The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Hinduism (2 Vol Set)

Dakshinayana

The six months of the solar yearin
which the sunis reckoned as moving
southward. In the Gregorian calendar,
this is the period between the summer
solstice and the winter solstice (roughly
December 20 to June 20) and is based on
the actual motion of the sun with
respect to the earth. The Indian reckon-
ing is based on the motion of the sun
through the zodiac, which is calculated
differently than in western astrology. The
Dakshinayana begins on Karka
Sankranti(the daythe sun is thought to
enter Cancer, usually July 14), and ends

the day before Makara Sankranti(the

day the sun enters Capricorn, usually

January 14). The Dakshinayana is con-

sidered less auspicious than the

Uttarayana, the six months in which the

sun travels north, because the southern

direction is associated with the Yama,

the god associated with death, judg-

ment, and punishment for evildoers.

Dakshineshwar

Temple site about four miles north

of modern Calcutta, on the eastern bank

of the Hugli River. Dakshineshwar’s

Dakshineshwar

Temple in Dakshineshwar dedicated to the goddess Kali.