Old Javanese calendar (or Ancient Javanese calendar) was a dating system previously used in inscriptions from various kingdom eras, starting from the Medang Kingdom up to the Majapahit Empire. This dating system was widely used, particularly for writing inscriptions in Java and Bali. Unlike the present-day Javanese and Balinese calendar system, the Old Javanese calendar incorporates a greater number of chronological elements (features more dating components). It can be said that the Old Javanese calendar is a synthesis of the Hindu Indian calendar, western zodiac and pre-existing indigenous Javanese calendrical traditions.
Calendar Components In the inscriptions of the kingdoms in Java and Bali (from the Medang Kingdom era up to the end of Majapahit) up to 15 chronological elements were used. # Element Meaning Designations(see below) ApproximateDuration in Days 1 Warṣa year - 365 2 Māsa month 12 30 3 Tithī lunar day 15 1 4 Pakṣa fortnight 2 15 5 Wāra: pañcawāra ṣaḍwāra saptawāra solar day: 5-day cycle 6-day cycle 7-day cycle 567 1 6 Wuku week (7 days in a5×6×7=210-day cycle) 30 7 7 Grahacāra Sun movement 8 ¹⁄₈ (3 hours) 8 Nakṣatra lunar mansion 27 (13° 20′) 1 9 Dewatā deity 27 1 10 Maṇḍala stellar group 4 1 to 4 11 Yoga Sun/Moon combination 27 1 12 Muhūrtta hour 30 ¹⁄₃₀ (48 minutes) 13 Parwweṣa lunar node movement 9 (20°) or 7 365 14 Karaṇa half lunar day 11 ¹⁄₂ (12 hours) 15 Rāśi lunar zodiac sign 12 2
Not all elements were used in every inscription, but typically more than five chronological elements are present. Tithī/Pakṣa, Wāra, Nakṣatra, Yoga and Karaṇa were considered the most important elements; they make up the pañcāṅgam.
Year (warṣa) The year (which in Old Javanese is referred to as Warsa) in the Old Javanese dating system often utilizes the Saka Year; however, some existing inscriptions show the use of the Sanjaya Year in their chronology.
Month (māsa)
The month, which in Old Javanese is referred to as Wulan or Masa, was written in ancient inscriptions using names derived from Sanskrit months. The names of the months listed in these inscriptions are: Caitra, Waiśākha, Jyeṣṭha, Āṣāḍha, Śrāvaṇa, Bhādrapāda, Āśvina (or Āśuji), Kārttika, Mārgaśīrṣa, Pauṣa (or Poṣya), Māgha, and Phālguna. The Old Javanese calendar had years that consisted of either twelve or thirteen months. The system itself utilized a solar year for calculating one year, while the months were calculated using lunar movements, making it a lunisolar system. + Months of the Saka Calendar (Old Javanese) and Gregorian Equivalents No. Saka Month (Old Javanese Name) Corresponding Gregorian Months 1 Caitra March – April 2 Waiśākha / Vaiśākha April – May 3 Jyeṣṭa / Jyaiṣṭha May – June 4 Āṣāḍha / Āṣāḍha June – July 5 Śrāwaṇa July – August 6 Bhādrawāda / Bhādrapada August – September 7 Asuji / Āświna September – October 8 Kārttika / Kārtika October – November 9 Mārggaśīrsa / Mārgaśīrṣa November – December 10 Posya / Pauṣa December – January 11 Māgha January – February 12 Phālguna February – March
+ Example Chart of Intercalary Months in the Saka Calendar (2020–2037) Western Year (Approx.) Saka Year Number of Months Intercalary Month Added (IAST) 2020 1942 13 Āśvina 2021 1943 12 — 2022 1944 12 — 2023 1945 13 Śrāvaṇa 2024 1946 12 — 2025 1947 12 — 2026 1948 13 Jyeṣṭha 2027 1949 12 — 2028 1950 12 — 2029 1951 13 Caitra 2030 1952 12 — 2031 1953 13 Bhādrapada 2032 1954 12 — 2033 1955 12 — 2034 1956 13 Āṣāḍha 2035 1957 12 — 2036 1958 12 — 2037 1959 13 Jyeṣṭha
The calendar for the Saka year 1945 (2023) demonstrates a key feature of the Old Javanese system: the addition of an intercalary month. The external image here shows that the extra month, named Punah Śrāwaṇa, was inserted immediately following the regular month of Śrāwaṇa.
