The Hindu Lunar Calendar

There are twelve lunar months in the year but they are slightly shorted than the solar months of the Western calendar. Because they are shorter, every two or three years, an extra month or �adhik mas� is added to the lunar calendar to match it to the solar calendar. Every lunar month is divided into two fifteen day fortnights referred to as pakshas or �wings�. The dark fortnight or krishna paksha ends with the new moon or amavasya. The bright fortnight or shukla paksha ends with the full moon or purnima. The lunar day is know as tithi as is used to calculate religious events, fasts, and festivals.

The first day of the fortnight -- pratipada

The second day of the fortnight-- dvitiya

The third day of the fortnight -- tritiya

The fourth day of the fortnight -- chaturthi

The fifth day of the fortnight -- panchami

The sixth day of the fortnight -- shasti

The seventh day of the fortnight -- saptami

The eight day of the fortnight -- ashtami

The ninth day of the fortnight -- navami

The tenth day of the fortnight -- dashami

The eleventh day of the fortnight -- ekadashi

The twelveth day of the fortnight -- dvadashi

The thriteenth day of the fortnight -- trayodashi

The fourteenth day of the fortnight -- chaturdashi

The fifteenth day of the bright fortnight-- purnima

The fifteenth day of the dark fortnight-- amavasya

Each of the fifteen days may be especially sacred to a Deity so rituals related to specific Deities are timed in this way. The third is especially sacred to Lakshimi, the sixth to Subramanya, and the eleventh to Krishna or Vishnu. New moons or purnimas are considers very auspicious and a are considered an excellent time for meditation.

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