Agrahayana

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Agrahayana or Margashirsha,^[1] (Sanskrit: अग्रहायण, romanized: Agrahāyaṇa or Sanskrit: मार्गशीर्ष, romanized: Mārgaśīrṣa), is the ninth month of the Hindu calendar. In India's national civil calendar, Agrahayana is also the eight month of the year, beginning on 16 November and ending on 15 December. Margashirsha means related to the Mrigashīrsha nakṣatra (asterism), which has been known since Vedic times.

In lunar religious calendars, Agrahayana or Margashirsha typically begins either on the new moon or the full moon, depending on the regional tradition, and generally corresponds to the ninth month of the year.

In solar religious calendars, Agrahayana (or Margaḻi in Tamil traditions) begins with the Sun's entry into the zodiac sign Sagittarius (Dhanus Rashi) and is considered the ninth month of the year.