Sañgava

By Swami Harshananda

Sañgava literally means ‘when the cows are gathered together for milking’.

Muhurtas of a Day[edit]

A day of 24 hours is divided into 30 muhurtas. One muhurta is of 48 minutes. The day-time has 15 muhurtas. This period is divided into five equal parts:

Prātah or udaya - sunrise
Saṅgava - milking time
Madhyāhna - midday
Aparāhṇa - afternoon
Sāyāhna - evening

Each of these is of 144 minutes’ or 2 hours and 24 minutes duration.

Significance of Saṅgava[edit]

The second part is called saṅgava because that is the time the cows are gathered together and milked. Saṅgava is also suitable for prātarhoma^[1] and starting a vrata.^[2]

The Pravargya rite is to be performed during this time. Some dharmaśāstras^[3] consider this period of the day as suitable for marriage ceremonies also.

References[edit]

↑ Prātarhoma is the morning offering of oblations into the sacred fire.
↑ Vrata means taking certain vows.
↑ Grhyasutras of Hiraṇyakeśin

The Concise Encyclopedia of Hinduism, Swami Harshananda, Ram Krishna Math, Bangalore

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[1] Prātarhoma is the morning offering of oblations into the sacred fire.

[2] Vrata means taking certain vows.

[3] Grhyasutras of Hiraṇyakeśin

[1]

[2]

[3]