AMAVASYA - SPIRITUAL & ASTRONOMICAL INSIGHTS
AMAVASYA: THE SHADOW & THE SCIENCE Amavasya is the darkest day of the month. On this day Moon will not be visible and it is called as New-Moon day or No-Moon day. On the day of Amavasya both Sun (Pithrukaaraka) and Moon (Maathru kaaraka) conjoin together. Ama means "together" and Vasya means "to dwell." Astronomically, it is the exact 24-hour window where the Sun and Moon "dwell together" in the same celestial longitude. A lunar month ending with Poornima is called Poornimanta, while one ending with Amavasya is known as Amanta. A Chaturdashi overlapping with Amavasya is called Sinivali, and an Amavasya overlapping with Pratipada is termed Kuhu. Astrologically, both of these conjunctions are considered malefic (inauspicious). Amavasya is also classically known as the Darsha Thithi. The word Darsha signifies the astronomical alignment where the Sun and Moon dwell together, rendering the Moon invisible to the Earth. On the day of Darsha, whe...