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[email protected] Dated 16th of July 2012 Dakshinayana Punyakalam & Karkkidaka Samkranthi Dakshinayana is the southern transit of the Sun. In Hinduism, a human year is equal to one day of Gods. There are two pakshas (fornight) in every month. Six months constitute an ayana and two ayanas a year. There are thus twelve months in every year. The names of the two ayanas are Uttarayana and Dakshinayana. Each Ayana has three seasons. One year for humans is equivalent to a time span of one day and one night for the gods. While humans pass through uttarayana, the gods pass through only one day. Similarly. when humans pass through dakshinayana, the gods pass through merely one night. Dakshinayana lasts for six months or till Makara Sankranti. Uttarayana period starts with Makar Sankranti. Dakshinayana is also the southern transit of Sun and nights are longer during this period. For calendars followed in South India, Dakshinayana begins on July 16, 2012. In Kerala the month Karkkidakam and in Tamil Nadu, the month Aadi marks the beginning of Dakshinayana. This day is auspicious for doing theertha snana (holy dip) and for offering prayers at temples. Karkidaka Masam, or Karkidakam Month, is the last month in the traditional Malayalam calendar followed in Kerala. The month is also known as the Ramayana Masam since it is told that Valmiki completed his Ramayana during this month and the epic Ramayan is read in homes and temples.