Tuesday, February 7, 2012

The 1000th FULL Moon

After crossing the "First and Second Milestones" (Click here to read), the next journey in life is towards the third milestone, the one of sighting of the 1000th Full Moon.  After crossing this "Sahasra Chandra Darshana" it is time to celebrate the occasion by performing the "Sahasra Chandra Darshana Shanti".  The first milestone at 60 years is crossed by many and they celebrate "Ugra Ratha Shanti", but only some of them remain on the path of life to cross the next stage of 70 years to celebrate "Bhima Ratha Shanti".  The more fortunate ones with good health and a proper environment to lead an active life reach the next milestone of sighting the 1000th full moon.

All physical items are measured using different yardsticks for the purpose of comparison and accurately dealing with them.  In fact, the word "yardstick" used so frequently is itself a measure of length or distance.  In the Royal Observatory in Greenwich, London,  metal pieces measuring a yard (3 feet), 2 feet, one foot and six inches are displayed on the wall.  One yard is equal to 0.9144 meters.  Similar measures are used for measuring weight, volume etc.  Such a unit of measurement is also required to measure another important dimension, the "time".  The best resource available to man for measuring time is the movement of the Earth, Sun and Moon.  Time between one Sunrise to the next Sunrise is considered a "day".  Movement of the moon provides another important source to measure time.  Unlike Sun, the shape and size of Moon which changes each day and is clearly visible to a man on the earth provides an excellent measure to define a month.  A full moon night to a new moon night is a fortnight and a new moon night to another full moon night is another fortnight.   In other words, a full moon night to another full moon night, which is easily visible to the naked eye from the earth,  is a Lunar month.  A Lunar month has 29.53 days and a 12 month Lunar year thus has 354 days.  In comparison a Solar year, which is the time covered by sun to complete a cycle of 12 houses of the Zodiac, has 365 days.  In order to reconcile the difference between the 354-day Lunar year and 365-day Solar year, an extra month is added to the Lunar calender once in 33 months.  This is similar to the leap year when February has 29 days.  The difference of 11 days is thus covered by the "Leap Month" called "Adhika Maasa"or "Mala Maasa".  This is also called as Mala Maasa, mala meaning impurity or sin, as this month is believed to be excellent for doing good deeds to wash off all impurities and sins.  "Purushottama" is considered as the "Maasaniyamaka" for this month.  It is believed that any daana (offerings) made or good deed done during this month gives additional (adhika) punya and hence the saying "Adhikasya Adhikam Phalam".  As there is no "Sankramana" in this leap month, it is not considered for other auspicious functions like marriage etc.  Sankramana is the time during which Sun moves from one house in the Zodiac to another house.  The entire leap lunar month falls between two sankramanas or when the Sun stays in one house.  With the concept of leap month in place, a Lunar calender synchronizes completely with the Solar calender once in sixty years.

When a person reaches 80 years of age, he would have seen 960 (80x12) plus 29 full moons due to leap months, thus making an aggregate of 989 full moons.  The 1000th Full Moon would have been sighted in the 81st year.  A leap month actually arrives sometimes in 29 months and sometimes gets extended up to 35 months.  In order to provide for such contingency, this milestone is deemed to have been crossed after completion of 81 years.  As per the saying, to err on the right side.  In all Panchaangas (Lunar calenders especially) on the padya or bidige (first or second day of the fortnight cycle after new moon day) of shukla paksha, notation of "Chandra Darshanam" will be made to indicate sighting of the moon after the preceding new moon day.  Whether the person has actually seen the full moons or not, he has lived the time span covering 1000 full moons when he crosses 81 years. Hence "Sahasra Chandra Darshana Shanti" is conducted  one or two months after the completion of 81 years.  After the milestones of 60 years and 70 years, the next natural and logical milestone ought to have been 80 years.  But sighting of 1000th Full Moon is so close to 80 years and also a much better occasion to celebrate and hence has received wide acceptance.

All other aspects of this celebration are the same as being done when crossing the first and second milestones.  Invitations are made out in the name of the sons or daughters of the person crossing the milestone.  The concept and details of the functions and the shanti karmas are the same.  Mrutyunjaya and other deities are invoked in the kalashas and worshiped in the same manner.  Holy water from the kalashas is sprinkled on the person crossing the milestone and his immediate family members.  Sieve is again used to protect the gold items from being washed away or misplaced and also to ensure proper and longer sprinkling of holy water.  The usual sumptuous feast brings the climax.  Cultural programmes are arranged in the afternoon sessions to enable friends and relatives to enjoy the occasion for a longer duration of time.  To seek the blessings of a person crossing such a milestone is considered as a rare privilege for younger members of the family and community.  A person is said to have become "Vruddha" or "" Elder" on two counts; one by age and another by the level of  knowledge or wisdom.  "Vayo vruddha" for being elder by age and "Jnana vruddha" for being elder by knowledge or wisdom.  A person reaching this level is naturally Vayovruddha and he is expected to be a Jnanavruddha also.  Such functions have now become rare as arranging such functions in the family requires dedication and commitment from the younger generation.  Those who have participated in such functions know the dignity of the occasion as well as the pleasure derived by participating in them.  Sighting 1000 moons is no mean achievement and it requires good health, a sound mind and contribution of many from the family and society.


