Inauspicious Months

It has been the belief among the Hindus from time immemorial that certain months in a year are inauspicious. Consequently no venture or undertaking in those months would be successful or fruitful. In other countries the people may laugh at this belief and call it exploded superstition. But in India most of the people would not undertake to begin any auspicious venture during the months considered to be inauspicious. Even educated gentlemen beyond the influence of superstition do respect this time worn custom and get their sons and daughters married only during the months recognized as suitable for the purpose. The commencing months of the Hindu New Year are generally considered to be auspicious for any undertaking. Whereas the commencement of the winter is considered as most inauspicious. The plain and simple reason for the belief may be popular experience of years. There is a conventional Hindu saying that every Sastra and custom is for securing health, comfort and convenience. Hence it can be safely said that many of the Hindu customs arose from attention paid to the popular comfort.

In the commencement of the New Year, the people are surrounded with plenty having garnered the new crops. Further it is the period of rest after a year`s hard toil for the agriculturists. The ancients were originated and followed the custom. So the season is best fitted for the inauguration and celebration of marriages and festivities. There is enough corn to feed friends, relatives and others freely and plenty of leisure too. So marriages were arranged and happiness enjoyed. After the uncomfortable winter atmosphere, the warmth and sunny atmosphere of Vasanta is spring is delightful. Digestion is not impaired by the unhealthy atmosphere and surroundings caused by the microbes flourishing in the absence of the purifying rays of the hot sun. People might freely wear flowers and enjoy the cool sensation in the brain and their delightful fragrance without the fear of catching cold. One of the luxuries that the Hindus delight is in Sandal paste. It may be used in plenty without affecting the health. A large number of friends and relatives may lie down in Pandals erected in open court yards and streets and sleep comfortably enjoying the cool and refreshing southern breeze called Thermal kattu in Tamil. All these are not possible in the winter season when every other man was perhaps not feeling well owing to the bad weather and on invalid`s diet. A marriage occasion in which a large number of people are in mufflers with bottles of smelling salt on hand would be certainly not over pleasant. This perhaps was one of the main reasons for fixing only certain months as auspicious for performing marriages.

Certain months are considered unsuitable for tenanting new houses. The reason is that people are susceptible to cold and other bodily ailments even in places to which they are inured owing to the change in the climatic conditions brought about by the change of season.