focused

Called without any parameters, the focused() method returns the currently focused date into the calendar widget.
Calling it with a date parameter the calendar navigates to the view which contains the date which will be set as a focused.
There is optional third parameter [viewDepth] which allows calendar view to be changed when the widgets navigates to the newly focused date. The viewDepth can be "month", "year", "decade", "century"

<div id="calendar" ></div>

<script type="text/javascript">
    $(function () {
        $("#calendar").shieldCalendar({
        });
    });

    $("#calendar").swidget().focused(); 
    // return today's date
 
    $("#calendar").swidget().focused(new Date(2009, 11, 31)) 
    // calendar will navigate to the view which contains 2009/11/31 date
 
    $("#calendar").swidget().enabled(new Date(2009, 11, 31), "year"); 
    // calendar will change the view and will navigate to the view which contains 2009/11/31 date

</script>