There can be the usual question about the celebration for women when they reach this stage.  There should be no bar and the logic of celebrating for men should be equally applicable for women.  If both partners among the elderly couple are alive, they sit together for the rituals.  Otherwise one of the other available couple in the family perform the rituals.  Maarjana or sprinkling is done with the persons crossing the milestone in the center and other members of the family around him. 

There are two more milestones to be covered.  The fourth one is "Prapoutra (Great grand son) Darshana" and then finally, the "Centenary".  These stages also have some finer aspects and special significance.  They are to be covered in the next two steps.

22 comments:

  1. Excellent rendition of this important milestone.
    I was always wondering about 1000 moons
    calculation. This is a perfect math answer for me. Your knowledge on so many different topics is mindboggling and you have earned it.
    UR..........

    ReplyDelete
  2. beautifully explained. congrats!
    i always thought adhikasya adika phalam meant the more the merrier!
    you have given a nice interpretation by linking it to punya karmas done during adhika masa yielding greater merit. Thanks for educating me! i agree with the comment by Anonymous above. UR simply great!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Excellent article! Look forward to many more insights like this.

      Delete
  3. such a beautiful explanation, I learned today the significance of 1000 moons,It is a known fact, but very few people know about it,
    we got to do better job to dessiminate this piece of knowledge,
    let us publish in all local and natational magazines,
    this should bring good get togethers for values and wisdom.

    ReplyDelete
  4. Sunday 28th April 2013.

    It is mentioned in your article....In comparison a Solar year, which is the time covered by sun to complete a cycle of 12 houses of the Zodiac, has 365 days.....is a statement of Pre-Kepler era, It takes 365 days for the Earth to complete one revolution around the sun.

    Full Moon is Pournima and new Moon is Amaavasya.

    Sahastra Chandra Darshan is a misnomer...It should be Sahastra Poorna Chandra Darshan.

    I am particularly interested in this topic because 3rd May next month will be my 80th Birthday.

    Gee Waman, Mumbai

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Yes, its full form is "Sahasra Poorna Chandra Darshan" only. But it is popularly called Sahasra Chandra Darshan......

      Delete
    2. A cycle of the Zodiac is an astrological way of communication. Rotation of the earth is the Astronomical statement. Thank you.

      Delete
  5. Thank Q for giving this article:

    I'm HARI PRAKASH from SRIRANGAM, I Have also calculated the same but little differently. I am not here to argue your facts. I think it may be correct.

    I Agree with lunar year has 354 days.

    Computation

    Let us take:
    No of days in four years(solar year):366 + 365 + 365 + 365 = 1461.
    No of days for Completed 80 years: 1461 x 20 = 29220.

    In Lunar year 354 days a man can witness 12 full moons.

    that means,
    a man can witness at the completed age of 80 years(29220 days)

    i e: 29220 days / 354 days = 82.54237...

    82.54237.... x 12 moon = 990.508474... moons (can witness)

    Adding 10 months(Carrying by Mother)= 10 moons obviously.

    990 moons(990.508474..) + 10 moons = 1,000 moons (accurately)

    Note: in my fact a man can witness 1000 full moons in completed 80 years but can not seen.

    Simply a Blind man who has completed 80 years also come into this parameter he can't seen but he witnessed.

    This is my first page in your blog i seen, very nice and impressive. I m not saying that my comments are correct, I'm just 23 year old, U guys are more experience than my age in this field.

    kindly follow up through hariprakash.8290@gmail.com


    ReplyDelete
  6. Thank Q for giving this article:

    I'm HARI PRAKASH from SRIRANGAM, I Have also calculated the same but little differently. I am not here to argue your facts. I think it may be correct.

    I Agree with lunar year has 354 days.

    Computation

    Let us take:
    No of days in four years(solar year):366 + 365 + 365 + 365 = 1461.
    No of days for Completed 80 years: 1461 x 20 = 29220.

    In Lunar year 354 days a man can witness 12 full moons.

    that means,
    a man can witness at the completed age of 80 years(29220 days)

    i e: 29220 days / 354 days = 82.54237...

    82.54237.... x 12 moon = 990.508474... moons (can witness)

    Adding 10 months(Carrying by Mother)= 10 moons obviously.

    990 moons(990.508474..) + 10 moons = 1,000 moons (accurately)

    Note: in my fact a man can witness 1000 full moons in completed 80 years but can not seen.

    Simply a Blind man who has completed 80 years also come into this parameter he can't seen but he witnessed.

    This is my first page in your blog i seen, very nice and impressive. I m not saying that my comments are correct, I'm just 23 year old, U guys are more experience than my age in this field.

    kindly follow up through hariprakash.8290@gmail.com


    ReplyDelete
  7. Thank Q for giving this informative article.

