Puranic Encyclopaedia: A Comprehensive Dictionary with Special Reference to the Epic and Puranic Literature c8.694

c8.694

2). *What the names of the months indicate.* 1). *Malayālam months.* The months are named based on certain beliefs. It takes twelve months for the earth to go round the Sun once. When the earth passes through the twelve divisions, it faces a separate set of constellations in the universe in each of these divisions. In the month of Ciṉṉam the earth faces a cluster of constellations in the shape of a lion and so the month is called Siṃha (lion) or Ciṉṉam. In the next division the earth faces the constellations in the shape of a Kanyakā and so the month was called Kanni. The earth faces next the constellations in the shape of a balance and so the month was called Tulām (Tulā = balance). In the next division the earth faces the constellations in the shape of a scorpion and so the month was called Vṛścikam (scorpion). The set of constellations which faces the earth in the next division is shaped like a bow (dhanus) and so the month got the name Dhanu. The next division the earth faces a set of constellations in the shape of a Makaramatsya (makara-fish) and so and Miṉam means a fish and Meḍam (Meṣa) means a goat and Iḍavam (Ṛṣabha) means an ox. The shapes of the constellations in those divisions are like the things mentioned and the months were so named after them.