Monday, August 28, 2023

Mahabharata Quiz - 43

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Question – 43

Bhishma’s waiting period for 58 nights is almost close to two months. Any chance that a major part of that period was an Adhika Maasa? Since Uttarayana was not about the exact solar position but determined by the tithi, can’t we say that he waited for the arrival of Nija Maasa?

Answer:

There is of course a greater probability for an Adhika Maasa in the 58-night period. This is ascertained from the fact that after Duryodhana’s fall on a solar eclipse day, the Pandava-s retired to the banks of the river Bhagirathi and spent a month there. The presence of solar eclipse on the last day of the war coinciding with the fall of Duryodhana shows that there was an Amavasya on that day. The next day a new lunar month started.

The retirement of the Pandava-s to a riverside for a full one month lends scope for the presence of Adhika Maasa running then. Since Bhishma left his mortal coils in Magha Shukla Ashtami, this month coming before that could in all probability be the Adhika Magha month.

But there is a hitch here. Adhika Maasa can never occur in Magha month. There is a pattern in the way Adhika Maasa occurs. It can occur anytime from Phalguna to Ashvina months but not in the part of the year from Kartika to Magha. In the months Kartika, Margashira, Pushya and Magha only Kshaya Maasa will occur. Rarely an Adhika Maasa can happen in Kartika but never in Magha.

The extended duration of Bhishma’s stay and the recluse of the Pandava-s for one full lunar month shows that there was an Adhika Maasa in Magha – but such an occurrence is impossible to happen in Nature. A Ganesha moment is staring at us in this issue.

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