पंचांग: काळाची पाच अंगे — तिथी, वार, नक्षत्र, योग, करण यांचे विवेचन

Panchang as Vedic Time Science — Classical Shastra Roots and Cosmic Architecture

Panchang — from Sanskrit Pancha (five) and Anga (limb) — is the Vedic almanac that encodes the quality of time through five astronomical parameters calculated for each day. The Surya Siddhanta, the Aryabhatiya, and the Brahmasphutasiddhanta are the foundational astronomical texts from which Panchang computation derives. Regional Panchangas — the Vishuddhisiddhanta (Bengal), the Drik Siddhanta (South India), the Rasagoladhyaya (Maharashtra), the Grahalaghava (Gujarat) — adapt these classical algorithms to regional ayanamsha conventions and solar longitude systems. The Panchang's five limbs are not arbitrary calendar divisions but physically grounded astronomical measurements. Tithi measures the angular separation between the Sun and Moon. Vara identifies the weekday by planetary rulership in the Hora system. Nakshatra identifies the Moon's position among the 27 (or 28, including Abhijit) lunar mansions of the ecliptic. Yoga measures the combined longitude of the Sun and Moon, divided into 27 segments. Karana represents the half-day unit derived from the Tithi. Together, these five parameters create a multidimensional grid of time quality that no single astronomical measure could capture alone. The Vedic tradition recognises Kala (time) as Brahman in dynamic form — the Panchang is the map of that divine movement made legible for human use.