Adhika masam or Adhika masa is an additional month appears in Hindu Lunar calendar for every 2-3 years. An year with Adhika masam has 13 months instead of 12 months. In some places this Adhika masam also called as “PURUSHOTTAMA MASAM”, as this month is dedicated to the deity Lord Vishnu.
The Adhika masam appears only in the Hindu Lunar calendars and it is mainly celebrated in states which the Hindu lunar calendar like Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, Gujarat, Maharashtra and Karnataka. And the reason why this is not followed and seen in Local Hindu calendars of Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Orissa, Bengal and Assam since they follow the Solar Calendar.
Why there is an “ADHIKA MASAM”
The Indian calendar or Hindu calendar is ingeniously based on both the sun and the moon. It uses a solar year, but divides it into 12 lunar months. A lunar month is precisely 29 days and twelve such months constitute a lunar year of 354 days. Whereas a solar month, that is the usual calendar, is 30 to 31 days and solar year consists of 365 days. So, as years pass by each lunar month starts earlier to the corresponding solar month. There is a difference of 11 days between the lunar and solar year. In every two or three solar years the difference between the two calendars becomes a full month or around 33 days. To compensate and get the two calendars in sync an extra month is added.Such a practice was prevalent even in Vedic times.
This adjustment assures that the seasons, festivals, etc. retain their general position to the solar year. That is why, for example, Diwali always falls between late October and early November.
Little insight into the term “ADHIKA MASAM”
Adhika refers to the term “More or Extra” in Telugu, and Masam refers to the word “Month”. Starting from chaithram to Phalguna there occurs an extra month every after every 32.5 months on average. A Hindu Lunar calendar has 354 days while the solar calendar has 365 days. In India specially in South India, Hindu lunar calendar is followed.
And the extra month doesn’t have any specific name like we have for regular Hindu months/Masam in Hindu Lunar calendar. In whichever month the extra month falls into, it is named accordingly, for example if extra month falls under “Jyeshta masam”, then it is called as “Adhika Jyeshta masam” or if it falls under “Bhadrapada masam” then it is called as “Adhika bhadrapada masam”. And in this year Sarvari Nama samvatsara the extra month is falling under “Ashwayuja masam” so the extra month in this year called as “Adhika Ashwayuja masam”.
Can you perform any auspicious events in this “Adhika masam” ?
As this Adhika masam is dedicated to the deity “Lord Vishnu”, it is also called as “Purushottama masam” and in some areas it is also known by “Mala masam”, as it is treated as special and holy month and many people perform the adhika masa vratam. People perform extra mala japas, pradakshinas, pilgrimages, scriptural reading and parayanam.
Apart from celebrating general occasions like seemantham, namakaranam no other auspicious occasions like marriages aren’t conducted during this month. No SHUBHA KARYAS are performed in this ADHIKA MASAM.
What all other rituals followed during this “ADHIKA MASAM”
Along with doing Naam smarana or jap of Lord Shri Vishnu, it is also believed that donating things like pulses, seeds, rice and many other things is very auspicious. Since Lord Vishnu, the protector of this universe in the form of Purushottama is the head of this Adhika Masa, the Japam, Homam, and Danam done in this Adhika Masam. Adhika Masam is one of the dearest Masam to Lord Vishnu. During this Purushottam masa people perform various types of religious rituals, various types of pujas and havans and Vrats while older people perform japas, pradakshinas, pilgrimages.
The purpose of performing vratas and rituals in this month as per elders and many scriptures is to appease deity to achieve and fulfill their desires, to bring the divine grace and blessing, begetting offspring, gain back lost health and wealth, divine help and assistance during difficult period in one’s life. Also it is believed that any Graha or specific dosh nivaran pujas are performed in Purushottam masa to rectify the horoscope which gives ten times better result to the individual. Keeping fast during this period is equivalent to performing a hundred yagnas, which acts as a path to attainment of place of complete bliss, delight and peace.
During the period of the observance of a vrata either complete or partial fasting on certain specific days, one should keep oneself clean and pure, observe celibacy, speak truth, practice patience, avoid non-vegetarian foods and conscientiously perform all the rituals. Along with rituals, according to ability, distribute charities and donations.
There is a ritual in Telangana, where the Son-in-law is offered with vast array 33 kind of delicious foods and new clothes. I heard from my paternal grandmother that in olden days wives used to remove the husk of about 33,000 rice grains by hand and make some sweets using that rice and offer it to the husband out of love and devotion. Well, it’s quite a long time ago and people have been moving to more modern methods and instead make what all they can at home and the remaining they buy from some mithai shops. And here’s my offering to the hubby, 33 motichoor laddu and various kinds of dry fruits.
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