Shabad Kirtan: “Chet Govind Aradhiaei” by Bhai Harjinder Singh Ji. Thank you Ji for the wonderful shabad. (Source: Shabad Gurbani on YouTube)
By Harnaak Singh
Now we will continue from Part 8A.
In part 8A we had discussed the relation of Guru Nanak Dev Ji’s birthday with the proposed Sikh Panth Calendar. In this part we will continue the discussion with Guru Gobind Singh Ji’s birthdate and Vaisakhi.
We will continue with the figure numbers from Part 8A.
The drifted month or zodiac sign is shown with a “-D” included at the end of the month or sign e.g. POH-D is drifted month POH and LIBRA-D is the drifted zodiac sign LIBRA. Note the drifting occurs in the sidereal method of determining SUN and MOON planetary position.
We use the Jagannatha Hora for sidereal method of determining planetary positions and the Star Fisher for tropical method. The Jagannatha Hora is set to default calculation method.
The date for sidereal calculation is based on sunrise-sunrise and for tropical calculation is midnight-midnight unless otherwise stated. The location is Amritsar, Punjab. All dates are Gregorian unless otherwise stated.
The software we will use in the ensuing analysis, are the Star Fisher and the Jagannatha Hora. These programs are available for free download at
STAR FISHER: http://www.starfisher.cz/starfisher/en/download.htm
JAGANNATHA HORA: http://www.vedicastrologer.org/jh/
Reference is also made to Drik Panchang, a website that details the Hindu calendar, besides other Indian calendars. This site gives panchang details back to 1600 using Gregorian dates. Drik Panchang uses the sidereal method in making the calculations.
DRIK PANCHANG: https://www.drikpanchang.com/panchang
GURU GOBIND SINGH JI’S BIRTHDAY
Step 1: Obtain the event date and check validity
Guru Gobind Singh Ji’s birthdate is POH Sudhi 7 Bikrami year 1723 (i.e. 1666/1667 CE).
This means that Guru Gobind Singh Ji’s birthday was the seventh day after dark moon in the period POH.
POH would fall between DEC and JAN.
This is a known valid date.
Step 2: Determine position of the SUN using sidereal method
We will use the Jagannatha Hora (JN) to obtain this information (sidereal date).
The drifted POH-D falls in Sagittarius. We determine the date and time of drifted POH-D. The screenshot from JH shows this in Figure 58. POH-D starts on 10-Dec-1666 (11-Dec-1666 at 2:20 AM)
Figure 58: Start of POH 1666 (drifted)
Next is to find MASSIA. Massia occurs on 25-Dec-1666 with SUN and MOON conjunct i.e. in line of the same side of the earth (25-Dec-1666 at 11:38 PM). See Figure 59. SUN and MOON are conjunct at 15 degree 10 min Sagittarius (Sg).
Figure 59: Massia in drifted POH-D 1666
Guru Gobind Singh Ji’s birthdate is POH-D Sudhi 7 i.e. on the 7th day following MASSIA. Massia falls on 25-December 1666. Sudhi 1 is 26-Dec-1666, Sudhi 2 is 27-Dec-1666 and Sudhi 7 is 1-Jan-1667. Therefore Guru Gobind Singh Ji birthday falls on
POH-D (drifted and leap adjusted in Sagittarius) Sudhi 7, i.e Jan 1st 1667.
Step 3: Check validity of the event information
The date in Step 1 is a valid date. Therefore, the event information in step 2 is valid event information (sidereal data).
Step 4: Determine position of SUN using the tropical method
We will use the Star Fisher for this. The data obtained from JH (note this is drifted and solar month leap adjusted) i.e.
POH-D (drifted and leap adjusted in Sagittarius) Sudhi 7, i.e Jan 1st 1667
will be used for the tropical method.
We do not know the birth time of Guru Ji. For the purposes of the conversion we will use the birth time of 12:00 noon.
For this date, the tropical method gives the following information: SUN in 10 degrees 28 minutes CAPRICORN. This is reflected in Figure 60 (red arrow). Note zodiac sign CAPRICORN is the sign for the solar month POH. Unlike the sidereal method which gives Sagittarius, the tropical method correctly identifies the zodiac sign CAPRICORN for POH.
Figure 60: Tropical equivalent of the sidereal POH Sudhi 7 (7-Dec-1667) – Snapshot from Star Fisher
The tropical method gives the month of
POH (zodiac sign CAPRICORN) with date 1-Jan-1667
as the birthdate of Guru Gobind Singh Ji.
Step 5: Date of Guru Gobind Singh Ji’s birthday
From the analysis in step 4 we can conclude as follows. Recall that we will use the solar day for the proposed Sikh Panth calendar as bring from midnight-midnight.
Assuming Guru Gobind Singh Ji’s birth time is 12:00 NOON, on 1-Jan-1667 the SUN is in CAPRICORN 10 degrees 28 min using the tropical method. This is in the month of POH (zodiac sign CAPRICORN).
