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Ramanuja's Tirunakshatram

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Martin Gansten • May 20, 1997 


I have a twofold question that I hope some of the panchaanga-knowing
scholars on this list might be able to answer:

1. My Bengali calendar for this year lists the day of Sri Ramanuja's
appearance as April 11, whereas I understand from the list that the Sri
Vaishnava community celebrated that event only a few days ago. What is the
reason for this difference?

2. I have noted the use of the word "tirunakshatram" (in a variety of
spellings). Does this indicate that the birth of an acharya, etc, is
celebrated on the day of his birth *nakshatra*? (This would explain the
difference from my Bengali calendar, where the date is supposedly based on
*tithi*.) If so, why is this? -- for I note that most other memorial days,
such as Rama Navami, Vijaya Dasami, etc, are based on tithi. And if not,
what is the reason for the term tirunakshatram?

Thanks in advance,
Martin Gansten