Colonial Discourse and the Suffering of Indian American Children Book Cover.webp
We examine the impact of the current colonial-racist discourse around Hindu Dharma on Indians across the world and prove that this discourse causes psychological effects similar to those caused by racism: shame, inferiority, embarrassment, identity confusion, assimilation, and a detachment from our cultural heritage.

Sañgava

From Hindupedia, the Hindu Encyclopedia

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:

  1. Prātah or udaya - sunrise
  2. Saṅgava - milking time
  3. Madhyāhna - midday
  4. Aparāhṇa - afternoon
  5. 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]

  1. Prātarhoma is the morning offering of oblations into the sacred fire.
  2. Vrata means taking certain vows.
  3. Grhyasutras of Hiraṇyakeśin
  • The Concise Encyclopedia of Hinduism, Swami Harshananda, Ram Krishna Math, Bangalore