Paksha meaning in Vedic astrology: bright and dark half
Also called: shukla paksha, krishna paksha, sukla paksha, bright half, dark half, waxing Moon, waning Moon
Definition
A paksha is half of the lunar month: shukla paksha is the bright half, when the Moon waxes, and krishna paksha is the dark half, when it wanes.
The paksha changes how the Moon is judged. BPHS (Brihat Parashara Hora Shastra) and P.V.R. Narasimha Rao (PVR) count the waxing Moon of the bright half as a natural benefic and the waning Moon of the dark half as a natural malefic.
B.V. Raman adds: 'From the eighth day of the bright half of the lunar month the Moon is full and strong. She is weak from the eighth day of the dark half.'
The rule extends beyond the Moon: PVR notes that natural malefics are strong in krishna paksha and natural benefics in shukla paksha.
Lessons that use this term
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