Lunar Day (tithī) and Lunar Fortnight (pakṣa)
The 30 Tīthī (Lunar day) are grouped into two halves called Pakṣa (lunar fortnights).
+ Tithi (Lunar Day) Names Tithi Number Śuklapakṣa (Waxing Fortnight) Kṛṣṇapakṣa (Waning Fortnight) 1 Pratipadā Pratipadā 2 Dvitīyā Dvitīyā 3 Tṛtīyā Tṛtīyā 4 Caturthī Caturthī 5 Pañcamī Pañcamī 6 Ṣaṣṭhī Ṣaṣṭhī 7 Saptamī Saptamī 8 Aṣṭamī Aṣṭamī 9 Navamī Navamī 10 Daśamī Daśamī 11 Ekādaśī Ekādaśī 12 Dvādaśī Dvādaśī 13 Trayodaśī Trayodaśī 14 Caturdaśī Caturdaśī 15 Pañcadaśī (Full Moon) Pañcadaśī (New Moon)
Note on Tithi 15: The 15th Tithi is called Pūrṇimā (Full Moon) in Śuklapakṣa and Amāvasyā (New Moon/Dark Moon) in Kṛṣṇapakṣa.
Day (wāra) A day, or Wāra in Old Javanese dating terminology, is a unit of time that begins at sunrise and lasts until the next sunrise. In the Old Javanese dating system, the day (wara) is organized into several concurrent cycles: the 5-day cycle (Pancawara), the 6-day cycle (Sadwara), and the 7-day cycle (Saptawara).
Five Day Cycle (pañcawāra) + Comparison of Pañcawāra Names Pasaran (Pañcawāra) Old Javanese Name Paing Pahiṅ (pa) Pon Pon (po) Wagé Wage/Wagai (wa) Kliwon Kaliwwan (ka) Legi Umanis (u)
Six Day Cycle (ṣaḍwāra ) + The 6-Day Cycle (Ṣaḍwāra) No. Paringkĕlan/Ṣaḍwāra Name 1 Tuṅle/Tuṅlay/Tuṅleh (tu) 2 Haryaṅ (ha) 3 Wurukuṅ (wu) 4 Paniruan/Paniron (pa) 5 Was (wa) 6 Mawulu (ma)
Seven Day Cycle (saptawāra) + The 7-Day Cycle (Saptawāra) No. Day (Saptawāra) Old Javanese Name 1. Sunday Āditya (ā)/Raditya 2. Monday Soma (so)/Candra (ca) 3. Tuesday Aṅgara (aṅ) 4. Wednesday Budha (bu) 5. Thursday Wṛhaspati (wṛ) 6. Friday Śukra (śu) 7. Saturday Śanaiścara/Śaneścara (śa)/Tumpak
Week (wuku)
The Wuku is a chronological cycle derived from the combination of the Sadwāra (6-day cycle), Pañcawāra (5-day cycle), and Saptawāra (7-day cycle). This combination results in a 210-day cycle, which occurs once or twice a year. The 210-day cycle is grouped into 30 distinct wuku, with each wuku lasting 7 days and defined by a unique combination of the 6,5,7 day-cycles. Along with Sadwāra and Pañcawāra, the wuku is believed to be an indigenous Javanese dating element. For example, the date "Ma Ka Bu" (Mawulu Kliwon Budha) marks the 144th day in the 210-day cycle and belongs to Wuku Mahatal (the 21st wuku).
