Purushottam Maas or Adhik Maas

Purushottam Maas or Adhik Maas is an extra month in the Hindu calendar that is inserted to keep the lunar and solar calendars aligned. Purushottam is an epithet of Vishnu, to whom the month is dedicated.

Generally, we know that there are 12 months in a Calendar year. Hindu calendar also has 12 months in a year, but each month is not of 30 or 31 days as we see in English Calendar.

This differentiation is because Hindu Calendar follow Moon’s Movement whereas English Calendar is made based on Sun’s Movement.

So as per Moon calendar, a month is exactly 29 days 10 hours and 48 minutes to sometimes 29 days 12 hours 44 minutes.

On an average a month stays for 29.5 days. 29.5 days multiplied by 12 months gives us the total days as 354 days.

The difference then between Lunar Calendar 354 days and Solar Calendar 365 days and 6 hours is 11 days 6 hours.

That difference must be corrected. Every third year this shortfall gets corrected as an extra month and that is called as Adhika Maasam.

Adhika Maasam comes in four combinations not exceeding three years.

1. 2 years and 4 months

2. 2 years and 9 months

3. 2 years and 10 months

4. 2 years and 11 months

Adhik Maas (2001–2050) with Month & Cycle Gap

Year	Dates	Adhik Maas (Hindu Month)	Gap from Previous
2001	18 May – 16 June	Jyeshtha Adhik Maas	—
2004	7 June – 5 July	Ashadha Adhik Maas	~3 years
2007	26 March – 24 April	Chaitra Adhik Maas	~2 yrs 9 months
2009	18 Aug – 16 Sept	Bhadrapada Adhik Maas	~2 yrs 5 months
2012	18 July – 16 Aug	Shravana Adhik Maas	~2 yrs 10 months
2015	17 June – 16 July	Ashadha Adhik Maas	~2 yrs 11 months
2018	16 May – 13 June	Jyeshtha Adhik Maas	~2 yrs 11 months
2020	17 Sept – 16 Oct	Ashwin Adhik Maas	~2 yrs 4 months
2023	18 July – 16 Aug	Shravana Adhik Maas	~2 yrs 9 months
2026	17 May – 15 June	Jyeshtha Adhik Maas	~2 yrs 10 months
2029	4 May – 2 June	Chaitra Adhik Maas	~3 years
2031	24 Aug – 21 Sept	Bhadrapada Adhik Maas	~2 yrs 3 months
2034	12 July – 10 Aug	Ashadha Adhik Maas	~2 yrs 10 months
2037	1 June – 30 June	Jyeshtha Adhik Maas	~2 yrs 10 months
2039	20 Sept – 19 Oct	Ashwin Adhik Maas	~2 yrs 3 months
2042	9 Aug – 7 Sept	Shravana Adhik Maas	~2 yrs 10 months
2045	29 June – 28 July	Jyeshtha Adhik Maas	~2 yrs 10 months
2048	18 May – 16 June	Chaitra Adhik Maas	~2 yrs 10 months
2050	7 Sept – 5 Oct	Bhadrapada Adhik Maas	~2 yrs 3 months

Note: The gap between Adhik Maas varies between ~2 years 3 months to ~3 years based on Panchang calculations and solar transitions (Sankranti).

FAQs on Purushottam Maas or Adhik Maas (From Panchang-Style Guides)

1. What is Adhik Maas?

Adhik Maas is an extra lunar month added to the Hindu calendar to balance the difference between solar and lunar years.

2. Why does Adhik Maas occur?

Because the lunar year is ~11 days shorter, the gap accumulates and becomes one full month in ~3 years, so an extra month is added.

3. How often does Adhik Maas come?

It occurs approximately every 32–33 months (2 years 8–9 months).

4. How is Adhik Maas calculated in Panchang?

It is declared when:

No Sankranti (Sun changing zodiac sign) occurs in a lunar month.

5. Is Adhik Maas good or bad?

Spiritually: Very auspicious (Purushottam Maas)

Socially: Avoided for marriages & major events

6. Why is it called Purushottam Maas?

It is dedicated to Lord Vishnu (Purushottam) and considered highly sacred.

7. Can Adhik Maas come twice in a year?

Very rare, but possible due to complex lunar cycles.

8. Why dates change every time?

Because it depends on:

Moon cycle

Sun transit (Rashi change)

Panchang calculations

BlueIcyMind - A WonderLand Of Imaginations