Subhakruthu varusha Panchangam release - TAMBRAS Triplicane 2022

“Subhakruthu varusha Panchangam’ ~ release  Brahmin Welfare Association, Triplicane 

On 3.4.2022   – divine music outpoured at Gangai Kondan Mandapam at Thiruvallikkeni. Music is heavenly when it is purely devotional – in our cult, it was bakthi padalgal by Sastha dasan.    

Thursday 14^th Apr 2022  would mark the starting of Tamil new year ‘Subhakruthu’  and naturally everyone is curious to know how the year would be !  Do you know …: “Vyaya, Sarvajith,  Sarvathari, Virothi, Vikruthi, Kara, Nanthana, Vijaya, Jaya, Manmatha, Thurmukhi, He Vilambi, Vilambi, Vikari, Saarvari, Pilava  .. ..  (names of Tamil New year – 15 of them preceding Subakruth)  -   …………. On Sunday, 3^rd Apr 2022 , it was a grand gathering at Gangai Kondan Mandapam in Thiruvallikkeni…….. reason… ‘Panchangam release of ‘Brahmins Welfare Association’, Triplicane and Yours Truly was on stage compering. 

A cherished occasion – Triplicane TAMBRAS (Tamil Nadu Brahmin Association) has been releasing panchangam at this place for at least decade + - however, in the recent past two years, we could not organize this function due to Covid 19 though Panchangam was indeed printed and distributed – this year we could organize a grand function too !! 

“In the ‘VaivasvathaManvantharam, after passage of 27 Maha Yugas ~ now in the 28th Mahayuga – after passage of 3 Yugas ~ in the Kali Yuga – after passage of 4 lakh 28 thousands of years – in the year 5122  Salivahana Saha  1943 – Pilava  Varusha Panguni thiruvonam day  (3.4.2022) …… should go the lengthy introduction exactly describing the day on which the  ‘Vihari’ Varusha Panchanga release function was held’. 

A panchāngam (பஞ்சாங்கம்) is not simply  a Hindu calendar and almanac, but more important book that follows traditional units of Indian timekeeping, and presents important dates and their calculations in a tabulated form. Panchāngams are published in India by many learned authors, societies, academies, and universities. Different publications differ only minutely, at least for a casual or un-trained reader. They forecast celestial phenomena such as solar eclipses, forecast weather (rain, dryspells) as well as more mundane occurrences. The study of Panchāngams involves understanding Rasiphalan, the impact of the signs of the zodiac on the individual. Astrologers consult the Panchāngam to set auspicious dates for weddings and the like. 

Panchangam literally translates to having five parts [angas].  They are :

•        Tithi - Ending Moment (EM) of elongation of the Moon, the lunar day, the angular relationship between Sun and Moon

•        Varam – the weekday ~ the seven days of the week

•        Nakshatra - the stellar mansion in which Moon is located for an observer at the center of the Earth. There are 27 Nakshatras.

•        Yoga - EM of the angular relationship between Sun and Moon

•         Karana - EM of half of a Tithi. One Karaṇa equals 6 degree difference between Moon and Sun. 

At 07.00pm  the function started.   On the podium were : 

·             Sri R Narasimhan, President, Triplicane Unit TAMBRAS

·             Sri KV Rangarajan, Vice President, Triplicane Unit TAMBRAS

·             Sri VB Mukundan (Kanchi Krishna Swami, Astrologer) Vice President, Triplicane Unit TAMBRAS

·             Sri Pammal Ramakrishnan, State President – TAMBRAS (Regd)

·             Sri U.Ve Dr MA Venkatakrishnan Swami (Scholar, Upanyasakar, Adhyapak)

·             Sri UVe  Thirumalai Sudarshan  Bashyam Iyengar Swami (Manthrapushyam kainkaryam at Sri Parthasarathi swami thirukovil)

·             Sri Ravichandran, Advocate, Actor, Patron – Brahmins’ Association 

The programme started with ‘திருமங்கைமன்னன் - ஸ்ரீ பார்த்தசாரதிக்கு மங்களாசாசனம்  செய்த விற்பெரு விழவும் பாசுரம்” by Sri S Sampathkumar & group.  Yours Truly  - welcomed the audience,   introduced the Guests and compered the event. 

In his address, Pammalar, State President, stressed on the need for unity, the need for exercising franchise and maintaining our cultural values.  He also highlighted that Brahmins never resort to violence,  never fight against others, and by nature work for harmony and well-being of all in the society. 

During his speech, Dr MAV dwelt at length on how in trying to adopt to newer technologies, many have lost their inherent capabilities – it is more of dependence of yantras trying to defeat usage of mantras, he said.  He spoke about Saraswati Bandaram committee, its contribution to printing granthas and the temple at Ayodhya, built and maintained by Yogi Parthasarathi iyengar family.   He recalled the glorious service Brahmin community has done and of the very notable personalities of Thiruvallikkeni including  Mahakavi Subramaniya Barathiyar, Mathematic genius Ramanujam, Vai Mu Krishnamachar, Sathyamurthi. He also recalled about the foundation and continuance of century and half + institutions like Saraswati Bandaram committee, Hindu High School, Sri Parthasarathi sabha, Veda Vedantha varthini …. 

After speeches by the Guests, Panchangam was released by Dr MAV   – received by Manthrapushpam Sri Bashyam Iyengar and the dignataries on the dias.   It is not simply a religious book – the compiling of this requires lot of precision Maths.  While it is Day : 24 hours : 60 Minutes : 60 seconds ….. the calculations are much more minutely accurate in Vedic and computation of Panchangam ~ it is 48 minutes = 1 muhurtham; 24 minutes = 1 nazhigai; 60 nazhigai = 1 day; 2 ½ nazhigai = 1 hour…….. 15 days is = 1 paksham; 2 months = 1 ruthu;….and minutely …. 1 Paramaanu = 0.0002 seconds  … the book contains so much of useful information and should be treasured in every Brahmin house. 

In all, it was a grand show organized by Brahmin Welfare Association of Triplicane.  Copies of new  panchangam were distributed to all those present at the mantap.  Prasadam too was distributed.  Here are some photos of the function. 

With regards – S. Sampathkumar.

5.4.2022