+ Starting Days of the 30 Wuku (210-Day Cycle) No. Wuku Name Starting Day (of 210-Day Cycle) Saptawara (7-day cycle) Sadwara (6-day cycle: Paringkelan) Pancawara (5-day cycle: Pasaran) 1 Sinta 1 Sunday Tunglé Pahing 2 Landep 8 Sunday Aryang Wagé 3 Wukir 15 Sunday Wurukung Legi 4 Kurantil 22 Sunday Paningron Pon 5 Tolu 29 Sunday Uwas Kliwon 6 Gumbrèg 36 Sunday Mawulu Pahing 7 Wariga ning Wariga (Warigalit) 43 Sunday Tunglé Wagé 8 Wariga (Warigagung) 50 Sunday Aryang Legi 9 Julung Wangi 57 Sunday Wurukung Pon 10 Sungsang 64 Sunday Paningron Kliwon 11 Dungulan (Galungan) 71 Sunday Uwas Pahing 12 Kuningan 78 Sunday Mawulu Wagé 13 Langkir 85 Sunday Tunglé Legi 14 Madasih (Mandasiya) 92 Sunday Aryang Pon 15 Julung Pujut 99 Sunday Wurukung Kliwon 16 Pahang 106 Sunday Paningron Pahing 17 Kuruwulut 113 Sunday Uwas Wagé 18 Marakih (Marakeh) 120 Sunday Mawulu Legi 19 Tambir 127 Sunday Tunglé Pon 20 Madangkungan 134 Sunday Aryang Kliwon 21 Mahatal (Maktal) 141 Sunday Wurukung Pahing 22 Wuyai (Wuye) 148 Sunday Paningron Wagé 23 Manahil 155 Sunday Uwas Legi 24 Prangbakat 162 Sunday Mawulu Pon 25 Bala 169 Sunday Tunglé Kliwon 26 Wugu 176 Sunday Aryang Pahing 27 Wayang 183 Sunday Wurukung Wagé 28 Kulawu 190 Sunday Paningron Legi 29 Dukut 197 Sunday Uwas Pon 30 Watu Gunung 204 Sunday Mawulu Kliwon
Path of the Sun (grahacāra) The term Graha Cāra is derived from two Sanskrit words: graha meaning 'planet', and cāra meaning 'path, route, or journey'. Therefore, graha cāra signifies the 'path/journey of the planet.' Which planet is being referred to? Considering the consistency with other elements of the dating system, the 'path of the planet' refers to the Sun (Sūrya). From a geocentric perspective, the Sun revolves around the Earth, rising in the east and setting in the west, then reappearing in the east the following day, and so on. Thus, graha cāra indicates the daily journey of the Sun over 24 hours (a solar day/wara).
There are eight directions (or positions) that refer to the Sun's position: + Graha Cāra English Name Time Range Purwāstha East 04:30 – 07:30 Aiśānyastha Northeast 07:30 – 10:30 Uttarāstha North 10:30 – 13:30 Bāyabyastha Northwest 13:30 – 16:30 Paścimastha West 16:30 – 19:30 Nairītistha Southwest 19:30 – 22:30 Dakṣiṇāstha South 22:30 – 01:30 Āgneyastha Southeast 01:30 – 04:30 Since one solar day equals 24 hours, each of these eight positions has a time duration of 3 hours. Because the Sun rises in the east, which marks the start of a new day, the position must begin in the east (Purwāstha), which is approximately from 04:30 to 07:30 in the morning. Therefore, Nairītistha graha cāra means the 'position of the Sun is in the southwest,' which corresponds to the time between 19:30 and 22:30 (at night).
