HINDU TEMPLE  OF KENTUCKY

Paksham/Shukla Paksh/Krihna Paksh The bright half of a lunar month - that is, from Prathami to Poornima is termed Shukla Paksh - the Moon waxing period; the next halfof the lunar month from Poornima to Amavasai constitutes Krishna Paksh - Moon waning period.

Adhika/ Nija Masas :
Normally we have 12 lunar months in a year, which contains roughly 355 days (29.53*12). This falls short of the solar year by 10 days, which will need a correction approximately every 3 years. This correction is not done by arbitrary rules but by the natural motion of Sun and the Moon. The occurrence of Amavasyas solves this deficiency in the number of days.

Usually there is only one Amavasya between Sankrantis. But sometimes, two Amavasyas occur between successive Sankrantis, one at the very beginning and the other near the end; the lunar month first occurring is termed Adhika and the next one Nija. Both the months carry the same name with the prefix Adhika and Nija. There are rare cases when then there is no Amavasya between two Sankrantis. Then a Lunar Month is suppressed - Kshaya. Such an event occurred in 1963 and again in 1982 and may occur in the future as well. In Adhika Masa, no festivals are celebrated.

Malai and Visha Masas :
A month without a Full Moon is known as a Visha Masa; one with two full Moons is called a Malai Masa. Nothing of importance should be done in those months.