Vijayadashami and Durga Visarjan on October 21: Scholars’ Stance on Scriptural Date Determination
*Journalist Usha Mahna, New Delhi*
Patna/Darbhanga
In the ongoing discussion regarding the exact date of Ashwin Shukla Dashami—Vijayadashami and Durga Visarjan—the core issue is not merely the calendar date, but the tithi (lunar day) prevailing at sunrise, the Karmakala (prescribed time for rituals), and the rules of scriptural determination (Shastriya Tithi-Nirnaya).
According to available astrological calculations (Panchang-Ganana), on October 20, 2026, Navami prevails at sunrise and continues until 9:46 AM, after which Dashami enters. On October 21, 2026, Dashami is present at sunrise and lasts until 11:02 AM.
This raises a fundamental question: For morning divine rituals like Vijayadashami and Durga Visarjan, should one observe the Navami-tainted Dashami of October 20, or the sunrise-prevailing (Udayavyapini) Dashami of October 21? Scriptural tradition requires a synthesized evaluation of tradition, mathematical calculations, and ritual timing.
Key Scriptural Arguments by Eminent Scholars
1. Dr. Raj Nath Jha: Primacy of Forenoon (Purvahna) and Sunrise Dashami
Senior Scriptural Scholar & Director, Institute of Vedic Astrology (Jyotirved Vigyan Sansthan)
Dr. Jha emphasizes that forenoon and the tithi present at sunrise hold primary significance for divine rituals (Devakarma). The Vedic principle states: "Purvahno Vai Devanam" (Forenoon is the designated time for the gods). When Shruti (Vedas) and Smriti appear to conflict, Shruti holds higher authority.
He cites the Vishnudharmottara Purana for Durga Puja and Visarjan:
> "Prataravahayed devim pratareva pravesayet |
> Tatah pratascah sampujya pratareva visarjayet ||"
> Meaning: Invocation, entry, worship, and immersion of the Goddess are prescribed specifically for the morning. Thus, the tithi present in the morning is the decisive factor.
>
He further highlights Nandikeshwara:
> "Bhagavatyah pravesadi visargantasca yah kriyah |
> Raverudayagaminyam tah sarvah karayedbudhah ||"
> Meaning: All rituals from the entry of the Goddess to her immersion must be performed during the tithi prevailing at sunrise.
>
Regarding Hemadri, which states that if Dashami on the next day is less than a Ghatika (extremely brief), immersion should occur on the previous day (Ghatikato yada nyuna...), Dr. Jha notes that this exception applies only when the next day's Dashami is very short. Since Dashami lasts until 11:02 AM on October 21, ample time is available, making October 21 the appropriate choice.
2. Dr. Varun Kumar Jha: Panchang is Mathematics of Ritual Timing
Assistant Professor & Calculator-cum-Co-Editor, Kameshwara Singh Darbhanga Sanskrit University Panchang
Dr. Jha notes that a Panchang is not merely a list of dates, but an alignment of sunrise, tithi duration, start and end times, and ritual periods. If Navami is present at sunrise on October 20 and Dashami enters later, whereas Dashami is present at sunrise on October 21, the two days cannot be treated as equivalent. October 21 offers the necessary mathematical and scriptural grounds for morning Dashami rituals.
3. Dr. Vishwanath Jha: Sunrise Dashami as the Core Identifier
Senior Scriptural Scholar
Citing Sage Narada:
> "Suryodaye yada rajan drsyate dashami tithih |
> Aaswine masi shukle tu vijayam tam vidurbudhah ||"
> Meaning: When Dashami is visible at sunrise in the bright fortnight of Ashwin, wise scholars recognize that day as Vijayadashami.
>
4. Dr. Dev Krishna Jha: Tithi is Primary, Nakshatra is Secondary
Scholar of Mimamsa
Citing the Vidyapati scriptural tradition:
> "Tithih sariram devasya tithau nakshatramasritam |
> Tasmattithim prasamsanti nakshatram na tithim vina ||"
> Meaning: The tithi is the physical body of the deity; the Nakshatra resides within the tithi. Therefore, decisions must prioritize the actual state of the tithi over external astronomical factors.
>
5. Dr. Ram Kumar Jha: Tithi as the Ultimate Basis
Assistant Professor of Astrology, Shri Jagdamba Sanskrit College, Darbhanga
Referencing Lalla Smriti:
> "Tithih sariram tithireva karanam |
> Tithih pramanam tithireva sadhanam ||"
> Meaning: Tithi is the body, the cause, the proof, and the means of religious performance. On October 21, the presence of Dashami at sunrise fulfills this requirement.
>
6. Dr. Rakesh Kumar Jha: Re-evaluating Prior-Day Fallbacks
Mathematician & Editor
Dr. Rakesh Jha points out that fallbacks to the prior day apply only if the next day's Dashami is too brief. Because October 21 provides a full window of Dashami until 11:02 AM, prioritizing October 20 based solely on a mid-morning tithi transition requires careful scriptural reconsideration.
7. Jyotishacharya Dr. Shubham Savarna: Avoiding Dashami During Navami Hours
Astrologer, Gogri, Khagaria
Citing Yogini Tantra:
> "Rikshabhave tithirgrahya raverudayagamini |
> Navami balidane tu dashamim tatra varjayet ||"
> Meaning: Sunrise tithis take precedence when Nakshatras are absent, and Dashami should not overlap into the time allotted for Navami rituals.
>
Astrological Breakdown: October 20 vs. October 21, 2026
| Date | Tithi at Sunrise | Duration of Tithi | Primary Ritual |
|---|---|---|---|
| October 20, 2026 | Navami | Navami until 9:46 AM | Navami Pujan & Havan |
| October 21, 2026 | Dashami | Dashami until 11:02 AM | Vijayadashami & Durga Visarjan |
The critical detail in this calculation is that Dashami on October 21 is not just a fleeting touch at sunrise; it extends well into the forenoon (Purvahna), providing a full window for morning rituals.
Historical Precedent: The 1998 Panchang Context
A similar astrological situation occurred in 1998 (Samvat 2055). When Dashami extended into the forenoon of the subsequent day, scholars chose to observe Vijayadashami on that second day based on the actual duration of the tithi during Karmakala, rather than relying on a partial touch of Dashami on the previous afternoon.
Conclusion
Determining Vijayadashami is not merely a matter of reading a calendar date, but of identifying which tithi prevails during the prescribed ritual time (Karmakala).
* On October 20, Navami is present at sunrise and lasts until 9:46 AM.
* On October 21, Dashami is present at sunrise and extends through the morning until 11:02 AM.
Given the sunrise-prevailing (Udayavyapini) Dashami, the scriptural importance of forenoon (Purvahna) for divine worship, and supporting classical texts, celebrating Vijayadashami and performing Durga Visarjan on the morning of October 21, 2026 presents a strong, scripturally grounded option.