    I am HARI PRAKASH. N from Srirangam (Trichy), I have also Calculated same thing but slightly different.

    I agree with lunar year has 354 days.

    Computation of 1000 full moon days.

    In 354 days of lunar year has 12 Full moons.

    let us
    compute:
    No of days in 4 solar years =366+365+365+365=1461 days (4 year)
    No of days in 80 Solar year = 1461 x 20 = 29220 days (80 years)

    A person can witness 12 full moons in 354 days.

    then he can witness 80 completed years:

    29220 days divided by 354 days and multiplied by 12.

    i e: 29220 days / 354 days = 82.54237...

    82.54237... x 12 moons = 990.50847... full moons

    Add: 10 months (Carrying by Mother) = 10 full moons

    i e: 990(990.50847)full moons + 10 moons = 1000 full moons.


    In my Computation a man can witness 1000 moons in 80 completed years.

    Note: There is conflict between witness and seen of 1000 moon.

    In practical we may not seen exact no of moons at the age of 80 but we witness it. i think seeing is not important. I may be wrongly interpret the facts but in trust and bond with our forefathers. I am just 23 year old, Keshava Murthy you have more experience than my age in this field. this calculation is not for argue, just sharing my views.

    Please clarify me of above.

    Reply through : hariprakash.8290@gmail.com

    Conclusion:
    Our forefathers are very Brainy and most intelligent especially in the field of Space, Maths. Their Calculations very Accurate, this drive me do like this.

    Our Intelligence can sphere the world like any thing,
    but we afraid to establish all those things, which western countries does.




    ReplyDelete
  8. Very good write up Sir ,which answers all our queries,especially that , There should be no bar and the logic of celebrating for men should be equally applicable for women.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Yes, the above analysis is interesting and logical.

      I am supporting the same with the following analysis:

      The difference between solar and lunar year is 365 days - 354 days = 11days
      The difference in 4 years including one leap year is = 45 days

      In 80 years the difference is:
      (80 ÷ 4)×45days=900days
      In 900days we can see 900days÷30are 30moons.
      Total= 960(as explained above)+30= 990
      In another 10months = 10

      So, in 80 years and 10 months we can see 1000 moons.

      Delete
  9. Very good logical explanation. I sincerely appreciate this analysis.

    On 2nd of this month I have attended one of our family friend's function. It is an occasion for their children to celebrate and enjoy with close relatives and Dear friends.

    So, calculations are only indicative.

    ReplyDelete
  10. Can somebody explain me about prapotra homam or shanthi and its principles,procedures ??

    ReplyDelete
  11. Thank you for linking human life to solar system bodies like Sun and Moon. Yes life can't exist without Sun and Moon and it is a man's privilege to have sighted 1000 moons. And in your narration you are keeping the interest alive by keeping in store the two more valuable milestones in life. Thank you very much Sir. Lakshminarayana K

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  12. Thanks for this info. We are doing this for my father in law and was making a small PPT for the same. This really helped! Thanks again!

    ReplyDelete
  13. Thank you very much all of you. My date of birth is 22nd September,1937. My star REVATHI falls on October 6th. However, since my mother's Shraadham thithi falls on that day I have to postpone any celebration even if I choose to celebrate the occasion on my 80th birthday. Since there are some differing opinions on the completion of the sighting of 1000 moons, I will now have to consider all the options. The 2 options I am now considering after reading all the above views are; I am looking at 80years and 10 months or 81 years and 3 months. All will depend on my and my wife's prevailing health. Will just wait and see.Thanks to all of you. Sundram, Malaysia. email: ananthasundram@gmail.com

    ReplyDelete
  14. Guruji, Namaskar. My Father died 14 years back. My Mother is 81+ years now. We all brothers wish to celebrate my Mother's Sahasra Poorna Chandra Darshan Mahahotsav, is it allowed.

    Regards
    Ganji Venkata Narayana
    ganjiv@gmail.com

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Sri Venkata Narayana,

      I have answered the question above. the paragraph is repeated below:

      "There can be the usual question about the celebration for women when they reach this stage. There should be no bar and the logic of celebrating for men should be equally applicable for women. If both partners among the elderly couple are alive, they sit together for the rituals. Otherwise one of the other available couple in the family perform the rituals. Maarjana or sprinkling is done with the persons crossing the milestone in the center and other members of the family around him/her."

      There may not be a definite answer from the religious angle. We need not worry. The function is a social. cultural and religious one. The living need not be denied as the spouse has dead. My opinion is that you may go ahead and celebrate. Others may be happy or unhappy, but your mother and her children will be happy!

      Regards.... Keshava Murthy

      Delete
  15. It is really great to read the relevant aspects in the sahasra chandra darshana .
    I was blessed to attend my brother's sahasra chandra darshana.
    Really it needs dedication of children & do perform with all poomp & vigor

    ReplyDelete
  16. Thanks for writing this blog on this topics.Thanks for writing this blog, You may also like the

    ReplyDelete