Friday, October 28, 2005

The Hindu Calendar - Part III

Adhika (Purushottam) Maas

Since the calender is based on the phases of the moon, the twelve as above take 354 days, 8 hours and 34.28 seconds. This creates a difference of 10 days, 21 hours and 35.16 seconds from the actual solar year (365 days, 6 hours, 9.54 seconds)

When the accumulated difference exceeds 29 days, 12 hours, 44 minutes and 2.865 seconds, an adjustment id made with a extra month (Adhika Maas), which carries the name of the previous or the next month, depending on the proximity of the month. Normally, seven extra months occur in 19 years.

Shalivahan Shaka

The Shalivahan Shaka is based on the lunar calender and the new year starts with Chaitra Maas (Shukla Paksha). The current year (1914) started on April 2, 1992. This calender is believed to have been initiated by King Shalivahan in the year 78 A.D.

Vikram Samvat

The Vikram Era started with Raja Vikramaditya of Ujjain, following his victory over the Saka in 56 B.C. The new year begins with the first day of Kartik following Deepawali Amaavasya. The current Vikram Samvat is 2048. The Yudhisthir Shaka, which started approximately around 5500 B.C, is not very popular today.

To be continued...

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