Significance of Lunar Month
Synonyms: Lunar cycle, Synodic month, Lunar phase, Moon cycle
In Dutch: Maanmaand; In Finnish: Kuunkierto; In Spanish: Mes lunar; In German: Mondmonat
The below excerpts are indicatory and do represent direct quotations or translations. It is your responsibility to fact check each reference.
Buddhist concept of 'Lunar Month'
In Buddhism, the Lunar Month is interpreted as a roughly 29.5-day cycle used in the Buddhist calendar for organizing rituals and ceremonies, highlighting its significance in religious practices and observances.
From: The gods of northern Buddhism
(1) A period of approximately 29.5 days used in the Buddhist calendar to schedule rituals and ceremonies.[1]
Hindu concept of 'Lunar Month'
In Hinduism, a Lunar Month is defined by the Moon's phases, influencing agricultural practices, rituals, and festivals. It serves as a basis for calendars, timing for penances, and specific cultural observances tied to cosmic events.
From: Brihat Samhita
(1) A period in which specific halo appearances can correlate with deaths across different societal classes.[2] (2) A month based on the phases of the Moon, referenced in relation to agricultural and meteorological predictions.[3] (3) The period defined by the lunar phases, significant in predicting the activity of pregnant clouds and potential rain events.[4] (4) The periods that correspond to the Nakshatras and are identical to the names given to the years of Jupiter.[5] (5) Specific time periods in the lunar calendar that influence the outcomes and significance of eclipses.[6]
From: Manusmriti with the Commentary of Medhatithi
(1) A calendar month traditionally based on the phases of the moon, relevant for initiating the Yati-Candrayana penance.[7] (2) A time measurement that serves a limited purpose for the 'Day-Night' of 'Pitris' but does not govern other calculations like seasons.[8]
From: Kautilya Arthashastra
(1) A time period defined as 30 days less by half a day from the solar month.[9]
The concept of Lunar Month in local and regional sources
The Lunar Month represents the moon's orbital duration around Earth, corresponding to 27 nights and different lunar phases, influencing various cultural practices, such as event scheduling and observances significant in traditions like weddings.
From: History of Science in South Asia
(1) This is a unit of time that is used in astronomical calculations, and its duration is determined by the number of civil days, as the text explains.[10] (2) These are the months used in the lunar year, and the year and month of this year are solar, as described in the text.[11] (3) This is the time it takes for the moon to orbit the Earth, and the text mentions that the nakshatras correspond to the 27 nights of the sidereal lunar month.[12] (4) These are the months based on the lunar calendar, and the solar months are converted to these by adding the requisite number of intercalary months and subtracting the number of lost lunar days.[13] (5) These are elapsed and multiplied by 30, and the elapsed tithis of the current month are added to it in order to determine the total number of elapsed tithis since the beginning of the current lunar year.[14]
From: Folklore of the Santal Parganas
(1) A month that is determined by the moon's phases, significant in scheduling important events like weddings in this tradition.[15]