Skanda Purana
by G. V. Tagare | 1950 | 2,545,880 words
This page describes The astronomical definition of Yoga which is appendix 2 of the English translation of the Skanda Purana, the largest of the eighteen Mahapuranas, preserving the ancient Indian society and Hindu traditions in an encyclopedic format, detailling on topics such as dharma (virtous lifestyle), cosmogony (creation of the universe), mythology (itihasa), genealogy (vamsha) etc.
Appendix 2 - The astronomical definition of Yoga
Note: This appendix is extracted from a note of Chapter 33 (the greatness of Śivarātri-vrata) of the Kedāra-khaṇḍa of the Māheśvara-khaṇḍa:
“ Among the Yogas (particular division of time; there are 27 such Yogas) Vyatīpāta; among stars Śravaṇa; among Tithis (Lunar days) Amāvāsyā (new-moon day) and Pūrṇimā (full-moon day) and Saṅkrāntis (i.e. when the sun passes from one zodiac to another)—these should be known as sacred ones for the rites of charitable gifts”
Yoga—Astronomically, Yoga corresponds to 13 degrees and 20 minutes—being the sum of the Longitudes of the Sun and the Moon. That is, it is the time during which the Sun and the Moon together cover 13 degrees and 20 minutes of space. But there is no direct astronomical phenomena corresponding to it. Yogas are 27 in number making together 360 degrees.
The following are the Yogas: [Name — Deity]
- Viṣkambha — Viṣkambha
- Prīti — Viṣṇu
- Āyuṣmat — Candra
- Saubhāgya — Brahmā
- Śobhana — Bṛhaspati
- Atigaṇḍa — Candra
- Sukarman — Indra
- Dhṛti — Āpaḥ
- Śūla — Sarpa
- Gaṇḍa — Agni
- Vṛddhi — Sūrya
- Dhruva — Pṛthvī
- Vyāghāta — Pavana
- Harṣaṇa — Rudra
- Vajra — Varuṇa
- Siddhi — Gaṇeśa
- Vyatīpāta — Śiva
- Varīyas — Kubera
- Parigha — Viśvakarman
- Śiva — Mitra
- Siddha — Kārttikeya
- Sādhya — Sāvitrī
- Śubha — Kamalā
- Śukla — Gaurī
- Brahman — Aśvinau
- Aindra — Pitṛs
- Vaidhṛti — Aditi