1890-1891 CE
25.Kharaखरꢓꢬꣁகரఖరಖರ20682011-2012 CE1951-1952 CE1891-1892 CE
26.Nandanaनन्दनꢥꢥ꣄ꢣꢥꣁநந்தனనందనನಂದನ20692012-2013 CE1952-1953 CE1892-1893 CE
27.Vijayaविजयવિજયவிஜயవిజయವಿಜಯ20702013-2014 CE1953-1954 CE1893-1894 CE
28.Jayaजयજયஜயజయಜಯ20712014-2015 CE1954-1955 CE1894-1895 CE
29.Manmathaमन्मथમન્મથமன்மதమన్మధಮನ್ಮಥ20722015-2016 CE1955-1956 CE1895-1896 CE
30.Durmukhaदुर्मुखદુર્મુખதுற்முகదుర్ముఖದುರ್ಮುಖ20732016-2017 CE1956-1957 CE1896-1897 CE
31.Hevilambi हेविळम्बिહેવિળમ્બિஹேவிளம்பிహేవిళంబిಹೇವಿಳಂಬಿ20742017-2018 CE1957-1958 CE1897-1898 CE
32.Vilambi विळम्बिવિળમ્બિவிளம்பிవిళంబిವಿಳಂಬಿ20752018-2019 CE1958-1959 CE1898-1899 CE
33.Vikāri विकारिવિકારિவிகாரிవికారిವಿಕಾರಿ20762019-2020 CE1959-1960 CE1899-1900 CE
34.Śārvarīशार्वरीશાર્વરીசார்வரிశార్వరిಶಾರ್ವರಿ20772020-2021 CE1960-1961 CE1900-1901 CE
35.Plavaप्लवપ્લવபிளவప్లవಪ್ಲವ20782021-2022 CE1961-1962 CE1901-1902 CE
36.Śubhakṛtशुभकृत्શુભકૃતசுபகிருதுశుభకృతಶುಭಕೃತ20792022-2023 CE1962-1963 CE1902-1903 CE
37.Śobhakṛtशोभकृत्શોભકૃતசோபகிருதுశోభకృతಶೋಭಕೃತ20802023-2024 CE1963-1964 CE1903-1904 CE
38.Krodhīक्रोधीક્રોધીகுரோதிక్రోధిಕ್ರೋಧಿ20812024-2025 CE1964-1965 CE1904-1905 CE
39.Viśvāvasu विश्वावसुવિશ્વાસુவிஷ்வாவசுవిశ్వావసుವಿಶ್ವಾವಸು20822025-2026 CE1965-1966 CE1905-1906 CE
40.Parābhavaपराभवપરાભવபராபவపరాభవಪರಾಭವ20832026-2027 CE1966-1967 CE1906-1907 CE
41.Plavaṅgaप्लवङ्गપ્લવંગப்லவங்கప్లవంగಪ್ಲವಂಗ20842027-2028 CE1967-1968 CE1907-1908 CE
42.Kīlakaकीलकકીલકகீலகకీలకಕೀಲಕ20852028-2029 CE1968-1969 CE1908-1909 CE
43.Saumyaसौम्यસૌમ્યசௌம்யసౌమ్యಸೌಮ್ಯ20862029-2030 CE1969-1970 CE1909-1910 CE
44.Sādhāraṇaसाधारणસાધારણசாதாரணసాధారణಸಾಧಾರಣ20872030-2031 CE1970-1971 CE1910-1911 CE
45.Virodhakṛta विरोधकृतવિરોધકૃતவிரோதகிருதవిరోధికృతವಿರೋಧಿಕೃತ್20882031-2032 CE1971-1972 CE1911-1912 CE
46.Paridhāviपरिधावीપરીધાવીபரிதாவிపరిధావిಪರಿಧಾವಿ20892032-2033 CE1972-1973 CE1912-1913 CE
47.Pramādiप्रमादीપ્રમાદીபிரமாதீప్రమాదీచಪ್ರಮಾದಿ20902033-2034 CE1973-1974 CE1913-1914 CE
48.Ānandaआनंदઆનંદஆனந்த ఆనందಆನಂದ20912034-2035 CE1974-1975 CE1914-1915 CE
49.Rākṣasaराक्षसરાક્ષસராட்சச రాక్షసರಾಕ್ಷಸ20922035-2036 CE1975-1976 CE1915-1916 CE
50.Nala/Anala नल/अनलનલ/અનલநளనలನಳ20932036-2037 CE1976-1977 CE1916-1917 CE
51.Piṅgalaपिंगलપિંગલபிங்களపింగళಪಿಂಗಳ20942037-2038 CE1977-1978 CE1917-1918 CE
52.Kālayuktaकालयुक्तકાલયુક્તகாளயுக்திకాళయుక్తిಕಾಳಯುಕ್ತಿ20952038-2039 CE1978-1979 CE1918-1919 CE
53.Siddhārthiसिद्धार्थीસીદ્ધાર્થીசித்தார்த்திసిద్ధార్థಸಿದ್ಧಾರ್ಥಿ20962039-2040 CE1979-1980 CE1919-1920 CE
54.Raudriरौद्रરૌદ્રரௌத்ரிరౌద్రిರೌದ್ರಿ20972040-2041 CE1980-1981 CE1920-1921 CE
55.Durmati दुर्मतिદુર્મતિதுற்மதிదుర్మతిದುರ್ಮತಿ20982041-2042 CE1981-1982 CE1921-1922 CE
56.Dundubhi दुन्दुभीદુન્દુભીதுந்துபிదుందుభిದುಂದುಭಿ20992042-2043 CE1982-1983 CE1922-1923 CE
57.Rudhirodgāriरूधिरोद्गारीરુધીરોદ્ગારીருதிரோத்காரிరుధిరోద్గారిರುಧಿರೋದ್ಗಾರಿ21002043-2044 CE1983-1984 CE1923-1924 CE
58.Raktākṣiरक्ताक्षीરક્તાક્ષીரக்தாட்சிరక్తాక్షిರಕ್ತಾಕ್ಷಿ21012044-2045 CE1984-1985 CE1924-1925 CE
59.Krodhana/Manyu क्रोधनક્રોધનக்ரோதனక్రోధనಕ್ರೋಧನ21022045-2046 CE1985-1986 CE1925-1926 CE
60.Akshaya अक्षय અક્ષયஅட்சயఅక్షయಅಕ್ಷಯ21032046-2047 CE1986-1987 CE1926-1927 CE

See also

Sources

Notes and References

  1. Book: Bettina Bäumer. Kapila Vatsyayan. Kalātattvakośa: A Lexicon of Fundamental Concepts of the Indian Arts. 1992. Motilal Banarsidass . 978-81-208-1044-0. 215–216.
  2. Book: Bettina Bäumer. Kapila Vatsyayan. Kalātattvakośa: A Lexicon of Fundamental Concepts of the Arts. 1992. Motilal Banarsidass . 978-81-208-1044-0. 217–218.
  3. Book: Robert Sewell. Śaṅkara Bālakr̥shṇa Dīkshita. The Indian Calendar . 1896. S. Sonnenschein & Company . 5, 32–33.
  4. Book: Robert Sewell. Śaṅkara Bālakr̥shṇa Dīkshita. The Indian Calendar . 1896. S. Sonnenschein & Company . 33.
  5. Book: Robert Sewell. John Faithful Fleet. The Siddhantas and the Indian Calendar. 1924. Asian Educational Services. 978-81-206-0364-6. 292–294.
  6. Book: S. Balachandra Rao. Indian Astronomy: An Introduction. 2000. Universities Press. 978-81-7371-205-0. 59.

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