Hindu Calendar
Lunar Years
The Hindu Cycle contains 60 lunar years, they are:
60 Hindu Years |
1 |
Prabhava |
31 |
Hevimbi |
2 |
Vibhava |
32 |
Vilambi |
3 |
Shukla |
33 |
Vikari |
4 |
Pramodhati |
34 |
Sarvari |
5 |
Prajothpati |
35 |
Plava |
6 |
Angirasa |
36 |
Subhakritu |
7 |
Srimukha |
37 |
Sobhakritu |
8 |
Bhava |
38 |
Krodhi |
9 |
Yuva |
39 |
Viswavasu |
10 |
Dhathu |
40 |
Parabhava |
11 |
Eswara |
41 |
Plavanga |
12 |
Bhahudanya |
42 |
Keelaka |
13 |
Pramadi |
43 |
Soumya |
14 |
Vikrama |
44 |
Sadharana |
15 |
Vriksha |
45 |
Virodhikritu |
16 |
Chitrabhanu |
46 |
46 Paridhavi |
17 |
Swabhanu |
47 |
47 Pramodisha |
18 |
Tharana |
48 |
48 Ananda |
19 |
Parthiva |
49 |
Rakshasa |
20 |
Vyaya |
50 |
Nala |
21 |
Sarvajitu |
51 |
Pingala |
22 |
Sarvadhari |
52 |
Kalayukti |
23 |
Virodhi |
53 |
Saddhartha |
24 |
Vikriti |
54 |
Roudri |
25 |
Khara |
55 |
Durmathi |
26 |
Nandana |
56 |
Dundhubhi |
27 |
Vijaya |
57 |
Rudhirodgari |
28 |
Jaya |
58 |
Rakthakshi |
29 |
Manmatha |
59 |
Krodhana |
30 |
Dhurmukhi |
60 |
Kshaya |
Ayanas(Solistices)
The Hindu year is divided into two equal parts, each of which is called Ayana. They are :
1. Uttarayana (Winter Solstice) when the Sun moves in a northerly direction and
2. Dakshinayana (Summer Solstice), when Sun moves in a southerly direction. The solar months are named after the signs the Sun enters and travels.
Six solar months of Uttarayana |
1. Capricorn-Makara |
2. Aquarius-Kumbha |
3. Pisces-Meena |
4. Aries-Mesha |
5. Taurus-Vrishabha |
6. Gemini-Midhuna |
Six solar months of Dakshinayana |
1. Cancer-Karkata |
2. Leo-Simha |
3. Virgo-Kanya |
4. Libra-Tula |
5. Scorpio-Vrishchika |
6. Sagittarius-Dhanus |
Months
The twelve lunar months are named as follows :
Lunar Months |
1. Chaitra |
2. Vaishakha |
3. Jyesta |
4. Ashadha |
5. Shravana |
6. Bhadrapada |
7. Ashwayuja |
8. Karthika |
9. Margashira |
10. Pushya |
11. Magha |
12. Phalguna |
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Seasons
These are Six Ruthus (or seasons, as different from four season, amongst the Westerners) each containing two lunar months and they are:
Ruthu |
Lunar Months |
1. Vasantha |
Chaitra and Vaishaka, when the trees and plants blossom |
2. Greeshma |
Jyesta and Ashadha, when there is a good deal of wind. |
3. Varsha |
Sharavana and Bhadrapada, when it is rainy season. |
4. Sharat |
Ashwija and Karthika, when fruits are aplenty. |
5. Himantha |
Margashira and Pushya, when it is cold |
6. Shishira |
Magha and Phalaguna, when trees and plants shed leaves. |
Reasons of names of months: The star on the full Moon day of the lunar month gives the name to that month. Thus in Chaitra, the star Chitra falls on the full moon day. In Vaishakha, the constellation Vishaka rules on the full moon day. In Jyesta, star Jyesta comes on Pournami (full moon) and so on for other months.