Introduction
Across India there are two traditional ways of counting lunar months, both rooted in Vedic astronomy. Amanta months begin the day after the New Moon, while Purnimanta months begin the day after the Full Moon. Each system shapes the rhythm of festivals, rituals and agricultural cycles in different regions. Understanding both helps us tune into natural cycles of emptiness and fullness, death and rebirth.
Amanta – New‑Moon to New‑Moon
- Beginning: Counts the first day of the month immediately after the New Moon; each month ends on the next New Moon.
- Symbolism: Emphasises seeding, silence and surrender. The dark fortnight represents going inward and preparing the ground, while the bright fortnight brings growth.
- Regions: Predominant in south and western India, where festivals like Diwali are celebrated on the New Moon.
- Spiritual lesson: Start from emptiness; honour the fertile darkness where intentions gestate.
Purnimanta – Full‑Moon to Full‑Moon
- Beginning: Starts the day after the Full Moon; the month ends on the next Full Moon.
- Symbolism: Celebrates completion, abundance and release. The bright fortnight becomes a time of harvest and gratitude; the dark fortnight is for letting go and retreat.
- Regions: Followed in north and eastern India; festivals like Guru Purnima fall on the Full Moon and mark the month’s midpoint.
- Spiritual lesson: Begin from fullness; ride the wave of abundance and then surrender what no longer serves.
Why These Calendars Matter
- They remind us that life is cyclical, not linear; growth and decline are equally sacred.
- Working with both systems invites balance—honouring both beginnings (new moon) and culminations (full moon).
- Timing rituals according to your preferred calendar helps align your inner journey with cosmic rhythms.
Modern Practice
Try tracking your moods, creative energy and spiritual practices over one month using both the Amanta and Purnimanta frameworks. Notice how your energy rises and falls during the waxing and waning phases. Let the New Moon invite introspection and intention setting, and let the Full Moon celebrate manifestation and release.
Conclusion
The Amanta and Purnimanta calendars are more than timing devices; they are mirrors of cosmic cycles within you. Whether you begin in darkness or in light, both systems point to the same truth: everything waxes and wanes. Embrace the ebb and flow and allow the Moon to guide your own rhythms of renewal and completion.
