ADHIKA MAASA- Excess month

What is Adhika Maasa?

Literally Adhika means additional, extra and Maasa means a month. Adhika Maasa means an extra month. We would have observed that in Western Calendar there is a concept called Leap Year which occurs once in every four years when we find an extra day is added to the month of February and the calendar year will have 366 days instead of regular 365 days. Something similar to that, we find in Hindu Almanac where, a time compensation of one month is made to adjust the time movement and to make necessary corrections to the calendars we follow. This is something in vogue and followed in Hindu religion since time immemorial initiated by our ancient seers with their vision and forethought.

Generally we find only one new moon (Amavasya) and one full moon (Pournami) in a Luni - Solar month. If in any solar month two new moons occur, which normally does not, then both the Lunar months will have to be reckoned. When there are two new moons one at the commencement and other at the end of a solar month then two lunar months would be originating in the same solar month. Then both the Lunar months will have to bear the same name as of the solar month. Then the Lunar month that begins from the first new moon is deemed as an extra month. This is called Adhika Maasa or Mala maasa. The Lunar month beginning from the second New Moon is called as the real or pure and is referred to as Nija Maasa or Suddha Maasa with both the months bearing the same name. In short an Adhika Maasa is a Lunar month during which there is no Surya Sankramana or solar transit. Therefore, when Adhika Maasa occurs, Sun’s stay in a particular sign or Raasi will be longer than the duration of that Lunar month.

Sun and Moon are called Luminaries which are visible in our day to day life. Their phases viz… Full Moon (Pournami) and New Moon (Amavasya) helped our ancient seers to establish a suitable time division of Lunar Month on which our religious calendar (Almanac) is based. Lunar month commonly observed in our Lunar Calendar is known as Amaanta starting from the end moment of New Moon (Amavasya) to the end moment of the next New Moon. A Lunar month is a period starting from Sukla Prathama (Paadyami) and ending with Krishna (Bahula) Amavasya. Similarly another noticeable feature was the occurrence and recurrence of seasons known as Ruthus. These phenomena made our seers to notice the obvious movement of the Luminaries on a clear cut path known as zodiac that is divided into twelve signs or Raasis. Movement of Sun from one sign to the other in the zodiac is reckoned as Sankranthi or Sankramana. The period between two Sankrantis (transit of Sun from one sign or Raasi to the other) is taken as Soura or a Solar month. One complete cycle of Sun around the zodiac starting from Aries and ending with Pisces is known as a Solar year. Since Vedic times our ancient seers are perhaps the pioneers to combine successfully the solar calendar into the lunar one and take it as a Luni – solar calendar so that it can be used for both religious/spiritual and social purposes.

Technicalities of Adhika Maasa

It was found by our ancient seers that a Lunar month will have duration of 29 days 12 hours and 44 minutes that add up to 354 days and 9 hours in a year, falling short of the solar year of 365 days by about 11 days (approx). Accumulation of this difference of more than 30 days in a span of three years results in sliding of a Lunar month in relation to solar calendar. Such progressive recession of Lunar months leads to disparity in the celebration of festivals and the seasons they occur which are dependent on Solar Calendar.

Therefore in order to synchronize the Lunar months with Luni-Solar calendar and to keep in pace with the seasons our ancient seers have formulated a concept or technique of restraining Lunar months and devised an intercalary month for the Lunar Calendar. Thus, as and when there is an accumulation of recession by about 30 days, a Lunar month is added to the year. This extra month known as Adhika Masa occurs at regular intervals of 32 or 33 solar months to maintain the balance between Solar and Lunar Calendars. Thus it can be seen that an intercalary month (Adhika Masa) occurs once in two/three years in the normal course.


Significance of Adhika Maasa

Having understood the concept and technicalities of Adhika Maasa let us try to understand what Adhika Maasa signifies in a religious and spiritual way. Lot of solemnity is attached to the Adhika Maasa in Hindu religion and spirituality. Adhika is a Sanskrit word, that also means the best, the greatest, powerful, and extraordinary. It is measured more glorious than all other months in terms of its merits.

Sri Maha Vishnu is considered as the presiding deity of Adhika Maasa in the name Purushottama. Hence,

Adhika Maasa is also referred to as Purushottama Maasa. Purushottama is one of the thousands of names of Sriman Narayana. It means the best among the beings in the Universe. Sri Rama is called as Purana Purushottama. Adhika Maasa is the most sacred month dedicated to the most sacred person Sri Maha Vishnu.


Austerities during Adhika Maasa

Adhika Maasa is considered as the most auspicious month to perform certain austerities for spiritual advancement. Some of the austerities prescribed to be observed during Adhika Masa Vratha are,

Parayana: Reading of sacred scripts especially Bhagavatha during Adhika Masa is given high significance and considered as highly meritorious. Apart from this one can also read other scripts like Bhagavat Geeta, Sri Vishnu Sahasranama Sthothra etc…during Adhika Maasa.

Naktha Bhojana: Eating one time meals at night with complete fasting
during day time and avoiding eating of Urad/Urad dal and preparations made
out of it during this period.

Eka Bhuktha: It is opposite of the above, eating only once during day time
and not taking any food till next day.

