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5. Hindu Calendar

The Hindu Cycle contains 60 lunar years, they are:

60 Hindu Years
1	Prabhava	31	Hevimbi
2	Vibhava	32	Vilambi
3	Shukla	33	Vikari
4	Pramodhati	34	Sarvari
5	Prajothpati	35	Plava
6	Angirasa	36	Subhakritu
7	Srimukha	37	Sobhakritu
8	Bhava	38	Krodhi
9	Yuva	39	Viswavasu
10	Dhathu	40	Parabhava
11	Eswara	41	Plavanga
12	Bhahudanya	42	Keelaka
13	Pramadi	43	Soumya
14	Vikrama	44	Sadharana
15	Vriksha	45	Virodhikritu
16	Chitrabhanu	46	46 Paridhavi
17	Swabhanu	47	47 Pramodisha
18	Tharana	48	48 Ananda
19	Parthiva	49	Rakshasa
20	Vyaya	50	Nala
21	Sarvajitu	51	Pingala
22	Sarvadhari	52	Kalayukti
23	Virodhi	53	Saddhartha
24	Vikriti	54	Roudri
25	Khara	55	Durmathi
26	Nandana	56	Dundhubhi
27	Vijaya	57	Rudhirodgari
28	Jaya	58	Rakthakshi
29	Manmatha	59	Krodhana
30	Dhurmukhi	60	Kshaya

Ayanas(Solistices)

The Hindu year is divided into two equal parts, each of which is called Ayana. They are :

1. Uttarayana (Winter Solstice) when the Sun moves in a northerly direction and

2. Dakshinayana (Summer Solstice), when Sun moves in a southerly direction. The solar months are named after the signs the Sun enters and travels.

Six solar months of Uttarayana

1. Capricorn-Makara

2. Aquarius-Kumbha

3. Pisces-Meena

4. Aries-Mesha

5. Taurus-Vrishabha

6. Gemini-Midhuna

Six solar months of Dakshinayana

1. Cancer-Karkata

2. Leo-Simha

3. Virgo-Kanya

4. Libra-Tula

5. Scorpio-Vrishchika

6. Sagittarius-Dhanus

Months

The twelve lunar months are named as follows :

Lunar Months

1. Chaitra

2. Vyshakha

3. Jyesta

4. Ashadha

5. Shravana

6. Bhadrapada

7. Ashwayuja

8. Karthika

9. Margashira

10. Pushya

11. Magha

12. Phalguna

Seasons

These are Six Ruthus (or seasons, as different from four season, amongst the Westerners) each containing two lunar months and they are:

Ruthu	Lunar Months
1. Vasantha	Chaitra and Vyshaka, when the trees and plants blossom
2. Greeshma	Jyesta and Ashadha, when there is a good deal of wind.
3. Varsha	Sharavana and Bhadrapada, when it is rainy season.
4. Sharat	Ashwija and Karthika, when fruits are aplenty.
5. Himantha	Margashira and Pushya, when it is cold
6. Shishira	Magha and Phalaguna, when trees and plants shred leaves.

Reasons of names of months: The star on the full Moon day of the lunar month gives the name to that month. Thus in Chaitra, the star Chitra falls on the full moon day. In Vayshakha, the constellation Vishaka rules on the full moon day. In Jyesta, star Jyesta comes on Pournami (full moon) and so on for other months.