The Sacred rhythm of time **

Life is a mixed world of dualities--good and evil, wealth and poverty, knowledge and ignorance, pleasure and pain, joy and sorrow etc.

The Hindu calendar also reflects natural dualities. A month is divided into two fortnights : Shukla Paksha, the bright fortnight and Krishna Paksha, the dark. Similarly, a year is divided into two periods: Uttarayanam and Dakshinayanam. Uttarayanam extends from the Tamil Month of Thai to Aani (mid-January to mid-July ), while Dakshinayanam spans from Aani to Margazhi ( mid-July to mid-January). Uttarayanam is regarded as a highly auspicious time, symbolizing the Sun's northward journey and associated with spiritual advancement and positive growth.

In line with these divisions, a day is split into three parts- morning, afternoon, and evening. Each period is influenced by one of the three gunas or qualities of nature. The morning is associated with "Sattvika qualities"--purity, calmness and clarity. The afternoon is dominated by "Rajasa qualities", which represent passion. The evening reflects "Tamasa qualities", symbolizing inertia, withdrawal, and rest. The meeting point between the parts of the day are known as " Sandhi". There are three Sandhis in a day: the end of morning and and the beginning of afternoon, the end of afternoon and the beginning of evening, and the end of evening and the beginning of the next morning. Many traditions regard the transitional "Sandhi period" as an ideal time for meditation, worship, and inner reflection.

It is believed that those who pray early in the morning receive blessings and strength that support them through the day.
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* (Copied from 'The Hindu' column : -Faith -discourse by Lanka Sri. Jeyaraj)