Conclusion: Guru Gobind Singh Ji’s Birthday converted to the proposed Sikh Calendar
Based on the assumption that Guru Gobind Singh Ji’s birth time is 12:00 NOON on 1-Jan-1667, the SUN is in CAPRICORN 10 degrees 28 min using the tropical method. This is the month of POH (zodiac sign CAPRICORN).
Therefore,
According to the tropical method, Guru Gobind Singh Ji was born in the month of POH on 1-Jan-1667.
Using the steps outlined, we are easily able to convert Guru Gobind Singh Ji’s birthday to the proposed Sikh Panth Calendar. Guru Gobind Singh Ji’s birthday falls on 1-Jan-1667, which was POH Sudhi 7.
We have two options of celebrating the yearly celebration of Guru Gobind Singh Ji’s birthday.
OPTION 1
Periodic celebration of this event can be performed on 1st January yearly. Note that POH Sudhi 7 may not fall on this day but the SUN will be in the same position (within limits of leap adjustments) yearly. This will result on the same celebration date every year.
OPTION 2
Aperiodic celebration of this event can be performed on POH Sudhi 7 day in the month of POH that is between 21st December and 20th January yearly. The day POH Sudhi 7 should fall in the month of POH (earliest is 21st December for POH Sudhi 7). The earliest Massia will fall on 14th December for a 21-Dec celebration date. This day is easily available from many sources giving tropical method moon phases (e.g. https://www.timeanddate.com/moon/phases/ which currently lists this information up to 2038) is known well in advance. An example from the mentioned website is shown below in Figure 61. Massia, shown arrowed, falls on 3 Jan 2022 and Guru Gobind Singh Ji’s birthday celebration, POH Sudhi 7, will fall on.10-Jan-2022. Once again, with this option, it is important to note that the SUN as well as the moon is not in the same zodiac sign position as on the day of Guru Ji’s birthday.
Figure 61: Moon phases in 2021/2022 – Massia in POH (Dec-Jan)
In the event there are two occurrences of POH Sudhi 7, one at the beginning and one at the end of month POH, the first occurrence is taken as the POH Sudhi 7 for the celebration. An example is explained below with reference to Figures 62 and 61.
In 2020 Massia falls on 14th December (Figure 62). Thus POH Sudhi 7 falls on 21st December which is the first day of POH. There is another Massia on 13-Jan-2021 which gives POH Sudhi 7 on 20-Jan-2021 which is the last day of POH. In this case the rule is to use the first POH Sudhi 7 i.e. 21-Dec-2020 as the celebration of Guru Gobind Singh Ji’s birthdate.
Figure 62: Moon phases in 2020 – Massia in POH (Dec-Jan)
In this option the celebration date will change depending on the Massia day.
The advantage in option 2, which still uses the lunar phase, is that there is no complication of intercalary months which need special knowledge and dependence of calendrical experts to make the decision. The decision can be made well in advance from very simple sources as the examples show.
Once again it is the decision of the Sikh Panth to decide on the option to use.
VAISAKHI DAY
Step 1: Obtain the event date and check validity
Historical records state that Khalsa was initiated on Vaisakhi 1, 1699.
This is a known valid date but it must be remembered that this is based on the sidereal method.
We have to bear in mind the impact of the DRIFT due to the sidereal method.
Discussion about Vaisakhi 1699
Vaisakhi is the start of VAISAKH which is SUN moving into drifted 0 degrees Aries, according to the sidereal method. Using Jagannatha Hora, VAISAKH Sangrand is given as 9th April, 1699. This is confirmed with the Drik Panchang (drikpanchang.com). This is the first day of drifted Vaisakh-D. But remember the planet position/zodiac sign given by the sidereal method are drifted data and additionally after moving VAISAKH-D to CHET-D (please refer to Part 7 regarding the discussion about moving VAISAKH-D to CHET-D under section “CHET Sangrand of the Sikh Panth Calendar”).
Vaisakhi dates have been shifting. The 1st Vaisakhi dates are shown in the table in Figure 63.
Figure 63: Shifting Vaisakhi day
| 1400 CE | 5th April |
| 1700 CE | 9th April |
| 1900 CE | 12th April |
| 2000 CE | 13th April |
| 2010 CE | 14th April |
| 2200 CE | 16th April |
The reason for the shift is because 1st Vaisakhi is the date when sun moves into Aries using sidereal calculation. Sidereal zodiac is changing due to precession.
It is important to understand the impact of the man made adjustment has resulted in our misunderstanding of the actual date of the event Vaisakhi.
When is Vaisakhi in actual fact?
We have to use the NATURAL EVENT marker, the SUN, to study this.
The actual date using tropical method is determined as follows (these are detailed in the following steps).
- On 9th April the Sun is at 19.63 degrees ARIES as shown by the tropical calculation.
- This Sun 19.63 degrees ARIES is not a marker for Vaisakhi because VAISAKH 1st should fall at the start of Taurus, i.e. 0 degree TAURUS.
