What is Maasam?
Maasam (also spelled Masam or Masa) is the Tamil solar month, based on the Sun’s position in the zodiac. Each Maasam has a unique Surya Mantra – a sacred invocation to a specific form of the Sun God (Surya).
The 12 Maasams and Their Surya Mantras
| Maasam | Solar Calendar | Deity | Surya Mantra |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chithirai | Mid-Apr - Mid-May | Amsuman | ॐ तत्पुरुषाय विद्महे, वेदादित्याय धीमहि, तन्नो अंशुमान् सूर्यमूर्तिः प्रचोदयात्॥ |
| Vaikasi | Mid-May - Mid-Jun | Dhata | ॐ तत्पुरुषाय विद्महे, प्रभाकराय धीमहि, तन्नो धाता सूर्यमूर्तिः प्रचोदयात्॥ |
| Aani | Mid-Jun - Mid-Jul | Indra | ॐ तत्पुरुषाय विद्महे, अदितिप्रियाय धीमहि, तन्नो इन्द्रः सूर्यमूर्तिः प्रचोदयात्॥ |
| Aadi | Mid-Jul - Mid-Aug | Ravi | ॐ तत्पुरुषाय विद्महे, कोटिप्रकाशाय धीमहि, तन्नो रविः सूर्यमूर्तिः प्रचोदयात्॥ |
| Avani | Mid-Aug - Mid-Sep | Gabhasti | ॐ तत्पुरुषाय विद्महे, मार्ताण्डाय धीमहि, तन्नो गभस्तिः सूर्यमूर्तिः प्रचोदयात्॥ |
| Purattasi | Mid-Sep - Mid-Oct | Yama | ॐ तत्पुरुषाय विद्महे, पितृकाराय धीमहि, तन्नो यमः सूर्यमूर्तिः प्रचोदयात्॥ |
| Aippasi | Mid-Oct - Mid-Nov | Suvarna Retas | ॐ तत्पुरुषाय विद्महे, भानुमण्डलवासाय धीमहि, तन्नो सुवर्णरेतः सूर्यमूर्तिः प्रचोदयात्॥ |
| Karthigai | Mid-Nov - Mid-Dec | Tvashta | ॐ तत्पुरुषाय विद्महे, कार्तिकमासप्रकाशाय धीमहि, तन्नो त्वष्टा सूर्यमूर्तिः प्रचोदयात्॥ |
| Margazhi | Mid-Dec - Mid-Jan | Mitra | ॐ तत्पुरुषाय विद्महे, काश्यपप्रियाय धीमहि, तन्नो मित्रः सूर्यमूर्तिः प्रचोदयात्॥ |
| Thai | Mid-Jan - Mid-Feb | Vishnu | ॐ तत्पुरुषाय विद्महे, विष्णुभक्ताय धीमहि, तन्नो विष्णुः सूर्यमूर्तिः प्रचोदयात्॥ |
| Masi | Mid-Feb - Mid-Mar | Aruna | ॐ तत्पुरुषाय विद्महे, अरुणाचलभक्ताय धीमहि, तन्नो अरुणः सूर्यमूर्तिः प्रचोदयात्॥ |
| Panguni | Mid-Mar - Mid-Apr | Surya | ॐ तत्पुरुषाय विद्महे, ज्ञानतेजोमयदेवाय धीमहि, तन्नो सूर्यमूर्तिः प्रचोदयात्॥ |
Practitioners traditionally chant the current Maasam’s mantra and give argyam (water offering) to Surya bhagawan three times a day throughout that Maasam.
Related Pages
- Thithi & Thithi Ganapathi – Lunar days and their deities
- Vasaram & Rama Namam – Weekdays and their mantras
- Nakshatram & Nakshatram Mantra – Lunar mansions
- Vastu Day – 8 peak auspicious dates, tied to Maasam
- Shannavathi Tarpanam – Ancestor dates, including each Maasam’s first day
- Understanding Anudinam – Overview of all dimensions