Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 131
Graha–Ketu–Utpāta Lakṣaṇas: Solar/Lunar Omens, Comets, Eclipses, and Calendar Rules
तपास्तपस्य क्रमशश्चैत्रादीनां समाह्वयाः । यस्मिन्मासे पौर्णमासी येन धिष्ण्येन संयुता ॥ १३१ ॥
tapāstapasya kramaśaścaitrādīnāṃ samāhvayāḥ | yasminmāse paurṇamāsī yena dhiṣṇyena saṃyutā || 131 ||
Tapas et Tapasya sont, selon l’ordre prescrit, des noms également attribués aux mois commençant par Caitra. Chaque mois est reconnu par la pleine lune (pūrṇimā) qui s’y produit et par la demeure lunaire (nakṣatra) particulière à laquelle cette pleine lune est conjointe.
Sanatkumara (in dialogue with Narada)
Vrata: none
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: adbhuta
FAQs
It frames sacred time as a dharmic structure: months are not merely civil labels but are ritually meaningful, defined through Paurṇimā and nakṣatra-conjunctions that guide observances and vows.
By clarifying the sacred calendar, it supports bhakti-practice indirectly—helping devotees perform vrata, pūjā timings, and festival observances on correct tithis and nakṣatra-yogas, which strengthens disciplined devotion.
Jyotiṣa (Vedāṅga astronomy/astrology): determining month-names and ritual months through the full moon (Paurṇimā) and its associated nakṣatra, a key rule for calendrical computation.