Kathmandu, The transition of the sun from one zodiac sign to the following in Hindu astrology is named Sankranti. When there's no Sankranti during a month then that month may be a Malamas, explained Dr. Chinta Mani Yogi, a scholar of Eastern philosophy and therefore the founder principal of Hindu Vidyapeeth School.
Astrologer Suresh Raj Giri simplified it further. “When no Sankranti, which we normally keep company with the primary day of each Nepali month, falls within the period between two new moons, then that becomes the Malamas month,” he explained.
This year Malamas is being observed from September 18 to October 16 within the Nepali month of Ashwin. day (Ashwin 1) was a brand new moon day and October 16 (Ashwin 30) may be a new phase of the moon day. there's no Sankranti between the 2 dates, hence the month is Malamas, consistent with Giri.
Reason for existence
Astrologer Dr. Birendra Prasad Kayastha elucidated that Malamas was the simplest way to align the calendar with the solar one. “A calendar year is three hundred {and sixty five days|one year|12 months|twelve months} and six hours long, while a calendar year is 354 days and nine hours long; with a difference of 11 days between the 2,” he said, adding, “This difference has to be adjusted every three years to regulate the lunar and solar calendars.”
Dr. Yogi went into detail, “The 11 days’ difference becomes 33 days over three years. These 33 days are grouped into a further 13th month within the year which month is termed Malamas.”
Being an extra month, the month is additionally called Adhik Mas, the epithet Adhik meaning extra and Mas meaning month. This Adhik Mas occurs every three years or 32 months and 16 days to be precise.
Mythological context
Scriptures associate this month with Lord Vishnu.
In Hindu tradition, each month is related to a selected deity. But Malamas, being an additional month, had no such association. Hence, the opposite months belittled it and it always felt overlooked. Sad, it visited Lord Vishnu and begged him to search out an answer. “Thus, to alleviate his devotee’s grief, Vishnu adopted Malamas and attached it to himself,” Yogi said.
Similarly, astrologer Giri shared another legend. The demon Hiranya Kashyap was inflicting cruelty everywhere the planet. He had received a special boon from Brahma which, among other things, meant that he couldn't be killed in any of the 12 months of the year. So, Vishnu created a 13th month and killed Hiranya Kashyap as Narsingha.
Because of this association with Lord Vishnu, Malamas is additionally called Purushottam Mas, Purushottam being another name for Vishnu.
Another belief about Malamas is that it rains throughout this month, as per Dr. Kayastha.
Dos and don’ts
As Malamas is an irregular month made from the leftover days of the year, astrologers don't consider it appropriate for auspicious occasions. Hence, no special event and festival are organised during this point and therefore the month holds no propitious moment.
Weddings, coming-of-age ceremonies, home construction and entry pujas, birthdays and other special events mustn't be held or celebrated during Malamas, Kayastha informed.
Giri added to the present, saying that the month wasn't suitable to create temples. Couples who are married for fewer than a year should also not stay within the same home and maintaining sexual relations is prohibited because a toddler conceived won't have a protracted life, it's believed. “This is why new wives visit stand their parents during Malamas in our society,” Giri said. The state should also refrain from making big decisions.
However, despite restrictions on auspicious activities, the month still holds great religious significance due to its attachment to Vishnu. Hence, activities associated with Lord Narayan, donating alms and holding Purushottam Mahatmya are encouraged and are believed to yield success, per Giri.
Also, there aren't any restrictions on holy activities done on a routine and rituals associated with births and deaths, Kayastha said. “Malamas also has no lighting tricks on any zodiac sign,” he added.
Input from: The Rising Nepal
