Astrological Information and Definitions - paulmoore/AstroCalendar GitHub Wiki

###Tithi###

###Paksha### *A fortnight in a month of the Hindu Calendar (half a lunar month) consisting of 15 days, the 14 of the paksha and the New or Full moon for the 15th.
*Shukla Paksha is the waxing of the moon
*Krishna Paksha is the Waning of the moon

###Vaasara (week)###

The second element of the Hindu panchanga is the day, vara. In Sanskrit the days of the week are clearly named after seven of the nine major astrological influences used in Hindu astrology (see Nava Graha):

Sunday, the sun, (ravi-vara) Monday, the moon, (soma-vara) Tuesday, Mars, (mangala-vara) Wednesday, Mercury, (budha-vara) Thursday, Jupiter, (guru-vara) Friday, Venus (shukra-vara) Saturday, Saturn, (shani-vara)

You can still see these astrological influences in the English names, Sunday, Monday and Saturday for the sun, the moon and Saturn respectively. If you examine the French and Spanish words for the days of the week you will see an even greater connection. Astrologically these days are named after these celestial bodies because the influence of that celestial body is said to be prominent on that day. For example, Tuesday, being ruled by Mars, the planet of war, would be a good date to state a battle, but not a good day to get married or move into a new home! Monday (moon-day) would a better day for a marriage.

4. naksatra - lunar mansion

The third element of the Hindu calendar is lunar mansion or nakshatra. The best way to understand nakshatra is to observe the moon some evening. Notice the moon's position in relation to the background of stars. The next evening, at the same time and in the same location, again observe the moon's position in relation to the background of stars. You will see that it has moved considerably towards the east. Use the raised hand technique to estimate how many degrees the moon has moved. The moon will appear to have moved about 15 degrees. In fact, the moon has moved 13 degrees and 20 minutes. The region of the sky that has been displaced by the moon's eastward movement in one day is called a lunar mansion. In Sanskrit this is known as a nakshatra. There are 27 such lunar mansions in the 360 degrees the moon travels in one lunar month ( 13.3 x 27 = ~360). In the Hindu calendar each of these lunar mansions is named after a star or group of stars in each region of the sky. It becomes a little confusing, but this is why a nakshatra is also called a “star.” See the sample illustration of the region of the sky known as Cancer and Leo to view a segment of the sky that includes five nakshatras: uttara phalguni, purva phalguni, magha, ashlesha, and pushyami.

5.

Luni-solar Day and Half Lunar Day

The final two elements of the Hindu calendar are highly technical and not generally used by lay Hindus and so I will only give them passing mention. They are important to astronomers and astrologers. They are called Luni-solar Day (yoga) and Half Lunar Day (Karana) and they both have to do with the relationship between the sun and the moon.

In addition to these five parts of the traditional Hindu calendar one other component should be noted, the month (masa). Month (Masa)

The Hindu year contains twelve lunar months named after the nakshatra in which the moon is full:

References

• Sanskrit.org

• Hindu Calendar

• Tithi Description

• Paksha description

• Shukla Paksha

• Lunar Month

Planetary Phases
The planets moving left and right in the sky - one direction is one phase, and the other is the other.
I will look up and get these details

Foreword: The hindu calendar, known as the Panchanga, is significantly different from the western calendar in a number of ways. The panchanga is based not only on the sun, but also on the moon and stars, with a large emphasis on the the location of the stars for determining everything from what a good day to travel would be, to what days one should fast on for better health.

Lunar months - The hindu calendar is split into 12 months which began on the day of the rise of the new moon.

1. Chaitra (चैत्र, चैत)
2. Vaishākha (वैशाख, बैसाख)
3. Jyaishtha (ज्येष्ठ, जेठ)
4. Āshādha (आषाढ, आषाढ़)
5. Shrāvana (श्रावण, सावन)
6. Bhaadra or, Bhādrapada (भाद्रपद, भादो)
7. Āshwin (अश्विन्)
8. Kārtika (कार्तिक, कार्तक)
9. Agrahayana or, Mārgashīrsha (मार्गशीर्ष, अगहन)
10. Pausha (पौष)
11. Māgah (माघ)
12. Phālguna(फाल्गुन)

The lunar month is split into 2 halves known as pakshas, and the full and new moon.

