The Astronomical Observatories of Jai Singh c15.s1.t1.2

c15.s1.t1.2

The Vedic year was 12 months of 30 days each, with an occasional intercalary month, "the thirteenth month fabricated of days and nights, having thirty members." (A.V. XIII, 3, 8.) There is no indication of any definite cycle. (The five-year cycle appears later.) The year was also divided into two equal courses or *ayanas*, a northern course or *Uttarāyana* beginning at the winter solstice, and a southern course or *Dakshiṇāyana* beginning at the summer solstice.