Solar and Lunar Months

Solar and Lunar Months
Two basic observations held sway over the effort of ancient Hindu calendar-making. The first was the apparent movement of the sun, causing the solar year, on its re-entry into the first of the twelve Rasis of the Zodiac, from where it started its annual sojourn and completed a cycle of seasons. The moment of entry of the sun into a zodiacal sign was called Samkranti, and Soura or Solar month. Likewise, the period of time between the appearance and reappearance of either the Full Moon or New Moon was called a Masa or Month.