PURUSHOTTAM MASS
Astronomy
The lunar calendar adds one extra month every third year. This extra
month is known by various names: Adhik Maas, Mal Maas, Purushottam Maas. This
is the thirteenth month of the lunar calendar. Sankranti means transition. When
the sun transits from one Raashi to (Zodia Sign) another Raashi that day is
called Sankranti. Since the Sun passes through 12 Raashis (Signs) every year,
there are 12 Sankrantis every year – one Sankranti every month. Whenever
Sankranti does not fall within one month then the Adhik Maas (extra
month) occurs.
It is a fact that the solar year is made up of 365 days and about 06 minutes
and the lunar year is made up of 354 days. Thus the solar and the lunar years
have gaps of 11 days, 1 hour, 31 minuites and 12 seconds. As the gap increases
each year, it approximates in three years to one month. Vasishtha Siddhanta (
the treatise of Vasishtha) mention that Adhik Mass or the extra lunar month
occurs after every 32 months, 16 days and 8 Ghadis (a Ghadi is a period of 24
minutes and 60 Ghadis equal 24 hours).
Religious significance of Adhik Mass
There is a nice story about Purushottam Maas. According to the lunar
year, there were only 12 months. Each of the 12 months was assigned to 12 Gods.
So that the lunar and the solar years do not get out of step with days and
seasons, the far sighted Rishi- Munis calculated and facilitated Adhik Maas
(extra month) and shown its importance. But one problem still remained.
Each of the 12 months was assigned to 12 different Gods. But the 13th extra
month was not assigned to any God. Adhik Maas ( Mal Mass) felt sad and
approached Lord Krishna and said that no God was assigned to him (Adhik Maas)
and for that reason he was called Mal Maas. Adhik Maas further spoke to Lord
Krishna: ‘I am filled with anxiety and I have therefore come to seek your
refuge and help.’