Lunar mansion (nakṣatra) and Deity (dewatā)
Nakṣatra & Dewatā always come in pairs. Nakṣatra simply means a group of stars. In Hindu astrology, this term almost always refers to 27 specific groups of stars or constellations located along the Sun's path (the Ecliptic). All planets, including the Moon and the Sun, pass along the Ecliptic and align with one of the 27 nakṣatra. + The 27 Nakṣatras and Their Corresponding Gods No. Nákṣatra (Lunar Mansion) Dewatā (Gods/Deity) 1 Áświnī Áświno 2 Bharaṇī Yama 3 Kṛtikā Dahana 4 Rohiṇī Prajāpati 5 Mṛgaśira Śaśī 6 Ādrā Rudra 7 Punarwwasu Aditi 8 Puṣya Jiwa 9 Āśleṣa Nāga 10 Māgha Pitara 11 Purwwa Phalguni Yoni 12 Uttara Phalguni Aryyama 13 Hasta Dinakṛt 14 Citrā Twaṣṭā 15 Swāti Pawana 16 Wiśākha Cakra 17 Ānuradha Mitra 18 Jyeṣṭa Śakragni 19 Mūla Nairiti 20 Purwwāṣāḍha Áświ 21 Uttarāṣāḍha Wiṣwa 22 Śrāwaṇa Brahma 23 Dhaniṣṭa Wiṣṇu 24 Śatabhiṣa Baruṇa 25 Purwwa Bhadrawāda Ajapāda 26 Uttara Bhadrawāda Ahir Budhna 27 Rewati Puṣāṇa
Maṇḍala Maṇḍala originally means consecrated circle or region. The Maṇḍalas are four regions into which stars (Nakṣatras) are grouped. Mahendra (east): 4 Rohiṇi, 17 Ānuradha, 18 Jyeṣṭa, 21 Uttarāṣāḍha, Abhijit (intercalary Nakṣatra), 22 Śrāwaṇa, 23 Dhaniṣṭa Agneya (south-east): 2 Bharaṇī, 3 Kṛttikā, 8 Puṣya, 10 Māgha, 11 Purwwa Phalgunī, 16 Wiśākha, 25 Purwwa Bhadrawāda Bāruna (west): 6 Ādrā, 9 Āśleṣa, 19 Mūla, 20 Purwwāṣāḍha, 24 Satabhiṣa, 26 Uttara Bhadrawāda, 27 Rewati Bāyabya (north-west): 1 Áświnī, 5 Mṛgaśira, 7 Punarwwaśu, 12 Uttara Phalgunī, 13 Hasta, 14 Citrā, 15 Swāti.
Yoga
No. Name 1 Wiṣkambha 2 Prīti 3 Ayuṣman 4 Śobhagya 5 Śobhana 6 Atīganda 7 Sukarmma 8 Dhṛti 9 Śūla 10 Gaṇḍa 11 Wṛddhi 12 Dhṛwa 13 Wyatighata 14 Harṣaṇa 15 Bajra 16 Siddhi 17 Wyātipāta 18 Wariyān 19 Parigha 20 Śiwa 21 Siddha 22 Sadya 23 Śubha 24 Śukla 25 Brahmā 26 Indra 27 Wedhṛti
Hour (muhūrtta) Muhūrtta (sometimes write Muhurta, Muhurtta) is the smallest unit of time in the Old Javanese dating system. One solar day (wāra) is divided into 30 muhūrtta. Thus, one muhūrtta is equivalent to 48 minutes. + Muhūrtta Time Calculation (Assuming Sunrise at 06:00) Muhūrtta 1–15 (Daytime) Muhūrtta 16–30 (Nighttime) No. Name Time Range No. Name Time Range 1. Rudra 06:00 – 06:48 16. Giriśa 18:00 – 18:48 2. Āhi 06:48 – 07:36 17. Ājapāda 18:48 – 19:36 3. Mitra 07:36 – 08:24 18. Āhiir Budnya 19:36 – 20:24 4. Pitṛ 08:24 – 09:12 19. Pusya 20:24 – 21:12 5. Wasu 09:12 – 10:00 20. Āświni 21:12 – 22:00 6. Wārāha 10:00 – 10:48 21. Yama 22:00 – 22:48 7. Wiśwedewā 10:48 – 11:36 22. Āgni 22:48 – 23:36 8. Widi 11:36 – 12:24 23. Widātr 23:36 – 00:24 9. Sutamukī 12:24 – 13:12 24. Kanda 00:24 – 01:12 10. Puruhūta 13:12 – 14:00 25. Āditi 01:12 – 02:00 11. Wāhinī 14:00 – 14:48 26. Jīwa 02:00 – 02:48 12. Naktanakarā 14:48 – 15:36 27. Wiṣṇu 02:48 – 03:36 13. Waruṇa 15:36 – 16:24 28. Dyumadgadyuti 03:36 – 04:24 14. Āryyamana 16:24 – 17:12 29. Brahma 04:24 – 05:12 15. Baga 17:12 – 18:00 30. Samudra 05:12 – 06:00
Regent of the node (parwweṣa) Parwweṣa means ruler of the astronomical node. Ancient Javanese astrology divides the movement of the two lunar nodes into nine or seven segments (parwwa).