" The Religious Calendar "

The period of fifteen days when the Moon is in the ascendancy is known as 'SUKLA Paksha' or the 'Full moon' period. The following fifteen days when the Moon is in the descendant is known as ' KRISHNA PAKSHA ' or 'No Moon ' period.

The days are called as ' TITHI's in Sanskrit. eg. Prathama, Dweetheeya, Thritheeya, Chaturthi, Panchami, Sashti, Saptami, Ashtami, Navami,Dasami, Ekadasi, Dwadasi, Triodasi, Chaturdasi followed by Pournami in the Full Moon Days or Amavasya in the no moon day period.



Certain Ceremonies or 'Vrathas' have connotations with the 'Tithis. Some have relevance to the 'Stars' or 'Nakshatras'. Thus the Religious Calendar follows as mentioned below:-
1) Yama Dwitheeya
2) Akshaya Tritheeya
3) Vinayaka Chaturthi




4) Rishi Panchami
6) Skanda Shashti
7) Ratha Saptami
8) Janmashtami



9) SriRama Navami, Maha Navami



10)Vijaya Dasami
11)Vaikunta Ekadasi
12)Sravana Dwadasi
13)Krishnankura Trayodasi



14)Naraka Chaturdasi



15)Chitra Pournami

The above ones are based on the 'tithis'.

II. In every Tamil Month on Purnami days, the 'Star or Nakshatra' prevailing on that day gets added as a tag to mark the importance of the day. The list follows:-

1) Chitra Purnima ( Chitrai denotes the month as well as the Star) - Chitra Gupta Puja is observed.
2) Vaikasi Visakam (Kanchi Guru Jayanthi, Buddha Purnima)
3) Aadi Pooram , Aadi 18 when Water is released for irrigation from Cauveri, Aadi Amavasai
4) Avani Avittam - Upakarmas ' Tiruvonam-Onam Festival



5) Karthigai Deepam
6) Dhanur Masya - Thiruvadirai -Arudhra Darsanam
7 Thai Pusam (Mayilai Theppam for Murugan)
8) Masi Makam (Mahamakam @ Kumbakonam once in 12 years)






9) Panguni Uthiram

III The day or ' Vaara' based:-


1) Soma Vaara - for Parameswara, Moon
2) Mangala Vaara - for Subrahmanya & Ganesha 'Angarakan
3) Budha vaara- Budha
4) Guru vaara- for Maha Vishnu
5) Sukra Vaara - for Goddesses Durga,Lakshmi, Saraswati




6) Sani Vaara - for Saniswara, Balaji



7) Bhanu Vaara -for Surya , Maariyamman




pn