Paksha - One half of a lunar month consisting of 15 lunar days known as tithi's:

The first half(waxing moon) is known as the krishna
The second half (waning) is knows as the shukla

Tithi - Their are 16 tithi's, 14 of which are used twice (once in each paksha) and the new moon and full moon tithi's (see below) KLrishna Paksha Shukla Paksha (dark fornight) (bright fortnight) 1 Pratipad Pratipad The presiding deity of the first lunar day in Agni and is good for all types of auspicious and religious ceremonies 2 Dvitiya Dvitiya Vidhatr or Bramha rules this lunar day and is good for the laying of foundations for buildings and other things of a permanent nature. 3 Tritiya Tritiya Gauri is the lord of this day and is good for the cuttings of one's hair and nails and shaving. 4 Chaturthi Chaturthi Yama/Ganapati is lord of the 4th lunar day, which is good for the destruction of one's enemies, the removal of obstacles, and acts of combat. 5 Panchami Panchami The Naaga or Serpents rules this day, which is favourable for administering medicine, the purging of poisons, and surgery. 6 Shashti Shashti Karttikeya presides over this day and is favourable for coronations, meeting new friends, festivities, and enjoyment. 7 Saptami Saptami The 7th lunar day is ruled by Surya; one may begin a journey, buy conveyances, and deal with other such things as a movable nature. 8 Ashtami Ashtami The Rudra rule this day, which is good for taking up arms, building of one's defenses, and fortification. 9 Navami Navami The Ambikaa rules this day, with is suitable for killing enemies, acts of destruction, and violence. 10 Dasami Dasami The day is ruled by Dharmaraja and is auspicious for acts of virtue, religious functions, spiritual practices, and other pious activities. 11 Ekadasi Ekadasi Rudra rule this day; fasting, devotional activities, and remembrance of the Supreme Lord are very favourable.This day has special religious significance in Hinduism and Jainism -- usually observed by fasting 12 Dvadasi Dvadasi The Vishnu or Aditya rules this day, which is auspicious for religious ceremonies the lighting of the sacred fire, and the performance of one's duties. 13 Trayodasi Trayodasi The day is ruled by Cupid and is good for forming friendships, sensual pleasures, and festivities. 14 Chaturdashi Chaturdashi Kali rules this day suitable for administering poison and calling of elementals and spirits. 15 Amavasya(new moon) Purnima(full moon) The Pitru-devas rule the New Moon suitable for the propitiation of the Manes and performance of austerities.Purnima is ruled by Moon and suitable for merry making,fire sacrifice.

Vaasara - The days of the week in hindu Calendar (vara's), very similiar to the western calendar 1 Ravi vāsara रविवासर Sunday/dies Solis Ravi = Sun 2 Soma vāsara सोमवासर Monday/dies Lunae Soma = Moon 3 Mangala vāsara मंगलवासर Tuesday/dies Martis Mangala = Mars 4 Budha vāsara बुधवासर Wednesday/dies Mercurii Budha = Mercury 5 Guru vāsara गुरुवासर or Bruhaspati vāsara बृहस्पतिवासरः Thursday/dies Iovis Guru (Brihaspati) = Jupiter 6 Shukra vāsara शुक्रवासर Friday/dies Veneris Shukra = Venus 7 Shani vāsara शनिवासर Saturday/dies Saturnis Shani = Saturn

In the hindu calendar the scliptic of the earths orbit are split into 27 sections known as the nakshatras. THe nakshatra that the moon is in at sunrise determines the nakshatra for that day

Ashvinī Bharanī Kṛttikā Rohinī Mrigashīra Ārdrā Punarvasu Pushya Āshleshā Maghā Pūrva Phalgunī Uttara Phalgunī Hasta Chitrā Svātī Vishākhā Anurādhā Jyeshtha Mūla Pūrva Ashādhā Uttara Ashādhā Shravana Dhanistha Shatabhisha Pūrva Bhādrapadā Uttara Bhādrapadā Revatī

Other terminology:

Chandrodaya - Moonrise

lunisolar calendar - a calendar based on both lunar and solar cycles

Vasanta Ritu (Spring)

Greeshma (Summer)

Varsha (Monsoon)

Sharad (Autumn)

Hemanta (Winter)

Shishira (Dewey)

The Twelve Rashi (Zodiac Signs) 1.Maysha (Aries) The Ram 2.Vrushabha (Taurus) The Bull 3.Mithuna (Gemini) The Twins 4.Karka (Cancer) The Crab 5.Simha (Leo) The Lion 6.Kanya (Virgo) The Maiden 7.Tula (Libra) The Scales 8.Vrushchika (Scorpio) The Scorpion 9.Dhanu (Sagittarius) The Bow 10.Makar (Capricorn) The Crab 11.Kumbha (Aquarius) The Pot 12.Meena (Pisces) The Fish

Hindu: The name given this religious group after the “Indus” river.

Karma: An internal law of nature, independent of the decrees of G-d or “the gods.” The culminating value of all of one's life actions, good and bad, which together determine one’s next rebirth after death. See also Reincarnation.