# Traditional Jain Calendar§

A quick reference for traditional lunisolar dates, key festivals observed in Jainism, *kalyanaks* of the Tirthankars, et cetera.

## Notation & Reading Guide§

Traditional Indian and Jain dates are measured using a lunisolar calendar. Each date is defined by three primary components: Masa (Month), Paksha (Fortnight) and Tithi (Lunar day).

The year consists of 12 lunar months in the following order:

1. 1. Kartika
2. 2. Margashirsha
3. 3. Pausha
4. 4. Magha
5. 5. Phalguna
6. 6. Chaitra
7. 7. Vaishakha
8. 8. Jyeshtha
9. 9. Ashadha
10. 10. Shravana
11. 11. Bhadrapada
12. 12. Ashwin

When an intercalary leap month occurs to realign with solar seasons, it is designated as Adhik Masa.

### Pakshas (Fortnights)§

Each lunar month is divided into two distinct fortnights:

• - Shukla Paksha (Sud): The bright, waxing half of the moon, lasting from Pratipada (1st day) through Purnima (full moon).
• - Krishna Paksha (Vad): The dark, waning half of the moon, lasting from Pratipada (1st day) through Amavasya (new moon).

The defining difference between regional and sectarian calendars lies in where a month officially begins and ends:

• - Amanta System: The month ends on Amavasya (new moon). The first fortnight is Shukla Paksha, followed by Krishna Paksha. This is prevalent in Gujarat, Maharashtra, South India and standard in *Shvetambar* literature.
• - Purnimanta System: The month ends on Purnima (full moon). The month begins with Krishna Paksha, followed by Shukla Paksha. This is prevalent in North India (UP, Bihar, MP, Rajasthan) and standard in *Digambar* literature.

**Key consequence**: Shukla Paksha is identical in both systems and carries the exact same month name. However, Krishna Paksha shifts by one month name. For instance, the dark fortnight following the Chaitra full moon is counted as Chaitra Krishna in Amanta (since the month continues until the new moon), but as Vaishakha Krishna in Purnimanta (since the new month begins immediately after the full moon).

### Tithis (Lunar Days)§

A tithi is determined by each 12-degree elongation between the Moon and the Sun. Each Paksha comprises 15 tithis:

1. 1. Pratipada (Ekam / Padwa)
2. 2. Dvitiya (Beej / Dooj)
3. 3. Tritiya (Teej)
4. 4. Chaturthi (Chauth)
5. 5. Panchami (Pancham)
6. 6. Shashthi (Chhath)
7. 7. Saptami (Satam)
8. 8. Ashtami (Aatham)
9. 9. Navami (Naum)
10. 10. Dashami (Dasam)
11. 11. Ekadashi (Agiyaras / Gyaras)
12. 12. Dvadashi (Baras)
13. 13. Trayodashi (Teras)
14. 14. Chaturdashi (Chaudas)
15. 15. Purnima (Poonam, in Shukla Paksha) or Amavasya (Amas, in Krishna Paksha)

### Dual-Entry Convention§

Because literature and community traditions interchange between Amanta and Purnimanta reckonings, every date in this note will be recorded twice:

First in Amanta format, followed by Purnimanta format (e.g., Amanta: Bhadrapada Krishna 13 / Purnimanta: Ashwin Krishna 13).

## Samvat (Era)§

Jain literature and community observances predominantly reference two eras:

**1. Veer Nirvana Samvat**: The definitive spiritual era of Jainism. It commences from the Nirvana (Moksha) of the 24th Tirthankar Vardhman (a.k.a. Mahaveer Swami) at Pavapuri in October 07, 527 BCE. The new year of this era begins on Kartika Shukla 1, the morning after Diwali.

• - Because 527 BCE was a BCE year (where there is no Year 0 in the calendar system), from January to October/November (before Diwali), the conversion formula is: $\text{Gregorian Year} + 526$
• - After Diwali (from Kartika Shukla 1 through December), the formula becomes: $\text{Gregorian Year} + 527$

**2. Vikram Samvat**: Historically dated to 57 BCE and attributed to King Vikramaditya of Ujjain. When does the New Year start? This depends on the region:

• - In Gujarat, Rajasthan and Jain traditions: The New Year begins on Kartika Shukla 1 (the day after Diwali).
• - In North India: The New Year begins a few months later on Chaitra Shukla 1 (in spring, around March/April, coinciding with Ugadi/Gudi Padwa).

**3. Saka Samvat**: While North India uses Vikram Samvat, South India historically anchored its timekeeping and inscriptions to the Saka Samvat, which started in 78 CE. It is traditionally attributed to King Shalivahana of the Satavahana dynasty, commemorating a victory over the Shakas.

• - **Author**: Dwij Bavisi <<dwij.bavisi@crabwire.net>>
• - **Published**: October 23, 2026, Project bloatware
• - **Conceived**: October 23, 2026