Hindu Predictive Astrology- III.
Hindu Time Measure.
60 lunar years constitute a cycle. A new creative force is
initiated in the first year of the cycle. This ends in the
60th year after reaching its vertex. Each year is given a
separate name indicative of the function that the force is
supposed to do till the year Akshaya or destruction sets in
which means that that the force initiated in the first year
of the cycle Prabhava has come to an end finally.
Ayanas
There are two Ayanas in a year. They are Uttarayana and
Dakshinayana. Uttarayana commences when the Sun enters
Capricorn or Makara and moves in a northerly direction.
Dakshinayana begins with the ingress of the Sun into Cancer
or Kataka when the Sun takes a southerly course.
Months
The twelve lunar months are: -
Chaitra (March-April), Vaisakha (April-May), Jyestha (May-
June), Ashada (June-July),
Sravana (July-August), Bhadrapada (August-September),
Aswija (September-October),
Kartika (October-November), Margasira (November-December),
Pushya (December-January), Magha (January-February),
Phalguna (February-march).
The name of each lunar month corresponds to the
constellation in which the full moon falls in that
particular month. Solar months with their English
equivalents are given below:
Mesha – Aries.
Vrishava - Taurus.
Mithuna – Gemini.Kataka – Cancer.
Simha – Leo.
Kanya – Virgo.
Tula – Libra.
Vrishchika – Scorpio.
Dhanus – Sagittarius.
Makara – Capricorn.
Kumbha – Aquarius.
Meena – Pisces.
Shukla and Krishna Pakshas.
As the names imply Shukla (Bright) Paksha (Fortnight) is
the bright half of the lunar month when the moon waxes. The
fifteen days starting from the day next to the New Moon up
to and including the Full Moon is the Shukla Paksha. The
rest of the lunar month is the Krishna Paksha.
(To be continued).