Hindu Months and Seasons

Each month corresponds to a rashi (sign of the zodiac) because the month begins when the sun enters that rashi.

The Hindu calendar has 12 months. Each month is associated with a rashi or a sign of the zodiac. The months and the corresponding rashi are given below.

1. Chaitra (Mesha)
2. Vaishakha (Vrishabha)
3. Jaishtha (Mithuna)
4. Asadha (Karka)
5. Sravana (Simha)
6. Bhadra (Kanya)
7. Ashvin (Tula)
8. Kartik (Vrushchik)
9. Agrahyana (Dhanush)
10. Paush (Makar)
11. Magh (Kumbha)
12. Falguna (Meena)

Being proper nouns alternative spellings for the names are common. Sometimes different names are also prevalent. Agrahyana is also known as Margashirsha

It was earlier said that the month comprises of one complete cycle of the moon’s waxing and waning. Normally this cycle coincides with the sun’s transition from one rashi to the next according to the sidereal system of the zodiac. Hence the month begins when the sun enters the corresponding rashi. Chaitra begins when the sun enters Mesha and so on. Very precise instructions are available as to what needs to be done when the sun’s transit does not coincide with the lunar cycle.

In the Hindu calendar it was explained that the cycle of twelve Hindu months takes 354 days and hence every three years an additional month is added to reconcile it with the solar year. This is no academic juggling but like every other aspect of the calendar, it is based on natural events. About every three years the sun stays in a particular rashi for about 60 days. This additional 30 days is the extra month known as adhika maas. This extra month is given the name of the succeeding month. For example if the sun continues for extra time in the rashi Meena, the next transition will be into Mesha, so the extra month is known as Adhika Chaitra.

The Hindu year has six seasons, each comprising two months. Vasant or spring occurs in Chaitra and Vaishakha. Greeshma or summer comprises Jaishtha and Ashadha. Varsha, the monsoon, is traditionally in Shravana and Bhadra, though the rains begin earlier. Sharad is autumn and covers the months of Ashvin and Kartik. Hemant, literally meaning the end of the snows, is the winter in the months of Agrahyana and Pausha. Finally Shishir, which represents the cool period between winter and spring, occurs in Magh and Falguna.

Please check my course on Hindu Mythology

Please check my articles on Mythology from India