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 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.[3] The ancient text Surya Siddhanta calculates a samvatsara to be about 361 days, marginally short of a solar year.[3] 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.[citation needed] 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

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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

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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.[citation needed]

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. Prabhava प्रभव ꢦ꣄ꢬꢩꢮꣁ பிரபவ ప్రభవ ಪ್ರಭವ 2044 1987-1988 CE 1927-1928 CE 1867-1868 CE
  2. Vibhava विभव ꢮꢶꢩꢮꣁ விபவ విభవ ವಿಭವ 2045 1988-1989 CE 1928-1929 CE 1868-1869 CE
  3. Śukla शुक्ल ꢯꢸꢒ꣄ꢭꣁ சுக்ல శుక్ల ಶುಕ್ಲ 2046 1989-1990 CE 1929-1930 CE 1869-1870 CE
  4. Pramodadūta प्रमोदूत ꢦ꣄ꢬꢪꣂꢣꢹꢡꣁ பிரமோதூத ప్రమోద్యూత ಪ್ರಮೋದೂತ 2047 1990-1991 CE 1930-1931 CE 1870-1871 CE
  5. Prajāpati प्रजापति ꢦ꣄ꢬꢙꢵꢦꢡꢶ பிரசோற்பத்தி ప్రజోత్పత్తి ಪ್ರಜಾಪತಿ 2048 1991-1992 CE 1931-1932 CE 1871-1872 CE
  6. Āṅgirasa आङ्गिरस ꢃꢖ꣄ꢔꢷꢬꢱꣁ ஆங்கீரச ఆంగీరస ಅಂಗಿರಸ 2049 1992-1993 CE 1932-1933 CE 1872-1873 CE
  7. Śrīmukha श्रीमुख ꢯ꣄ꢬꢷꢪꢸꢓꣁ ஸ்ரீமுக శ్రీముఖ ಶ್ರೀಮುಖ 2050 1993-1994 CE 1933-1934 CE 1873-1874 CE
  8. Bhāva भाव ꢩꢵꢮꣁ பவ భావ ಭಾವ 2051 1994-1995 CE 1934-1935 CE 1874-1875 CE
  9. Yuva युव ꢫꢸꢮꣁ யுவ యువ ಯುವ 2052 1995-1996 CE 1935-1936 CE 1875-1876 CE
10. Dhātṛ धातृ ꢤꢵꢡꢸ தாத்ரு / தாதா ధాత ಧಾತೃ 2053 1996-1997 CE 1936-1937 CE 1876-1877 CE
11. Īśvara ईश्वर ꢅꢯ꣄ꢮꢬꣁ ஈஸ்வர ఈశ్వర ಈಶ್ವರ 2054 1997-1998 CE 1937-1938 CE 1877-1878 CE
12. Bahudhānya बहुधान्य ꢨꢲꢸꢤꢵꢥ꣄ꢫꣁ பஹுதான்ய బహుధాన్య ಬಹುಧಾನ್ಯ 2055 1998-1999 CE 1938-1939 CE 1878-1879 CE
13. Pramāthi प्रमाथी ꢦ꣄ꢬꢪꢵꢣꢶ பிரமாதி ప్రమాధి ಪ್ರಮಾಥಿ 2056 1999-2000 CE 1939-1940 CE 1879-1880 CE
14. Vikrama विक्रम ꢮꢶꢒ꣄ꢬꢪꣁ விக்ரம విక్రమ ವಿಕ್ರಮ 2057 2000-2001 CE 1940-1941 CE 1880-1881 CE
15. Vṛṣaprajā वृषप्रजा ꢮꢶꢰꢸ விஷு / வருஷப்ரஜா వృశాప్రజా ವೃಷಪ್ರಜಾ 2058 2001-2002 CE 1941-1942 CE 1881-1882 CE
16. Citrabhānu चित्रभानु ꢗꢶꢡ꣄ꢬꢩꢵꢥꢸ சித்ரபானு చిత్రభాను ಚಿತ್ರಭಾನು 2059 2002-2003 CE 1942-1943 CE 1882-1883 CE
