Saturday, August 22, 2015

Raka - Anumati - Kuhu - Sinivali

Raka and Anumati are variations of Pournamasi ( full moon ).

Kuhu and Sinivali are variations of Amavasya ( new moon ).

सम्पूर्णेन्दुतिथिः राका - Purnima with an absolutely full moon.

न्यूनेन्दुकला पूर्णिमा अनुमतिः चतुर्दशीयुक्ता वा - Purnima with moon that is not full or one in which chaturdashi overlaps.

Kuhu ( कुहूः) - An amavasya which is totally dark with moon totally absent is called Kuhu.

Sinivali ( सिनीवाली ) - An amavasya in which moon is partly visible.

दृष्टचन्द्रा सिनीवालि नष्टचन्द्रा कुहूर्मता |

Like nakshatras these are also divinities in Veda.

श्रद्धा त्वङ्गिरसः पत्नी चतस्रोऽसूत कन्यकाः |
सिनिवाली कुहू राका चतुर्थ्यनुमतिस्तथा ||

They are daughters of Sage Angirasa and his wife Shraddha.