Paksha

{{See also|Astronomical basis of the Hindu calendar}} {{about|the lunar phase in the Hindu calendar|the Slavic festive dish|paskha}} {{distinguish|Paska (disambiguation){{!}}Paska}} {{short description|Fortnight or a lunar phase in a month of the Hindu lunar calendar}} [[File:Moon_Phase_Diagram_for_Simple_English_Wikipedia.GIF|thumb|Phases of the Moon]] '''Paksha '''({{langx|sa|पक्ष|translit=pakṣa}}) refers to a fortnight period consisting of various lunar phases in a month of the Hindu lunar calendar.<ref>{{cite book| last = Defouw| first = Hart| author2 = Robert Svoboda| title = Light on Life: An Introduction to the Astrology of India| url = https://archive.org/details/lightonlife00hart| url-access = registration| date = 2003| publisher = Lotus Press| isbn = 0-940985-69-1| page = [https://archive.org/details/lightonlife00hart/page/186 186] }}</ref><ref>{{cite book| last = Kumar| first = Ashwini| title = Vaastu: The Art And Science Of Living| url = https://books.google.com/books?id=PwlmRgLt7WkC&pg=PA50| date = 2005| publisher = Sterling Publishers | isbn = 81-207-2569-7| page = 50 }}</ref> Literally meaning "side" in Sanskrit,<ref>Monnier-Williams, M: (1851) ''Sanskrit Dictionary'' ISBN (none)</ref> it refers to the periods between amavasya (new moon) and purnima (full moon), and vice versa.<ref>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}}</ref>

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 waxing moon. The second fortnight is called Krishna Paksha (dark side) or Vadhya Paksha' and corresponds to the period of the waning moon.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://iskconeducationalservices.org/HoH/practice/festivals/the-hindu-calendar/|title=Hindu calendar|work=ISKCON|access-date=1 June 2025}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|author=Most, Glenn W. |title=Hesiod Volume 1: Theogony Works and Days|publisher=Harvard University Press|year=2006}}</ref> Amavasya corresponds to the period when the Moon is within 12 degrees of angular distance from the Sun before their conjunction.<ref>{{cite journal|author=Cole, Freedom|title=Amāvásya and Pratipad|journal=Jyotish Digest|volume=XI|issue=2|date=April–September 2014}}</ref>

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.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://aryasamajhouston.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=166&Itemid=125|title=Hindu calendar|work=Arya Samaj|access-date=1 June 2025}}</ref>

==Shukla Paksha== Shukla Paksha refers to the bright lunar fortnight in the Hindu calendar, corresponding to the waxing 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.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Rinehart |first=Robin |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=7abOEAAAQBAJ&pg=PA125 |title=Contemporary Hinduism: Ritual, Culture, and Practice |date=2004-07-21 |publisher=Bloomsbury Publishing |isbn=978-1-57607-906-5 |pages=125 |language=en}}</ref>

Numerous festivals are held during this period, including the Navaratri festivals, most importantly Chaitra Navaratri and Ashvin Navaratri.

{| class="wikitable sortable" |- !Day !Tithi !class=unsortable|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 waning 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.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Iyer |first=N. P. Subramania |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=e_8MaBfTncgC&pg=PA79 |title=Kalaprakasika |date=1991 |publisher=Asian Educational Services |isbn=978-81-206-0252-6 |pages=79 |language=en}}</ref>

Festivals during the Krishna Paksha are: {| class="wikitable sortable" |- !Day !Tithi !class=unsortable|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 == {| class="wikitable" |- ! 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 |}

==References== {{Reflist}}

==External links== * [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ROzCT3pHCjM&list=PLYNax2xNHwV2r5_Ca4JeJM2zFhvwTHRry&index=14 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. * [http://hinduism.about.com/od/festivalsholidays/a/hindu_calendar.htm Hindu Festivals Calendar 2010] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161206150554/http://hinduism.about.com/od/festivalsholidays/a/hindu_calendar.htm |date=2016-12-06 }} * [http://himalayanacademy.com/resources/panchangam/pancha_intro.PDF Introduction to the Hindu Calendar (pdf)] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110711170536/http://himalayanacademy.com/resources/panchangam/pancha_intro.PDF |date=2011-07-11 }}

Category:Hindu calendar Category:Phases of the Moon