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written by
Jayasree Saranathan
But his analysis was done at a time when computer software was not developed.
It will be a useful exercise if some one with the present day know-how
It must have been the day of Pournami continuing even after sun-rise.
Because today Margazhi begins when the sun enters Moola star.
(that is the duration of a star – the distance between moolam and pooradam )
the precession of the equinox is taking place continuously at the rate of 1 degree
we can calculate how many years had preceded for 13-20 degrees.
That is, the occurrence of Full moon on the first day of Maargazhi
But the Full moon does not happen in the exact degree of Jyeshta.
that is, Full moon happening anywhere in the 4th pada of Jyeshta,
That means Andal had lived anywhere between 808 AD to 1048 AD.
Here we have to apply the Vunus – Jupiter rise and fall on a Krishna paksha
dwaadasi ('Pullin vaai' pasuram coming on dwadasi if the first day is assumed to
be pournami).
we can say that in Krishna's time, the equinox was in Kritthikai 4th pada.
GarbOttam.
Varahamihira has reproduced the information from the works of these sages
The movement of the sun in the star Pooradam in the month of Maargazhi
either from the first day of Marrgazhi or a couple of days before that.
That is perhaps the reason why paavai nonbu is also said to bring rainfall.
Even men folk had conducted some austerities in the month of Maargazhi
The worship in this period therefore comes with a blessing for good rain fall.
Andal begins her nonbu with a sankalp in the first two pasurams.
But from that, she goes on to the next important feature of the nonbu,
The concern for the world was prime in the minds of the people of this land.