After Raksha Bandhan, Janmashtami, Ganesh Chaturthi, SHRADH and PITRA SHRADH and AATM SHRADH ( doing own Shradh ), here is#IgnorantHindu with all about ADHIK MASS. If you want to contribute by writing about a Hindu festival – please connect. To connect, send an email. Twitter S_kotnala
What Is Adhik Mass?
In 2020, you would notice that NAVRATRI did not start immediately after the Shradh Pitrapaksh. There was a gap of a month between SHRADH’s end and the start of NAVRATRI. This additional month that creeps in every three years or so in the Hindu Calendar is called ADHIK MASS ( Extra Month). Also called the LEAP MONTH and Purushottam Month; dedicated to UTTAM ( the best) of all PURUSH ( MAN, Lord Vishnu). It is also called ADHIK ASHWIN as Ashwin. It falls between the month of Ashwin. In fact, ASHWIN month is 2 -months long this year.
In 2023 it starts on the 18th of July and ends on the 16th of August. In 2023, Sawan Month will be of 59 days.
What Is The Need For Adhik Mass?
Hindu Calendar follows both the LUNAR movements ( The path of the Moon around the Earth) and Solar Moment (the moment of the planet Earth around the Sun), by which Sun seems to transit the 12 zodiac signs.
Lunar month and Solar month are not of the same length, and hence they start lagging. ADHIK MASS corrects this error.
The lunar calendar has 10.87 days less than the Solar calendar.
A lunar month is 29.53 days, and a lunar year is just 354.36 days.
In 2 Years and 8.5 months- this gap adds to 29.5 days, almost equal to the lunar month. And Adhik Mass is inserted into the Hindu Calendar. It happens 7 times in 19 years.
Does Adhik Mass Always Happen Only Between Shrad And Navratri?
Adhik Mass can happen at any time of the year. It occurs when the lunar month ends before Sun has moved to the new zodiac sign. And it is not added in case the lunar month ends after Sun has moved to the new zodiac sign.
In 2018- Adhik Mass was called Adhik Jyaistha, i.e. it was an extra month before the month of Jyaistha between 16 May to 13 June.
And in 2020, we observed 2020 Adhik Ashwin; usually, this would mean before the month of Ashwin, but in 2020 Adhik Mass was in between Ashwin Month from 18 September to 16 October 2020.
In 2023, it is Sawan Adhik Mass, which starts on the 18th of July and ends 16th of August. So Sawan starts on 4th July and ends on 20th August.
When Does Adhik Mass repeat Its Position In the Calendar?
Typically, it would take some 19 years for the same Adhik Mass (happening before the same month) to happen. Adhik Mass happens before or inside the 7 lunar months of Chaitra to Ashwin and the month of Phalgun. Adhik Mass never happens before or in between Pausha and Magh months.
What is the sequence of Lunar months?
How To Know If There Will Be Adhik Mass/ Leap Month?
Change the Christian year to the Shalivahan Shaka Era. Multiply this number by 12 and divide the product by 19. If the remainder is equal or less than Nine, there will be an Adhik Mass that year.
E.g. This year, it is Shalivahan Shaka 2020+78= 2098. Multiplying this with 12 gives 25176, and when you divide it by 19, you get a remainder of 1. So 2020 has an ADHIK MASS.
What is the difference Between Shalivahan Saka Era And Vikram Samvat?
Vikram Samvat ( also called Krita and Malava) started in 57 BC, celebrating his win over Sakas. So to convert a Christian year into Vikram Samvat, we add 57 to arrive at Vikram Samvat. So 2020 is Vikram Samvat 2077. Vikram Samvat is the official calendar of Nepal.
Now as Hindu Calendar starts from Chaitra Month, on the 21st or 22nd of March, if you are doing the conversion for Jan-Feb till 21-22 March, you add 56 to the Christian year; otherwise, add 57.
Shalivahan Saka Era, the official Calendar of the Government of India, was accepted as the year of the ascension of King Chashtana (Kanishka) of the Saka dynasty in 78 AD. Others say it was started by Vikramaditya ( Shalivahan). So, we deduct 78 from the Christian year to get to the Shalivahan Saka Era equivalent. So, 2020 will be 2020-78= 1942 Shalivahan Saka Era. As in the case of Vikram Samvat if you are doing the conversion. When you are converting from Jan till March 21-22, you deduct 77 to the Christian year; otherwise, you subtract 78 years.
The Story Of Vikram Samvat.
Gandharvasena, the powerful king of Ujjain, abducted Sadhavi Sarasvati. Her brother, a monk himself, ask the then Saka ruler King Sahi of Sistan, present-day Eastern Iran and Southern Afghanistan. The Saka king defeated Gandharvasena. Sarasvati was repatriated, and Gandharvasena was forgiven and retired to the forest. His son, Vikramaditya, later on invaded Ujjain and drove away Sakas. To commemorate the win, he started a new era called the ‘Vikrama era’.