17. Svabhānu स्वभानु ꢱ꣄ꢮꢩꢵꢥꢸ சுபானு / ச்வபானு స్వభాను ಸ್ವಭಾನು 2060 2003-2004 CE 1943-1944 CE 1883-1884 CE
18. Tāraṇa तारण ꢡꢵꢬꢠꣁ தாரண తారణ ತಾರಣ 2061 2004-2005 CE 1944-1945 CE 1884-1885 CE
19. Pārthiva पार्थिव ꢦꢵꢬ꣄ꢢꢶꢮꣁ பார்திவ పార్థివ ಪಾರ್ಥಿವ 2062 2005-2006 CE 1945-1946 CE 1885-1886 CE
20. Avyaya/Vyaya अव्यय/व्यय ꢮ꣄ꢫꢫꣁ அவ்யய / வ்யய వ్యయ ವ್ಯಯ 2063 2006-2007 CE 1946-1947 CE 1886-1887 CE
21. Sarvajit सर्वजित् ꢱꢬ꣄ꢮꢙꢶꢡꢸ சர்வஜித் సర్వజిత ಸರ್ವಜಿತ್ 2064 2007-2008 CE 1947-1948 CE 1887-1888 CE
22. Sarvadhārī सर्वधारी ꢱꢬ꣄ꢮꢤꢵꢬꢶ சர்வதாரி సర్వధారి ಸರ್ವಧಾರಿ 2065 2008-2009 CE 1948-1949 CE 1888-1889 CE
23. Virodhī विरोधी ꢮꢶꢬꣂꢤꢶ விரோதி విరోధి ವಿರೋಧಿ 2066 2009-2010 CE 1949-1950 CE 1889-1890 CE
24. Vikṛti विकृति ꢮꢶꢒꢺꢡꢶ விக்ருதி వికృతి ವಿಕೃತಿ 2067 2010-2011 CE 1950-1951 CE 1890-1891 CE
25. Khara खर ꢓꢬꣁ கர ఖర ಖರ 2068 2011-2012 CE 1951-1952 CE 1891-1892 CE
26. Nandana नन्दन ꢥꢥ꣄ꢣꢥꣁ நந்தன నందన ನಂದನ 2069 2012-2013 CE 1952-1953 CE 1892-1893 CE
27. Vijaya विजय વિજય விஜய విజయ ವಿಜಯ 2070 2013-2014 CE 1953-1954 CE 1893-1894 CE
28. Jaya जय જય ஜய జయ ಜಯ 2071 2014-2015 CE 1954-1955 CE 1894-1895 CE
29. Manmatha मन्मथ મન્મથ மன்மத మన్మధ ಮನ್ಮಥ 2072 2015-2016 CE 1955-1956 CE 1895-1896 CE
30. Durmukha दुर्मुख દુર્મુખ துற்முக దుర్ముఖ ದುರ್ಮುಖ 2073 2016-2017 CE 1956-1957 CE 1896-1897 CE
31. Hevilambi हेविळम्बि હેવિળમ્બિ ஹேவிளம்பி హేవిళంబి ಹೇವಿಳಂಬಿ 2074 2017-2018 CE 1957-1958 CE 1897-1898 CE
32. Vilambi विळम्बि વિળમ્બિ விளம்பி విళంబి ವಿಳಂಬಿ 2075 2018-2019 CE 1958-1959 CE 1898-1899 CE
33. Vikāri विकारि વિકારિ விகாரி వికారి ವಿಕಾರಿ 2076 2019-2020 CE 1959-1960 CE 1899-1900 CE
34. Śārvarī शार्वरी શાર્વરી சார்வரி శార్వరి ಶಾರ್ವರಿ 2077 2020-2021 CE 1960-1961 CE 1900-1901 CE
35. Plava प्लव પ્લવ பிளவ ప్లవ ಪ್ಲವ 2078 2021-2022 CE 1961-1962 CE 1901-1902 CE
36. Śubhakṛt शुभकृत् શુભકૃત சுபகிருது శుభకృత ಶುಭಕೃತ 2079 2022-2023 CE 1962-1963 CE 1902-1903 CE
37. Śobhakṛt शोभकृत् શોભકૃત சோபகிருது శోభకృత ಶೋಭಕೃತ 2080 2023-2024 CE 1963-1964 CE 1903-1904 CE
38. Krodhī क्रोधी ક્રોધી குரோதி క్రోధి ಕ್ರೋಧಿ 2081 2024-2025 CE 1964-1965 CE 1904-1905 CE
39. Viśvāvasu विश्वावसु વિશ્વાસુ விஷ்வாவசு విశ్వావసు ವಿಶ್ವಾವಸು 2082 2025-2026 CE 1965-1966 CE 1905-1906 CE
40. Parābhava पराभव પરાભવ பராபவ పరాభవ ಪರಾಭವ 2083 2026-2027 CE 1966-1967 CE 1906-1907 CE
