The Auspicious Timing of Ganpati

mu. ga. ...and the Cool Season Shishiralate winter—these are known as the six seasons. ॥ २४ ॥ When the Sun enters the signs of the Fish MeenaPisces and the Ram MeshaAries, it is celebrated as Spring Vasanta. When in the Bull VrishabhaTaurus and the

2 ya 2 Twins MithunaGemini, it is the Summer Grishma. The Monsoon Varsha occurs when the Sun is in the Lion SimhaLeo and the Crab KarkataCancer. ॥ २५ ॥ In the Maiden KanyaVirgo and the Scales TulaLibra, the season is declared to be Autumn Sharad. Pre-winter Hemanta occurs when the Sun is in the Scorpion Vrischika,

and the Cool Season Shishira occurs in the Deer-Catcher MrigaCapricorn and the Water-Pot KumbhaAquarius. ॥ २६ ॥ ba 2

॥ Now, the Naming of the Months ॥

The months are known as Chaitra, then Vaishakha, Jyeshtha, and Ashadha. Shravana, Proshthapada original: "Proshthapada," the ancient name for the month of Bhadrapada, and likewise Ashvina. Karttika, Margashirsha, Pausha, Magha, and

Phalguna. ॥ २७ ॥ Now, the other names for these months, starting with Chaitra, are spoken: ॥ २८ ॥ Madhu Sweet, Madhava Honey-like, Shukra Bright, and Shuchi Pure; then Nabhas Cloudy, Nabhasya Misty, Isha Master, and Urja Energy; Sahas Strength, Sahasya Forceful,

Tapas Heat, and Tapasya Produced by Heat. These are the names of the months in order. A month is defined by the learned as ending with the New Moon Darshantaalso called Amanta, or by the solar transit of the Sun. A civil month Savana is thirty days. A

the text reads "positions of planets, etc." sidereal month Nakshatra is declared by the rotation of the Moon. These months should always be understood by the wise according to their specific purpose. ॥ ३१ ॥ Solar calculations should be used for marriages, the positions of the planets, and the days of the week.

Civil calculations are for the protection of the womb likely referring to medical and pregnancy rituals and similar matters. Sidereal calculations are for the formation of rain clouds. Vows and sacrifices are performed in the lunar month, though sometimes they are avoided likely referring to the avoidance of intercalary months for rituals. This lunar month is of two types: that ending in the New Moon and that ending in the Full Moon. For matters of the Gods, the month ending in the Full Moon is used; for ceremonies for the Ancestors, the month ending in the New Moon is used.

॥ Now, the Naming of the Fortnights ॥

Both the Waxing Shukla and Waning Krishna are the two fortnights, used respectively for the Gods and the Ancestors. Rama 2