Vaisakh-D 1st gives the birthdate of KHALSA as 9th April 1699 which gives SUN at 19.63 degrees Aries using tropical method.
This is the actual tropical position of the sun on 9th April 1699 and reveals that KHALSA was proclaimed in CHET.
Step 2: Determine position of the SUN using sidereal method
We will use the Jagannatha Hora (JN) to obtain this information (sidereal date).
The drifted Vaisakhi falls in 0 degrees ARIES-D at 12:43 PM on 9th April, 1699. The screenshot from JH shows this in Figure 64.
Figure 64: Vaisakhi according to sidereal method (drifted)
Step 3: Check validity of the event information
The date in Step 1 is a valid date. Therefore, the event information in step 2 is valid event information (sidereal data).
Step 4: Determine position of SUN using the tropical method
We will use the Star Fisher for this. The time and date obtained from JH (note this is drifted and solar month leap adjusted) i.e.
0 degrees ARIES-D at 12:43 PM on 9th April, 1699
will be used to determine the SUN position and zodiac sign with the tropical method.
For this date, the tropical method gives the following information:
SUN in 19 degrees 38 minutes ARIES at 12:43 PM on 9th April, 1699.
This is reflected in Figure 60 (red arrow). Note zodiac sign ARIES is the sign for the solar month CHET. Unlike the sidereal method, we know that the tropical method correctly identifies the zodiac sign.
Figure 65: Tropical equivalent of the sidereal Vaisakhi (9-Apr-1699 at 12:43 PM) – Snapshot from Star Fisher
Therefore Vaisakhi day, the formation of Khalsa, actually took place in CHET, zodiac sign 19.63 degrees ARIES on 9-Apr-1699.
The tropical method gives the month of
CHET (zodiac sign ARIES) for the date 9-Apr-1699
as Vaisakhi day, the day Khalsa was formed.
Step 5: Date of Vaisakhi the birthdate of Khalsa
From the analysis in step 4 we can conclude as follows. Recall that we will use the solar day for the proposed Sikh Panth calendar as being from midnight-midnight.
Vaisakhi day is on 9-Apr-1699 the SUN is in ARIES 19 degrees 38 min using the tropical method. This is in the month of CHET (zodiac sign ARIES).
Conclusion: Vaisakhi day converted to the proposed Sikh Calendar
Vaisakhi day falls on 9-Apr-1699 the SUN is in ARIES 19 degrees 38 min using the tropical method. This is in the month of CHET (zodiac sign ARIES).
Therefore, based on the tropical method, Vaisakhi, in the proposed Sikh calendar falls in CHET. We can say as follows.
According to the tropical method, Vaisakhi, the birthday of Khalsa, falls on 9-Apr-1699. This is in the month of CHET on CHET 20th, 1699.
Using the steps outlined, we are easily able to convert Vaisakhi day to the proposed Sikh Panth Calendar. Vaisakh falls on 20th CHET, 1699.
We have two options of celebrating the yearly celebration of Vaisakhi.
OPTION 1
Periodic celebration of this event can be performed on 9th April, i.e. 20th CHET yearly. Though this is based on the actual date of Vaisakhi, 9th April in 1699, it unfortunately does not fall on 1st VAISAKH. The reason was because our dates were based on the sidereal calendar which has the inherent characteristic of drift when observed from earth.
OPTION 2
Periodic celebration of this event can be performed on 1st VAISAKH i.e. 21st April, yearly. This is based on the date of Vaisakhi as we understand and have been celebrating. However it is not the actual date of Vaisakhi pointed to by the NATURAL event marker, the SUN. This date of Vaisakhi i.e. 1st Vaisakh is supposed to when the SUN is in 0 degree TAURUS, while the event Vaisakhi actually occurred when the SUN was in 19.63 degrees ARIES.
It is the decision of the Sikh Panth to decide on the option to use.
CONCLUSION
The conversion of Sikh Gurpurab and other festival dates to the proposed Sikh Calendar has been addressed with three examples.
The steps of the conversion are first outlined and then three examples Guru Nanak Dev Ji’s birthdate (in Part 8A), Guru Gobind Singh Ji’s birthdate and Vaisakhi are detailed.
The conversion is easily performed using the steps outlined and two different options are listed in the conversion. This shows the flexibility of the steps and the conversion giving the decision to the Sikh Panth to decide on the options to follow in the conversion.
This article ends the series of posts on the Sikh Calendar.
In the next post, the 9th part, we will summarise the contents of the 8 parts.
Thank you for reading. Hope you enjoyed the discussion.
Please do not hesitate to ask for clarification if you would like to understand further any of the concepts or information presented above.
ਵਾਹਿਗੁਰੂ ਜੀ ਕਾ ਖਾਲਸਾ ਵਾਹਿਗੁਰੂ ਜੀ ਕੀ ਫਤਹਿ
To be continued
Gur Vichar 