41. Plavaṅga प्लवङ्ग પ્લવંગ ப்லவங்க ప్లవంగ ಪ್ಲವಂಗ 2084 2027-2028 CE 1967-1968 CE 1907-1908 CE
42. Kīlaka कीलक કીલક கீலக కీలక ಕೀಲಕ 2085 2028-2029 CE 1968-1969 CE 1908-1909 CE
43. Saumya सौम्य સૌમ્ય சௌம்ய సౌమ్య ಸೌಮ್ಯ 2086 2029-2030 CE 1969-1970 CE 1909-1910 CE
44. Sādhāraṇa साधारण સાધારણ சாதாரண సాధారణ ಸಾಧಾರಣ 2087 2030-2031 CE 1970-1971 CE 1910-1911 CE
45. Virodhakṛta विरोधकृत વિરોધકૃત விரோதகிருத విరోధికృత ವಿರೋಧಿಕೃತ್ 2088 2031-2032 CE 1971-1972 CE 1911-1912 CE
46. Paridhāvi परिधावी પરીધાવી பரிதாவி పరిధావి ಪರಿಧಾವಿ 2089 2032-2033 CE 1972-1973 CE 1912-1913 CE
47. Pramādi प्रमादी પ્રમાદી பிரமாதீ ప్రమాదీచ ಪ್ರಮಾದಿ 2090 2033-2034 CE 1973-1974 CE 1913-1914 CE
48. Ānanda आनंद આનંદ ஆனந்த ఆనంద ಆನಂದ 2091 2034-2035 CE 1974-1975 CE 1914-1915 CE
49. Rākṣasa राक्षस રાક્ષસ ராட்சச రాక్షస ರಾಕ್ಷಸ 2092 2035-2036 CE 1975-1976 CE 1915-1916 CE
50. Nala/Anala नल/अनल નલ/અનલ நள నల ನಳ 2093 2036-2037 CE 1976-1977 CE 1916-1917 CE
51. Piṅgala पिंगल પિંગલ பிங்கள పింగళ ಪಿಂಗಳ 2094 2037-2038 CE 1977-1978 CE 1917-1918 CE
52. Kālayukta कालयुक्त કાલયુક્ત காளயுக்தி కాళయుక్తి ಕಾಳಯುಕ್ತಿ 2095 2038-2039 CE 1978-1979 CE 1918-1919 CE
53. Siddhārthi सिद्धार्थी સીદ્ધાર્થી சித்தார்த்தி సిద్ధార్థ ಸಿದ್ಧಾರ್ಥಿ 2096 2039-2040 CE 1979-1980 CE 1919-1920 CE
54. Raudri रौद्र રૌદ્ર ரௌத்ரி రౌద్రి ರೌದ್ರಿ 2097 2040-2041 CE 1980-1981 CE 1920-1921 CE
55. Durmati दुर्मति દુર્મતિ துற்மதி దుర్మతి ದುರ್ಮತಿ 2098 2041-2042 CE 1981-1982 CE 1921-1922 CE
56. Dundubhi दुन्दुभी દુન્દુભી துந்துபி దుందుభి ದುಂದುಭಿ 2099 2042-2043 CE 1982-1983 CE 1922-1923 CE
57. Rudhirodgāri रूधिरोद्गारी રુધીરોદ્ગારી ருதிரோத்காரி రుధిరోద్గారి ರುಧಿರೋದ್ಗಾರಿ 2100 2043-2044 CE 1983-1984 CE 1923-1924 CE
58. Raktākṣi रक्ताक्षी રક્તાક્ષી ரக்தாட்சி రక్తాక్షి ರಕ್ತಾಕ್ಷಿ 2101 2044-2045 CE 1984-1985 CE 1924-1925 CE
59. Krodhana/Manyu क्रोधन ક્રોધન க்ரோதன క్రోధన ಕ್ರೋಧನ 2102 2045-2046 CE 1985-1986 CE 1925-1926 CE
60. Akshaya अक्षय અક્ષય அட்சய అక్షయ ಅಕ್ಷಯ 2103 2046-2047 CE 1986-1987 CE 1926-1927 CE

See also

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References

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

Sources

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