Lunar Years:
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 | Pramodisha |
| 18 | Tharana | 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 |
Ayana’s / Solistices:
The Hindu year is divided into two equal parts, each called Ayana. They are:
1. Uttarayana (winter solstice) when the sun moves north direction and
2. Dakshinayana (summer solstice), when the sun moves south. Solar months are named after signs indicating that the Sun is entering and traveling.
| 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 to four seasons, among Westerners), each of which contains two lunar months and 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 for the names of the months:
The star of the full moon day of the lunar month gives the name to this month. Thus, in Chaitra, the star Chitra falls on the day of the full moon. In Vayshakha, the constellation Vishaka reigns on the day of the full moon. In Jyeshta, the star Jyeshta appears in Pournami (full moon) and so on during the other months.