Only time will tell if official and dissenting seers sort out auspicious day
Cultural Affairs Minister, Vidura Wickramanayaka has told astrologers who dispute auspicious times for next month’s New Year to reach a consensus.
According to him, having one set of auspicious times would avoid causing confusion and build confidence in astrology.
The request came after a state committee appointed to determine auspicious times (Nakath Committee) and a rival group of astrologers came up with two different auspicious times for the Sinhala and Tamil New Year.
Mr. Wickramanayaka said division among committee members has complicated matters. “The Nakath Committee has been entrusted with one task and they have failed. There can be only one auspicious time.’’
He pointed out that there could be many ways to calculate, yet the answer must remain the same. Likewise, the auspicious time too, should remain the same.
Mr. Wickramanayaka said he was made aware of the issue only a few weeks back.
He said he was unable to dissolve the official committee and appoint another at such a short notice.
Meanwhile, the state committee entrusted with preparing auspicious times for the New Year said they will stick to their determinations.
They added that the times they determined align with the solar transit period and therefore were accurate and should be followed.
Several members of the committee strongly defended their decisions.
A member of the Auspicious Times Committee, Panadure Prashanth Mallawige said the committee would not change the decision
The majority of members proposed auspicious times during the midnight hour on April 13, while a few came up with day time auspicious times. After consideration of all aspects, the committee decided on the auspicious times at night
over baseless allegations by self-proclaimed astrologers.
He has 30 years of experience in astrology and has confidence in the decision.
Mr. Mallawige challenged the group which levelled allegations to come up with their own auspicious time to the committee and prove that it is better.
He insisted he would quit his positions in the auspicious and poya committees if the groups which opposed their decision prove that the times they determine are better.
Another member of the committee, Ananda Seneviratne, too, confirmed that the decision was made after intense discussions between 41 members.
“The majority of members proposed auspicious times during the midnight hour on April 13, while a few came up with day time auspicious times. After consideration of all aspects, the committee decided on the auspicious times at night,’’ he said.
Mr. Seneviratne revealed that extensive discussions were held before deciding on auspicious times for celebrations. The allegations are a stunt and a desperate attempt to seek public attention, he believes.
However, a National Astrologer’s society did not agree with the committee’s decision and pointed out that auspicious activity should not
be undertaken at midnight. The society announced their own auspicious times this week, while claiming that the state committee’s midnight time would be a bad omen for the country.
The members of the society counter claimed that the Nakath Committee should accept its flaws and acknowledge the auspicious times that the society prepared. Eventually, a consensus would be reached.
They vowed that they would use social, print, and digital media platforms to educate Sri Lankans of the auspicious times that they have determined. A ‘Litha’ will be distributed and the ‘Nakath seettuwa’ will be available online.
Astrologer and Vastu expert (expert on the science of dwelling) Kalum Gunathilaka said the celebration should take place when the new sun rises, during day time, the following day, as the sun’s transit happens late night on April 13.
According to him, in Sinhala astrology, the New Year begins when the sun moves from Meena Rashiya (the house of Pisces) to Mesha Rashiya (the house of Aries). The celebration which revolves around the sun should be celebrated the morning after when the sun has risen.
In 1997 and 1993 the sun’s transit happened during the night, yet the state committee did not stick to tradition and opted to have the auspicious rituals at day time, he said.
“The state committee too, is not consistent about their traditions. They should reconsider their decision,’’ said Mr Gunathilaka.
The organiser and convener of National Astrologer’s Society, Ravishanker Senanayake who is a traditional healer and astrologer claimed that rituals during the solar transit period had been carried out inaccurately for 160 years.
The convener of the society alleged that the New Year almanac had been created without following specific guidelines mentioned in the Narada Samhida (the name of an astrological work) and is useless.
Mr. Senanayake said it is also impractical to follow traditions at midnight and reasoned that New Year auspicious activities should be held on the following day.
According to him, people have always mixed up ‘Punya Kalaya’ and ‘Nonagathaya’ (Neutral Time) and the time to observe religious activities, He believes this brings misfortune.
Meanwhile, another astrologer, Ranatunga Arachchilage Mahendra Binura Ranatunga said astrologers can have differing views over auspicious times based on their knowledge.