HINDU LUNAR CALENDAR (NAV SAMVATSAR)🚩 Starts with Month 1: Chaitra

The 12 Months of the Hindu Lunar Calendar

In Vedic Astronomy (Drik Ganita), each lunar month is named after the Nakshatra in which the Full Moon (Purnima) occurs, and corresponds to the Sun's transit (Sankranti) into a specific zodiac sign.

📜 Astronomical Calculation Rules of Vedic Months

🌖 Amanta vs Purnimanta Systems

Amanta System (South & West India) ends on Amavasya (New Moon). Purnimanta System (North & Central India) ends on Purnima (Full Moon).

✨ Adhika Masa (Leap Month) Formula

Every ~32.5 lunar months, when a lunar month has no Solar Sankranti (Sun doesn't change zodiac sign), an intercalary Adhika Masa (Purushottama Masa) is added.

चैत्र

MONTH 1

March - April

Chaitra

Hindu New Year Start

🌕 Full Moon Nakshatra: Chitra Nakshatra

☀️ Solar Transit: Mesha Sankranti (0°-30°)

🌿 Ritu & Ayana: Vasanta (Spring) • Uttarayana

Month 1 of Vedic Lunar Year. Full moon occurs in Chitra Nakshatra. Starts with Nav Varsh (Gudi Padwa / Ugadi). Features Ram Navami, Chaitra Navratri & Hanuman Jayanti.

Explore Month 1: Chaitra →

वैशाख

MONTH 2

April - May

Vaishakha

Vishnu Seva

🌕 Full Moon Nakshatra: Vishakha Nakshatra

☀️ Solar Transit: Vrishabha Sankranti (30°-60°)

🌿 Ritu & Ayana: Vasanta (Spring) • Uttarayana

Month 2. Full moon occurs in Vishakha Nakshatra. Sacred for Vishnu worship and water donation. Features Akshaya Tritiya, Narasimha Jayanti & Buddha Purnima.

Explore Month 2: Vaishakha →

ज्येष्ठ

MONTH 3

May - June

Jyeshtha

Tapasya & Ganga

🌕 Full Moon Nakshatra: Jyeshtha Nakshatra

☀️ Solar Transit: Mithuna Sankranti (60°-90°)

🌿 Ritu & Ayana: Greeshma (Summer) • Uttarayana

Month 3. Full moon occurs in Jyeshtha Nakshatra. Month of intense tapasya and water preservation. Features Ganga Dussehra, Nirjala Ekadashi & Vat Savitri Vrat.

Explore Month 3: Jyeshtha →

आषाढ

MONTH 4

June - July

Ashadha

Chaturmas Start

🌕 Full Moon Nakshatra: Purva/Uttara Ashadha

☀️ Solar Transit: Karka Sankranti / Dakshinayana (90°-120°)

🌿 Ritu & Ayana: Greeshma (Summer) • Dakshinayana Start

Month 4. Full moon occurs in Ashadha Nakshatra. Beginning of Dakshinayana & 4-month Chaturmas. Features Puri Jagannath Rath Yatra, Devshayani Ekadashi & Guru Purnima.

Explore Month 4: Ashadha →

श्रावण (सावन)

MONTH 5

July - August

Shravana

Shiva Mahotsav

🌕 Full Moon Nakshatra: Shravana Nakshatra

☀️ Solar Transit: Simha Sankranti (120°-150°)

🌿 Ritu & Ayana: Varsha (Monsoon) • Dakshinayana

Month 5. Full moon occurs in Shravana Nakshatra. Holiest month for Shiva devotion, Shravan Somvar Vrats, Kanwar Yatra, Nag Panchami & Raksha Bandhan.

Explore Month 5: Shravana →

भाद्रपद (भादो)

MONTH 6

August - September

Bhadrapada

Krishna & Ganesha

🌕 Full Moon Nakshatra: Purva/Uttara Bhadrapada

☀️ Solar Transit: Kanya Sankranti (150°-180°)

🌿 Ritu & Ayana: Varsha (Monsoon) • Dakshinayana

Month 6. Full moon occurs in Bhadrapada Nakshatra. Celebrates divine incarnations. Features Krishna Janmashtami, Hartalika Teej, Ganesh Chaturthi & Anant Chaturdashi.

Explore Month 6: Bhadrapada →

आश्विन

MONTH 7

September - October

Ashvin

Shakti & Vijaya

🌕 Full Moon Nakshatra: Ashwini Nakshatra

☀️ Solar Transit: Tula Sankranti (180°-210°)

🌿 Ritu & Ayana: Sharad (Autumn) • Dakshinayana

Month 7. Full moon occurs in Ashwini Nakshatra. Dedicated to Shakti worship. Features Pitru Paksha Tarpan, Sharad Navratri, Vijayadashami (Dussehra) & Sharad Purnima.

Explore Month 7: Ashvin →

कार्तिक

MONTH 8

October - November

Kartik

Deep Daan & Diwali

🌕 Full Moon Nakshatra: Krittika Nakshatra

☀️ Solar Transit: Vrishchika Sankranti (210°-240°)

🌿 Ritu & Ayana: Sharad (Autumn) • Dakshinayana

Month 8. Full moon occurs in Krittika Nakshatra. Holiest month for Deep Daan. Features Karva Chauth, Dhanteras, Diwali Lakshmi Puja, Govardhan Puja, Chhath & Tulsi Vivah.

Explore Month 8: Kartik →

मार्गशीर्ष (अगहन)

MONTH 9

November - December

Margashirsha

Gita Jayanti

🌕 Full Moon Nakshatra: Mrigashira Nakshatra

☀️ Solar Transit: Dhanu Sankranti (240°-270°)

🌿 Ritu & Ayana: Hemanta (Pre-Winter) • Dakshinayana

Month 9. Full moon occurs in Mrigashira Nakshatra. Honored by Lord Krishna in Bhagavad Gita. Features Vivah Panchami, Gita Jayanti & Dattatreya Jayanti.

Explore Month 9: Margashirsha →

पौष

MONTH 10

December - January

Pausha

Surya & Sankranti

🌕 Full Moon Nakshatra: Pushya Nakshatra

☀️ Solar Transit: Makara Sankranti / Uttarayana (270°-300°)

🌿 Ritu & Ayana: Hemanta (Pre-Winter) • Uttarayana Start

Month 10. Full moon occurs in Pushya Nakshatra. Month of Surya Deva worship and charity. Features Makar Sankranti (Uttarayana), Pongal & Pausha Putra Ekadashi.

Explore Month 10: Pausha →

माघ

MONTH 11

January - February

Magha

Sangam Snan

🌕 Full Moon Nakshatra: Magha Nakshatra

☀️ Solar Transit: Kumbha Sankranti (300°-330°)

🌿 Ritu & Ayana: Shishira (Winter) • Uttarayana

Month 11. Full moon occurs in Magha Nakshatra. Holy month for Prayagraj Sangam baths and wisdom. Features Vasant Panchami (Saraswati Puja), Ratha Saptami & Bhishma Ashtami.

Explore Month 11: Magha →

फाल्गुन

MONTH 12

February - March

Phalguna

Vedic Year End

🌕 Full Moon Nakshatra: Purva/Uttara Phalguni

☀️ Solar Transit: Meena Sankranti (330°-360°)