Episode 3: Chandra Masa, Chandra Varsha and Nakshatra

Описание: Ahargana - Episode 3:
Continuing the explanation of the astronomy of the Hindu calendar, this episode illustrates the concept of a chandra varsha (i.e. a lunar year).

A chandra varsha is made up of twelve chandra masas - Chaitra, Vaishaka, Jyeshta, Ashada, Shravana, Bhadrapada, Ashvina, Kartika, Margashirsha, Pausha, Magha and Phalguna.

Why was twelve months chosen to make up a year and not ten or fifteen months?

Since each chandramasa is 29.5 days, twelve chandra masas total-up to 354 days , which is 11 days short of a solar year. If ten chandramasa were to make up a chandra varsha, the shortfall from a solar year would have been much more drastic. If anything greater than twelve were chosen, then a chandra varsha would be larger than a saura varsha. Twelve months was chosen in a attempt to synchronise a lunar year with a solar year.

The name of each chandra masa is derived from the name of the nakshatra in the vicinity of which Purnima happens. A nakshatra is either a single star or a set of stars (i.e. an asterism). While Surya Siddhanta defines twenty seven nakshatras, this episode illustrates twelve nakshatras which lend their names to the twelve chandramasas.

0:00 Explanation of chandra varsha
8:54 Stellarium animation of a chandra varsha
14:09 Chandra varsha shorter than saura varsha
17:28 Names of chandra masa derived from nakshatra
26:54 Closing