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Paksha
Paksha (or pakṣa: Sanskrit: पक्ष) refers to a fortnight or a lunar phase in a month of the Hindu lunar calendar.[1][2]
Literally meaning "side",[3] a paksha is the period either side of the Full Moon Day (Purnima). A lunar month in the Hindu calendar has two fortnights, and begins with the New moon, (Amavasya). The lunar days are called tithis and each month has 30 tithis, which may vary from 20 – 27 hours. A paksha has 15 tithis, which are calculated by a 12 degree motion of the Moon. The first fortnight between New Moon Day and Full Moon Day is called "Gaura Paksha" or Shukla Paksha (lit. 'white/bright/golden side') the period of the brightening moon (waxing moon), and the second fortnight of the month is called "Vadhya Paksha" or Krishna Paksha (lit. 'dark/black side'), the period of the fading moon (waning moon).[1][4] Neemuch Panchang begin new lunar month from first day of Krishna Paksha while Gujarat Panchang begin new lunar month from first day of Shukla Paksha.[5]
Days of Shukla Paksha and Krishna Paksha[edit]
| Shukla Paksha | Krishna Paksha |
|---|---|
| 1. Prathama | 1. Prathama |
| 2. Dwitiya | 2. Dwitiya |
| 3. Tritiya | 3. Tritiya |
| 4. Chaturthi | 4. Chaturthi |
| 5. Panchami | 5. Panchami |
| 6. Shashti | 6. Shashti |
| 7. Saptami | 7. Saptami |
| 8. Ashtami | 8. Ashtami |
| 9. Navami | 9. Navami |
| 10. Dashami | 10. Dashami |
| 11. Ekadashi | 11. Ekadashi |
| 12. Dwadashi | 12. Dwadashi |
| 13. Thrayodashi | 13. Thrayodashi |
| 14. Chaturdashi | 14. Chaturdashi |
| 15. Purnima | 15. Amavasya, Ausi |
Shukla Paksha[edit]
Shukla paksha refers to the bright lunar fortnight or waxing moon in the Hindu calendar. Shukla (Sanskrit: शुक्ल) is Sanskrit word for "white" or "bright".
Shukla Paksha (Waxing Moon period) is a period of 15 days, which begins on the Shukla Amavasya (New Moon) day and culminating Purnima (Full Moon) day and is considered auspicious[6] because it is favorable to growth or expansion on every plane of existence i.e. Mental, Physical and Spiritual Plane.
Numerous festivals are held during this period, including the Navratri festivals, most importantly Chaitra Navratri and Ashvin Navratri.
| Day | Tithi | Festival | Month |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1st Day | Pratipada | Bali Pratipada, Govardhan Puja | Kartika |
| 2nd Day | Dvitiya | Bhaibeej | Kartika |
| 3rd Day | Tritiya | Teej | Bhadrapad |
| 3rd Day | Tritiya | Akshaya Tritiya | Vaishakha |
| 4th Day | Chaturthi | Ganesh Chaturthi | Bhadrapada |
| 4th Day | Chaturthi | Ganesh Jayanti | Magha |
| 5th Day | Panchami | Nuakhai | Bhadrapad |
| 5th Day | Panchami | Vivaha Panchami | Margashirsha |
| 5th Day | Panchami | Basant Panchami | Magha |
| 6th Day | Shasthi | Sitalsasthi | Jyestha |
| 9th Day | Navami | Rama Navami | Chaitra |
| 10th Day | Dasami | Vijayadashami | Ashvin |
| 11th Day | Ekadasi | Shayani Ekadashi | Asadha |
| 11th Day | Ekadashi | Vaikunta Ekadashi | Margashirsha |
| 14th Day | Chaturdashi | Samvatsari | Bhadrapada |
| 15th Day (Full Moon) | Poornima | Guru Purnima | Ashada |
Krishna Paksha[edit]
Krishna paksha refers to the dark lunar fortnight or waning moon in the Hindu calendar. Krishna (Sanskrit: कृष्ण) is Sanskrit for "dark". Krishna Paksha is a period of 15 days, which begins on the (Full Moon) day (Purnima), culminating on (New Moon) day (Amavasya). Krishna Paksha is considered inauspicious, as the moon loses light during this period.[4][7]
Festivals during Krishna Paksha are:
| Day | Tithi | Festival | Month |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4th Day | Chaturthi | Karva Chauth | Kartika |
| 8th Day | Ashtami | Krishna Janmashtami | Shraavana |
| 13th Day | Thrayodashi | Dhanteras | Kartika |
| 13th Day | Thrayodashi | Pradosha | Maagha |
| 14th Day | Chaturdashi | Maha Shivaratri | Maagha |
| 14th Day | Chaturdashi | Naraka Chaturdashi (Diwali) | Kartika |
Other usages[edit]
In Vedic astrology when a person does a prasna (a question chart) and the planet Venus indicates the time period, the event referred to in the answer will happen in a pakṣa (fortnight) from the time the question was asked.
See also[edit]
References[edit]
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Defouw, Hart; Robert Svoboda (2003). Light on Life: An Introduction to the Astrology of India. Lotus Press. p. 186. ISBN 0-940985-69-1.
- ↑ Kumar, Ashwini (2005). Vaastu: The Art And Science Of Living. Sterling Publishers Pvt. Ltd. p. 50. ISBN 81-207-2569-7.
- ↑ Monnier-Williams, M: (1851) Sanskrit Dictionary ISBN (none)
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 Hindu calendar Archived 2010-09-01 at the Wayback Machine
- ↑ Moon Calendar
- ↑ Phases (Paksha) of the Moon from Rocking Baba
- ↑ "The Lunar Year".
- K. V. Sarma (2008), "Paksa", Encyclopaedia of the History of Science, Technology, and Medicine in Non-Western Cultures (2nd edition) edited by Helaine Selin, Springer, ISBN 978-1-4020-4559-2.
External links[edit]
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