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Adhik Mass – The Extra Month in the Hindu Calendar
Every 32.5 months or 2.7 years approximately comes this unique month of ADHIK MAAS, also known as Purushottam Maas (Month).
ADHIK, a word in the Hindi language which literally means, more.
Purushottam is an epithet of Lord Vishnu, to whom the month is dedicated. People who follow Lord Krishna, see this month
as an opportunity to spend more time chanting and communicating with him.
It is also known as ‘Mala Maas’ or ‘Dhondyacha Mahina’
This is an EXTRA month that is added into the Hindu calendar
to balance out and keep both the solar and lunar calendars aligned.
Essentially, days are added or removed to keep the two calendars in sync.
The Solar Calendar is based on the length of a
tropical year.
This is the time it takes the earth to revolve (orbit) around the sun
The Lunar (Moon) Calendar is based on the time it takes for the Moon to revolve (orbit) around the Earth.
As the difference between the Solar year and the 12 lunar months is about 11 days, the Hindu calendar does corrections in the format of leap months and leap days. And somewhere around 2.7 years the difference is enough days to create this 1 extra month, known as the Adhik Maas.
Adhik maas is literally referred to as the Leap Month. It is the 13th (thirteenth) month in the Hindu calendar this year.
During this month, Religious rituals are observed and any
austerities and observances are undertaken.
It is actually recommended that during this month, as there is a change in the
atmosphere, one should keep a fast for good health. Or, eat meals once a day
only.
However, it is also considered an inauspicious month for carrying out major ceremonies. Therefore, people avoid conducting marriages, child ceremonies, like mundane, or house ceremonies, like, graha-pravesh during this month.
Three Easy Ways to Attract Abundance and Blessings
During this month, a
very powerful, and simple ritual to attract abundance and blessings is to do Deep Daan.
That is, Keep a lit diya (lamp) in front of the Lord all the time. This also
helps in financial gains.
Do remember to fold your hands and give thanks to the Lord (and the universe) every day and do Darshan (that is see God).
Also, mantra chanting is all the more powerful and effective when done in this month.
The Mantra for Lord Vishnu is considered to be very auspicious if especially chanted this month. This is one of the most sacred mantras and can be chanted at any time of the year. Lord Krishna is considered a very powerful avatar (reincarnation) of Lord Vishnu, and is considered the Supreme God of Protection.
Also remember that when chanting, a mantra must be chanted a 108 times or its multiples.
Mantra for Lord Vishnu –
|| Om Namo Bhagvate Vasudevaya ||
We hope you found this short article helpful. Do leave us a comment below and check out over 100 articles on Spiritual Tools which help you heal your life.
Blessed Be!
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In Kerala, we follow a slightly different calender but even in that we have the less favourable months and prayers and chanting hymns are highly recommended during those months too. Krishna is the one God to whom I always turn to and “Om Namo Bhagavathe Vasudevaya” must be my most chanted mantra too. ):
interesting informative post. My parents follow all these rituals in adhik maas.
Fascinating post. I haven’t heard about this before so it’s new information for me. Thank you.
Nice article. We just pray every day so that we are in good health. With the things happening around, i wonder what the world is coming to.
We use to call this extra month ‘Man Maas’, Thank you for sharing so informational post.
What perfect timing.. we had to postpone our house warming due to this adhikmas and now it is on dusshera
Very helpful post, Ish. You have explained Adhik Maas so simply and beautifully. ‘Om Namoh Bhagvate Vasudevaya’ is something we chant subconsciously , as a habit.
Very interesting article. I had no idea that the Hindu calendar actually had an additional month! Will try to chant some mantras, because I’m too afraid to leave a diya on overnight without supervision! What are the dates of this month, for those of us who have no clue about the Hindu calendar? 🙂
Really liked reading this article about rituals and practices I was not aware of. I will definitely light a lamp and chant the mantra like you suggested
You added to my little knowledge of the Hindu calendar. Lighting Diyas and chanting mantras are considered auspicious and the ‘Adhik Maas’ exists just as leap year!:)
I had heard about it, but had no such knowledge. Really loved reading this post & hope to follow this bit as well
Didn’t realise that Adhik Mass was referred as the thirteenth month in the Hindu calendar. I learned so much from this post today. Thanks for sharing
The same sloka is used while venturing on long travel or journey. It’s really good to use time and center oneself with spiritual activities during these times.
We lit up a diya everyday, and I always wish for peace and calmness for every mind which I feel is utmost important nowadays. And yes, blowing Sankha is also consider to be good.
I knew about mala mash but I didn’t know about the significance.. got to know a lot things..
I am really bad in understanding and remembering these things but you have explained it so well. Thanks for sharing this.
You have explained the Adhik Maas so well. I was reading about it to understand more recently and your article sums up everything just so nicely.
Thanks for sharing details about Adhik maas. This clears a lot of doubts. Very informative!
Adhik maas has a lot of significance in Hindu households. I fast for the Adhik chauth as well. Thanks for sharing this detailed information about it.
Hey Ishieta. You have explained it so well and thanks for sharing this useful information. I will certainly pass this onto my kids as its new to me.
Love the way you explained it. My inlaws follow these rituals…
Nice blogpost! With the current conditions, don’t know where all this will lead to… Praying to God for evrything to get better soon.
I actually never knew about this extra month. Nice to read about it and these easy to follow rituals in your post.
I have a very close relative who does adhik mass puja for the entire month and follows every ritual. I really loved the details around this month of Puja