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SriRangaSri List Archive: Message 00001 Nov 2002

 
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--- In SriRangaSri@xxxx, Srini Raghavan <sraghav@xxxx> wrote:
> 
> I have difficulty in following the logic of Dileepan in instructing 
that Deepavali should be celebrated on Sunday, Nov.3 while it is on 
Monday, Nov.4 in India. He is suggesting that Chaturdasi (and 
Amavasai )comes first to US before it dawns in India.


This matter was discussed at length in a different list 
about 18 months ago in the context of Yajur Upakarma.
Let me give a brief explanation here.

The start of thithi is based on the position of moon
with respect to earth. Therefore, the instant in time
that marks the birth of a thithi is the same all over 
earth. Whether U.S. or Japan, or Norway, it begins at 
the exact same instant.

So, when amavasyai begins on Nov 4th at 6:00 a.m. in 
India, it begins at that same instant everywhere else 
also. That instant in time is 7:30 p.m. the previous 
calendar day in the U.S. because U.S. is 10.5 hours 
behind India. That instant in time will be 8:00 a.m. 
in Singapore which is 2 hours ahead.

After having determined when a thithi begins and ends
we need to apply the rules for determining a given
function. The rule for Deepavali is that at the time
of snanam, which is between 3 and 4 a.m., Chaturdasi 
must be present.

It is true that there are difficulties in places
where the sun never sets, or never rises at some 
times of the year. This does not mean these rules
do not apply in other places where such extreme
conditions are not there. Otherwise, even the
determination given for India can be questioned.
The sun never rises in Norway, so how come Deepavali
is on Nov 4th in India?

In any case, I have not just made any of this up. 
These are based on careful study and consultation 
with experts who have been in the business of making 
such determinaton for years. Thus I stand by the 
determination I have provided. If you wish you take 
it, take it. Or else, just leave it. It won't please 
me if you do, and it will not offend me if you don't.

-- dileepan





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