Paksha () refers to a fortnight period consisting of various lunar phases in a month of the Hindu lunar calendar. Literally meaning "side" in Sanskrit,Monnier-Williams, M: (1851) Sanskrit Dictionary ISBN (none) it refers to the periods between amavasya (new moon) and purnima (full moon), and vice versa.K. V. Sarma (2008), "Paksa", Encyclopaedia of the History of Science, Technology, and Medicine in Non-Western Cultures (2nd edition) edited by Helaine Selin, Springer,
A lunar month in the Hindu calendar has two fortnights, with each fortnight subdivided into lunar days called tithis. A paksha consists of 15 such tithis, each of which correspond to a 12-degree angular motion of the Moon. The fortnight between amavasya and purnima is called as Shukla Paksha (bright side) or Gaura Paksha, which corresponds to the period of the waxing moon. The second fortnight is called Krishna Paksha (dark side) or Vadhya Paksha' and corresponds to the period of the waning moon. Amavasya corresponds to the period when the Moon is within 12 degrees of angular distance from the Sun before their conjunction.
A lunar month begins on the next day after amavasya in the amanta tradition and on the next day after purnima in the purnimanta system. The amanta system is followed majorly in the South India and the purnimanta system in North India.
Shukla Paksha Shukla Paksha refers to the bright lunar fortnight in the Hindu calendar, corresponding to the waxing moon. Shukla is the Sanskrit word for "white" or "bright". The Shukla Paksha is a period of 15 days, which begins after the amavasya (new moon day) and culminating on purnima (full moon day) and is considered auspicious.
Numerous festivals are held during this period, including the Navaratri festivals, most importantly Chaitra Navaratri and Ashvin Navaratri.
DayTithi FestivalMonth1st dayPratipadaGudi Padwa, UgadiChaitra1st dayPratipadaBali Pratipada, Govardhan PujaKartika2nd dayDvitiyaBhaibeejKartika3rd dayTritiyaTeejBhadrapada3rd dayTritiyaAkshaya TritiyaVaishakha4th dayChaturthiGanesh ChaturthiBhadrapada4th dayChaturthiGanesh JayantiMagha5th dayPanchamiNuakhaiBhadrapada5th dayPanchamiVivaha PanchamiMargashirsha5th dayPanchamiVasanta PanchamiMagha6th dayShasthiSitalsasthiJyestha8th dayAshtamiRadhashtamiBhadrapada9th day Navami Rama NavamiChaitra10th day DashamiVijayadashamiAshvin11th dayEkadashiShayani EkadashiAshadha11th dayEkadashiVaikuntha EkadashiMargashirsha14th dayChaturdashiSamvatsariBhadrapada15th day (full moon)PurnimaGuru PurnimaAshada
Krishna Paksha Krishna Paksha refers to the dark lunar fortnight in the Hindu calendar, corresponding to the waning moon. Krishna means "dark" in Sanskrit. Krishna Paksha is a period of 15 days, which begins after the purnima day (full moon), and ends on the amavasya (new moon) day. The period is considered inauspicious, as the moon loses light during this period.
Festivals during the Krishna Paksha are: DayTithi FestivalMonth4th dayChaturthiKarva Chauth Kartika8th dayAshtamiKrishna JanmashtamiŚrāvaṇa13th dayThrayodashiDhanterasKartika13th dayThrayodashiPradoshaMagha14th dayChaturdashiMaha ShivaratriMagha14th dayChaturdashiNaraka Chaturdashi (Diwali)Kartika15th day (no moon)AmavasyaLakshmi Puja (Diwali)Kartika
Thithis or days Shukla Paksha Krishna Paksha 1. Prathama 1. Prathama 2. Dvitiya 2. Dvitiya 3. Tritiya 3. Tritiya 4. Chaturthi 4. Chaturthi 5. Panchami 5. Panchami 6. Shashti 6. Shashti 7. Saptami 7. Saptami 8. Ashtami 8. Ashtami 9. Navami 9. Navami 10. Dashami 10. Dashami 11. Ekadashi 11. Ekadashi 12. Dwadashi 12. Dwadashi 13. Trayodashi 13. Trayodashi 14. Chaturdashi 14. Chaturdashi 15. Purnima 15. Amavasya
See also Hindu astronomy Hindu units of measurement Pitru Paksha Śrāddha
References
External links Ahargana - The Astronomy of the Hindu Calendar: Maana, Krishna Pksha, Shukla Paksha and Chandra Masa Explains Krishna paksha and Shukla paksha by means of astronomical simulations created using Stellarium. Hindu Festivals Calendar 2010 Introduction to the Hindu Calendar (pdf)