Why Adhik Maas is Important in Hindu Religion?
Adhik Maas is an extra month added in the Hindu calendar, which balances the Lunar and Solar calendar. This phenomenon occurs every three years or 32.5 months. As it reoccurs every 32.5 months, the month is also variable. Last year in 2020, it was observed during Ashwin Month (Around September by Western calendar). It adopts the name of the month it occurs.
Another name for Ashik Maas is ‘Mal Maas’. In the past, this name came up because Adhik Maas is considered the thirteenth month of the year treated as something of an extra or filthy like faeces, which is the reason for auspicious events and even simple religious ceremonies are avoided throughout this month.
Adhik maas is known to be the home of Lord Vishnu. He had another name known as ‘Purushottam’ (Greatest of all men) and Adhik Maas is also well known as Purushottam Maas. Now you must be thinking about why this month is this important—the story behind this incident Indian sages in ancient times dedicated each lunar month to a certain deity.
Accordingly, Adhik Maas was manifested to balance solar and lunar activities on earth. Now no deity was ready for the lordship of this extra month. So all sages insisted Lord Vishnu accept the lordship of Adhik month. Therefore, he accepted their request and this month became known as Purushottam Maas.
That might arise a question of why this month only comes around three years, but then this has a scientific reason behind the structure of the solar system.
Scientific Reason behind Adhik Maas
The Moon takes 27.3 days to complete an orbit around the earth. While the earth takes 365.25 days to orbit around the Sun. Adhik Maas is an extension of the Lunar calendar, as it differs from the Solar calendar with 32.5 months. According to Indian numerology, the Lunar year consists of 354 days. In contrast, the solar year is 365 days as they have variations of 11 days. As a result of 3 years, it has the expansion of a month. Thus, the distance between solar and lunar year is stabilized by Adhik Maas.
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Significance of Adhik Maas in Hindu Religion
As mentioned in Vedic Purana, our soul is made of water, air, earth, fire, and sky. Activities like meditation, Yoga aid these elements in the human body to balance out. For a full month, practising religious activity like this helps you cleanse and strengthen your spiritual and physical energy. As in every three years, this Adhik Month ultimately purifies and fills you with new energy. Furthermore, it is said to resolve Kundali Dosha if you stay religiously involved for the month.
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Do's and Don'ts During Adhik Maas
- Adhik Maas is ruled by Lord Vishnu. Also, the sagas of his two incarnations Lord Krishna and Lord Narsimha, are initially connected with Adhik Maas. It is appropriate to worship them by doing Vishnu Puja during the month.
- Worshipping Lord Purushottam and practising fasting in this month is said to release you from the misery, poverty, and washout sins of the devotees.
- Religious Texts like ‘Vishnu Purana’, ‘Srimad Bhagavatam’ and ‘Bhagavad Gita’ should also be studied by devotees this month.
- Charities are deemed to be rewarding this month.
- It is believed that chanting Vishnu Mantra throughout the month is blessed by Lord Vishnu himself, and their sins are forgiven.
- For the people fasting this month, they should only consume food one time a day except three. Moreover, the food consumed should be ‘Satvik’ quality as it helps our body spiritually connected with God.
- It is indicated that any religious activities (as mentioned before ) during Adhik Maas is supposed to bless you with 10x benefits. Lord Vishnu blesses you to help you reach your destined path in life.
- Healthwise, this month is extremely helpful as it fills you with fresh energy while it helps you cleanse from inside and outside.