Paksha (Sanskrit: पक्ष, romanized: pakṣa) refers to a fortnight period consisting of various lunar phases in a month of the Hindu lunar calendar.[1][2] Literally meaning "side" in Sanskrit,[3] it refers to the periods between amavasya (new moon) and purnima (full moon), and vice versa.[4]
A lunar month in the Hindu calendar has two fortnights, with each fortnight subdivided into lunar days called tithis. A paksha consists of 15 such tithis, each of which correspond to a 12-degree angular motion of the Moon. The fortnight between amavasya and purnima is called as Shukla Paksha (bright side) or Gaura Paksha, which corresponds to the period of the waning moon. The second fortnight is called Krishna Paksha (dark side) or Vadhya Paksha' and corresponds to the period of the waxing moon.[5][6] Amavasya corresponds to the period when the Moon is within 12 degrees of angular distance from the Sun before their conjunction.[7]
A lunar month begins on the next day after amavasya in the amanta tradition and on the next day after purnima in the purnimanta system. The amanta system is followed majorly in the South India and the purnimanta system in North India.[8]
Shukla Paksha
Shukla Paksha refers to the bright lunar fortnight in the Hindu calendar, corresponding to the waning moon. Shukla is the Sanskrit word for "white" or "bright". The Shukla Paksha is a period of 15 days, which begins after the amavasya (new moon day) and culminating on purnima (full moon day) and is considered auspicious.[9]
Numerous festivals are held during this period, including the Navaratri festivals, most importantly Chaitra Navaratri and Ashvin Navaratri.
| Day | Tithi | Festival | Month |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1st day | Pratipada | Gudi Padwa, Ugadi | Chaitra |
| 1st day | Pratipada | Bali Pratipada, Govardhan Puja | Kartika |
| 2nd day | Dvitiya | Bhaibeej | Kartika |
| 3rd day | Tritiya | Teej | Bhadrapada |
| 3rd day | Tritiya | Akshaya Tritiya | Vaishakha |
| 4th day | Chaturthi | Ganesh Chaturthi | Bhadrapada |
| 4th day | Chaturthi | Ganesh Jayanti | Magha |
| 5th day | Panchami | Nuakhai | Bhadrapada |
| 5th day | Panchami | Vivaha Panchami | Margashirsha |
| 5th day | Panchami | Vasanta Panchami | Magha |
| 6th day | Shasthi | Sitalsasthi | Jyestha |
| 8th day | Ashtami | Radhashtami | Bhadrapada |
| 9th day | Navami | Rama Navami | Chaitra |
| 10th day | Dashami | Vijayadashami | Ashvin |
| 11th day | Ekadashi | Shayani Ekadashi | Ashadha |
| 11th day | Ekadashi | Vaikuntha Ekadashi | Margashirsha |
| 14th day | Chaturdashi | Samvatsari | Bhadrapada |
| 15th day (full moon) | Purnima | Guru Purnima | Ashada |
Krishna Paksha
Krishna Paksha refers to the dark lunar fortnight in the Hindu calendar, corresponding to the waxing moon. Krishna means "dark" in Sanskrit. Krishna Paksha is a period of 15 days, which begins after the purnima day (full moon), and ends on the amavasya (new moon) day. The period is considered inauspicious, as the moon loses light during this period.[10]
Festivals during the Krishna Paksha are:
| Day | Tithi | Festival | Month |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4th day | Chaturthi | Karva Chauth | Kartika |
| 8th day | Ashtami | Krishna Janmashtami | Śrāvaṇa |
| 13th day | Thrayodashi | Dhanteras | Kartika |
| 13th day | Thrayodashi | Pradosha | Magha |
| 14th day | Chaturdashi | Maha Shivaratri | Magha |
| 14th day | Chaturdashi | Naraka Chaturdashi (Diwali) | Kartika |
| 15th day (no moon) | Amavasya | Lakshmi Puja (Diwali) | Kartika |
Thithis or days
| Shukla Paksha | Krishna Paksha |
|---|---|
| 1. Prathama | 1. Prathama |
| 2. Dvitiya | 2. Dvitiya |
| 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. Trayodashi | 13. Trayodashi |
| 14. Chaturdashi | 14. Chaturdashi |
| 15. Purnima | 15. Amavasya |
See also
References
- ^ 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. p. 50. ISBN 81-207-2569-7.
- ^ Monnier-Williams, M: (1851) Sanskrit Dictionary ISBN (none)
- ^ 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
- ^ "Hindu calendar". ISKCON. Retrieved 1 June 2025.
- ^ Most, Glenn W. (2006). Hesiod Volume 1: Theogony Works and Days. Harvard University Press.
- ^ Cole, Freedom (April–September 2014). "Amāvásya and Pratipad". Jyotish Digest. XI (2).
- ^ "Hindu calendar". Arya Samaj. Retrieved 1 June 2025.
- ^ Rinehart, Robin (2004-07-21). Contemporary Hinduism: Ritual, Culture, and Practice. Bloomsbury Publishing. p. 125. ISBN 978-1-57607-906-5.
- ^ Iyer, N. P. Subramania (1991). Kalaprakasika. Asian Educational Services. p. 79. ISBN 978-81-206-0252-6.
External links
- Ahargana - The Astronomy of the Hindu Calendar: Maana, Krishna Pksha, Shukla Paksha and Chandra Masa Explains Krishna paksha and Shukla paksha by means of astronomical simulations created using Stellarium.
- Hindu Festivals Calendar 2010 Archived 2016-12-06 at the Wayback Machine
- Introduction to the Hindu Calendar (pdf) Archived 2011-07-11 at the Wayback Machine
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