When Do the Lunar And Solar Calendar Realign?
Like the mathematics problem where two boys start walking at different speeds on a circular path, and after some time, they once again cross each other at the starting point as if the race has restarted. Similarly, it is said that everything in the universe and the solar-lunar cycle follow 33 years. After which, both The Moon and the Sun are in the same position with respect to each other.
How Is Leap Year Adjusted In Hindu Calendar?
The first month of Chaitra in the Hindu Calendar starts on 22 March and is of 30 days. But in a leap year, it starts on 21 March and is of 31 days. You also notice that after Chaitra, the next 5 months are all 31 days, and the last six months are of 30 days.
Is any Special Puja associated With Adhik Mass?
In Beed (Maharashtra), in the village named Purushottampuri, there is the Temple of God Purushottam and which is a unique temple built with bricks which float on water, which is a wonder. Every Adhik Mass, there is a big fair, and thousands of people come from various places to take the blessings of God Purushottam.
A month-long mela (fair) is celebrated in Machhegaun village in Nepal during Adhika Mass. It is a general belief that one can wash away all his sins by taking a bath in the pond at the Machhenarayan temple.
Why Is Adhik Mass Dedicated To Purushottam- Lord Vishnu?
The Purushottama month appears after every 32 months. This is the period when it is believed that the SUN remains in a Rashi and does not move. The horses of lord Sun Chariot also take rest- hence there is no Sankrant in the Adhik Mass. Now, this slowing of the cycle affects and creates an unfavourable situation. So, no one wanted this month. No God wanted to be associated and even called it MAL (Stool ) mass. The month wept before Purushottam Narayana (Lord Vishnu), who agreed to be associated with the month.
Lord Vishnu agreed to take on Adhik Mass. He then said he will make Adhik mass like him in quality, fame, opulence, realization, success, and in giving benefit to the devotees. It will have his divine qualities, and hence it was named Purushottama month.
He also made Adhik Mass ( Mass= month) the master of all other mass ( Months). And asked everyone to pay their obeisance to her. He made Adhik Mass desire-free and said worshipers of Adhik Mass will get rid of all past sins.
Another Story Of Adhik Mass (Month).
Draupadi, in her past birth as Medhavati, remained unmarried. Durvasa rishi instructed her to perform penance in Purushottam Mas, which she refused and thus suffered Durvasa’s curse.
To be delivered from the Durvasa curse, she prayed to Lord Shiva. When Lord Shiva was pleased, Medhavati blurted out a request for a husband five times. And hence, in the next birth, as Draupadi, she was married to the five Pandavas. And for having insulted Purushottam Mas, she suffered humiliation at the hands of Duhshasan. Lord Krishna, in her birth as Draupadi, narrated the Purushottam Mass Katha. The Pandavas and Draupadi then performed penance in Adhik Mass and attained peace.
What Is Expected From A Devotee In Adhik Mass?
In Purushottam Mass, the devotees should perform devotional service and increase their attachment to Lord Vishnu. They should rise in the Brahma Muhurta, i.e. 1.5 hours before sunrise. Immediately take a bath ( preferably in the holy river), give charity to Brahmanas, Chant Krishna /Vishnu name and offer Tulsi to Lord Krishna. During this period should not eat more than required and must not consume non-vegetarian food and intoxicants. Devotees should follow celibacy, avoid luxuries and not indulge in immoral activities and indulge in illicit deeds. Additionally, do not use items like oil, onion, garlic, or mustard products that are forbidden in the worship of Lord Krishna. If possible, visit places associated with Lord Krishna / Vishu, like Vrindavan, Mathura, Jagannath Puri etc.
What Should Not Be Done In Adhik Mass?
Starting construction of a house or office. Thread ceremony. Grah Pravesh. Buying of vehicle. Opening if a new shop or business. Mundan- Hair ceremony. Engagement. Marriage. Digging a well
FASTING ON Ekadashi of Purushottama Month (Adhik Maas)
Adhik Mass has two Ekadashi, Parama and Padma Ekadashi.
Kamika Ekadashi is on the 13th of July, and Putra Ekadashi is on the 27th of August.
And the Adhik Mass Krishna Paksha Ekadashi PADMINI EKADASHI is on the 27th of July, and the Param Ekadashi (Shukla Paksha) is on the 12th of August.
Referred sites. : Amar Ujjala, Dainik Jagran, Astromujurat.com, Rudraksh-ratna.com
blog/74/2020/#IgnorantHindu/008 Updated 2023
