By: Devakinanda Pasupuleti
Every Hindu has heard words like- mangaḷam, and subhamangaḷam at some point. We use it almost every day in our prayers, for religious rites and on every occasion. We have songs, bhajans, kīrṫans (songs of praise) with mangaḷam, or subhamangaḷam. At the end of prayers and rituals, we sing mangaḷam, or subhamangaḷam as a closure. Traditional Hinduism has always considered certain objects and living beings as mangaḷam or auspicious. Coming across them by chance, seeing them, receiving them as gifts, giving them as gifts or honoring them all these (depending on the type of object) have been deemed to produce auspiciousness. Even our panchāngam (the almanac which has five limbs) has subhalagnam, certain times considered auspicious based on the astronomical position of stars and planets. Evolved thus, the science of the Hindu Almanac called panchāngam.