Uposhana: Completely avoiding meals and taking only milk and fruits
during the vratha period.

Mouna Vratha: Observing total silence and not talking to any one for a
specific period of time every day during the vratha period.

Akhanda Deepa: Lighting a lamp (Akhanda Deepa) in Pooja Room and
allowing it to glow continuously through out the vratha period (day and
night). Only Ghee or Thila Oil should be used for lighting of Deepa.

Dharana– Parana: Fasting on one day and eating on the next day during
the vratha period.

Apart from the above some of the other austerities include, eating food without salt, sleeping on the floor avoiding cot and bed, Lakshavarti (preparing one lakh cotton wicks and lighting lamps with it), avoiding cutting
of nails and hair etc…

One can also take up any other austerity that pleases Sri Maha Vishnu. In this regard one can consider writing of Sri Rama Naama during the Vratha period the simplest austerity with great benefits. While writing Rama Naama one should also recite the same silently.


Charities during Adhika Maasa

Lot of significance is given and is considered highly meritorious to give charity during Adhika Maasa. Adhika Maasa– Anantha Phalam. Charity should always be accompanied with proper Dakshina according to ones capacity. Some of the charities prescribed to be given during Adhika Maasa are as follows;

Apoopa Dana: Apoopa means a sweet dish made with Rice flour, jaggery and Ghee. Such sweet dish 33 in number should be given as charity to a Brahmin along with a Brass plate. According to ones capacity this can be given on every day or during specified days or at least on one of the specified days during the vratha period. This type of charity is considered to be highly meritorious and bestows significant results.

Phala Dana: Seasonal fruits or Banana 33 in number can be given as
charity as said above.

Thaamboola Dana: Betel leaves + Areca Nut + either a fruit or a Coconut
+ Dakshina should be given to Brahmin couple (33 in number) as said
above.

Other charities prescribed during Adhika Masa are Anna Dana, Deepa Dana, Baagina Dana, Pusthaka Dana (Sacred scripts like Bhagavatha), Sayya Dana (Bed Sheet + Blanket + Pillow) along with Lakshmi Narayana Prathima, Godana (donating a Cow), Thila Dana along with a Brass vessel, Vasthra Dana (Clothes), etc…

Apart from the above one can also give any other charity that suits to the season. For example Vaisakha Masa being a summer month one can donate Water, Umbrella and Chappals etc… according to ones capacity. Whatever you do it should be done with all sincerity, devotion and without expecting any results.

Specific days for giving charity are Dwadasi (both Sukla & Krishna Paksha), Pournami (full Moon day), Amavasya (New Moon day), Astami, Navami and Chaturdasi days during the dark fortnight (Krishna Paksha), Vyatheepatha, and Vaidruthi days.
Pithru Karma during Adhika Maasa

Nitya Karma, Amavasya, Yugaadi, Manvaadi related Pithru karmas should be
performed both in Adhika Maasa as well as in Nija Maasa.

If annual ceremony of deceased known as Prathisaamvatsareeka Sraaddha falls during the month when Adhika Maasa occurs it should be performed in Adhika Masa provided the concerned Pithru had expired during Adhika Maasa. Otherwise it should be performed only during Nija Maasa. Also means to say that, in case the deceased had expired in Nija Maasa in normal course the shraaddha should be performed during Nija Maasa and not in the Adhika Maasa.

In case Adhika Maasa coincides with Maasika (monthly) ceremonies during
the first year of Pithru’s death, the concerned Maasika shraaddha should be
performed twice both in Adhika maasa as well as in Nija maasa.

In case if the 12th month ceremony coincides with Adhika Maasa then that Maasika ceremony should be performed twice both in Adhika Maasa as well as in Nija Masa and the first annual ceremony (Prathamaabdeeka) should be performed in the 14th month.

In case Adhika Maasa coincides with Dasa Dina Karma all the related ceremonies including Sapindeekarana should be performed only during Adhika Maasa.

In case the first annual ceremony happens to fall during Adhika Maasa it should be performed during Adhika Maasa only even though they had expired during Nija Maasa.


Adhika Maasa– Prohibited Activities

Adhika Maasa is also referred to as Mala Maasa (inauspicious month).
Though Adhika Maasa is considered as very auspicious and sacred for religious and spiritual pursuits it is considered as inauspicious for performing certain other rituals. Some of the activities to be avoided during Adhika Maasa are Upanayana samskara, Vivaha, Gruha Pravesa, Shasti Poorthi and Devatha Prathista etc… However, rituals like Garbhadaana, Pumsavana, Seemantha, Naamakarana, Annapraasana etc…can be performed during Adhika Maasa.

Brahmotsavam at Tirumala during Adhika Maasa:

We are aware that every year the annual Brahmotsavam of Lord Sri Venkateswara Swamy takes place at Tirumala during Kanya Maasa that coincides with Navarathri festival during the Lunar month Aaswayuja Maasa. If Adhika Maasa is coinciding with Aaswayuja Maasa then the nine day festival Brahmotsavam at Tirumala is held twice, both in Adhika Maasa as well as in Nija Maasa.