Adhik Masa - A unique concept of Hindu Calender

Concept of Adhik Masa in Vedic Calendar is a unique concept which synchronize the anamoly of Solar and Lunar calendar (Luni-Solar Calendar). Hindu scholars attempted to keep time by observing and calculating the cycles of sun (Surya), moon and the planets. The Hindu texts used the lunar cycle for setting months and days, but the solar cycle to set the complete year. This created a mismatch between the lunar years (354 days), versus solar year (365 days). To cover up this mismatch an intercalary month started being added at every 32½ months on average. With this the Vedic calendar keeping and astronomical observations became more sophisticated, the Hindu calendar became more sophisticated with complex rules and greater accuracy.


Amanta (Amavasyanta, Mukhyamana) is a lunar month which starts from a new moon to another new moon. While Purnimanta is, the month begins from one full month to another. The lunar calendar using these months are called Amanta calendar and Purnimanta calendar respectively.

Another name of this month is Mal Maas or Purushottam Maas. This month is dedicated to Lord Vishnu. 

यस्मिन मासे न संक्रांति: संक्रांतिद्वयमेव वा मलमास: स विज्ञेयो मासे त्रिंशत्तमे भवेत् ||

असंक्रान्ति मासोअधिमासाः स्फुटः स्यात द्विसंक्रान्ति मासः क्षयाख्या कदाचित ||

“When two Amavasya fall in a Solar month (between two consecutive Sankrantis) there will be two Lunar months of that Solar month”

In case there are two Sankrantis in a Lunar months (from one Amavasya to another Amavasya) then a Lunar month of the name of Solar month which is between two Sankrantis is missed. 

(the month that does not carry Surya Sankranti is called Adhik masa and the month carrying two Sankrantis is called Kshay masa.) 

Reason for Mala Masa: 

Solar months from November to February are shorter than the Lunar months. The reason is When Sun is near to Earth its angular velocity increases and it moves faster. It happens during early January.
And during July When Sun is farthest from Earth, its angular velocity is slower. This is the reason for Solar months are shorter from November to February than the Lunar months.

Kshaya Masa can happen only in Margashirsha, Kartika, Pausha and Magha. (November to February). This month is added when the Amavasya and Surya Sankranti coincide. It happens only when Amavasya ends few Minutes/Hours earlier than the Sankranti. Kshaya masa occurs in 19 / 122 /or 144 years as per Bhaskara-II in “Siddhant Shiromani”. 

In the year 1983 Pausha and Magha were rolled into one causing loss of one month. In case of kshay month festivals of that month are also rolled into one month. For example, in 1983 Shivaratri was on Chaturdashi Tithi of Magha Krishna Paksha was observed on the corresponding Tithi of Pausha-Magha Kshay Krishan Paksha.

In 2013 Hindu calendar, there is an Adhik Maas or an extra month. This Adhik Maas is from August 13, 2013 to September 16, 2013 as per North Indian Calendar. Hence, this extra month is also known as Adhik Bhadrapada Mas.

In 2015 this Adhik Maas is from June 3, 2015 to July 2, 2015 as per North Indian Calendar. Hence, this extra month is also known as Adhik Ashada Mas.

Adhik masa in 2018:

In the year 2018 (Samvat 2075) Lunar month Jyeshtha will be an extra month (Adhik/Mal Masa).

In the year 2018 Adhik-Maas will be falling between May 16th and June 13th.

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