Adhik Maas 2026: Dates, Rituals & Purushottam Maas Guide
Published by the Vedic Tithi Team — May 7, 2026
Adhik Maas 2026 runs from 17 May to 15 June 2026 — 30 days dedicated to Lord Vishnu. This is the Hindu leap month that appears roughly every three years to keep the lunar and solar calendars in sync. In 2026, Jyeshtha is the doubled month, making this period Adhik Jyeshtha Maas.
What is Adhik Maas? Adhik Maas (also called Purushottam Maas or Mal Maas) is an intercalary month added to the Hindu lunisolar calendar approximately every 32.5 months. It occurs when a lunar month passes without a Surya Sankranti — the Sun's transit into a new zodiac sign. In 2026, this falls as Adhik Jyeshtha from May 17 to June 15.
Contents
- When Is Adhik Maas in 2026?
- Why Does Adhik Maas Happen?
- Why Is It Called Purushottam Maas?
- Key Dates in Adhik Maas 2026
- What Should You Do During Adhik Maas?
- What Should You Avoid in Adhik Maas?
- How Does Adhik Maas Affect the Hindu Calendar in 2026?
- Frequently Asked Questions
- References
When Is Adhik Maas in 2026?
Adhik Maas 2026 begins on Sunday, 17 May 2026 and ends on Monday, 15 June 2026. It is specifically Adhik Jyeshtha — a second Jyeshtha month inserted before the regular Nija Jyeshtha, which begins June 16.
Check the full lunar schedule on the Hindu calendar for May 2026 and June 2026.
According to DrikPanchang, Adhik Maas forms when a lunar month passes with no solar transit (Surya Sankranti). In 2026, no solar ingress falls within the Jyeshtha lunar cycle — that makes it the designated extra month. The previous Adhik Maas was Adhik Shravan in July–August 2023. The next after 2026 will fall in 2028.
Why Does Adhik Maas Happen?
Adhik Maas is a correction built into the Hindu lunisolar calendar. A solar year has roughly 365.25 days. A lunar year has only 354 days — about 11 days shorter. Without adjustment, festivals would drift backward through the seasons over time: Diwali might eventually fall in summer, Holi in winter.
Adding an extra month approximately every 32.5 months closes that gap. The same underlying logic applies as with the Gregorian leap year — just applied monthly rather than daily.
The technical trigger: each lunar month is named after the solar month it falls within (based on which Surya Sankranti occurs within it). When a lunar month completes its 29.5-day cycle without containing any Surya Sankranti, that month has no paired solar month. That orphaned month becomes Adhik Maas.
Why Is It Called Purushottam Maas?
Purushottam Maas is the honored name given to what was once called Mal Maas — the rejected month. The origin story comes from the Padma Purana and Skanda Purana.
Every lunar month has a presiding deity, tied to the Sun's movement through the 12 zodiac signs. The intercalary month had no Surya Sankranti, so no solar deity claimed it. Without a divine patron, no one wanted their ceremonies assigned to it. People called it Mal Maas — roughly "the impure month."
The deity of this month went to Lord Vishnu and said plainly: I have no patron, no honor, no place. All the gods have rejected me.
Vishnu took the month under his protection. He said: "This month belongs to me — Purushottama, the highest among all beings. It will bear my name. Any act of worship, fasting, or charity performed in this month will yield merit greater than any other month."
Purushottama = Purusha (being) + Uttama (highest). The same title appears in Bhagavad Gita Chapter 15, called Purushottama Yoga — directly linking the month to the Gita's teaching on the Supreme Being.
The month that nobody claimed became the one with the highest spiritual return.
Key Dates in Adhik Maas 2026
| Date | Day | Event |
|---|---|---|
| 17 May 2026 | Sunday | Adhik Maas begins — Adhik Jyeshtha starts |
| 25 May 2026 | Monday | Ganga Dussehra — bathing in Ganga is especially significant this year |
| 27 May 2026 | Wednesday | Padmini Ekadashi — fast day; tithi runs May 26 (5:10 AM) to May 27 (6:21 AM) |
| 30 May 2026 | Saturday | Satyanarayan Puja (Pradosh Kaal); Purnima tithi begins 11:57 AM |
| 31 May 2026 | Sunday | Adhik Purnima (Purushottam Purnima) — most significant day of the month; purnima ends 2:14 PM |
| 11 June 2026 | Thursday | Parama Ekadashi — tithi: June 11, 12:57 AM to 10:36 PM |
| 14–15 June 2026 | Sun–Mon | Adhik Amavasya; Adhik Maas ends June 15 |
Tithi timings sourced from DrikPanchang. Confirm local timings on the daily panchang.
The Two Ekadashis of Adhik Maas
The Padma Purana says fasting on both Ekadashis of Purushottam Maas gives merit equivalent to 100 Ashwamedha yagnas. Because 2026 has an Adhik Maas, the year has 26 Ekadashis in total — two extra beyond the usual 24.
Padmini Ekadashi (May 27) falls in Shukla Paksha (waxing fortnight). Parama Ekadashi (June 11) falls in Krishna Paksha (waning fortnight). Both are observed as fasting days with Vishnu puja.
Adhik Purnima — May 31, 2026
Adhik Purnima is the full moon of the extra month and the most important single day within it. Dawn bathing, charity, and Vishnu puja all carry heightened significance on this day.
The traditional practice of 33 Malpua Daan — donating 33 sweet wheat cakes in a bronze vessel to a Brahmin — is performed on Adhik Purnima. The number 33 represents the 33 Koti Devatas (the cosmic deities of the Hindu tradition). This is the signature charitable act of Adhik Maas.
What Should You Do During Adhik Maas?
The Padma Purana recommends focusing on devotional practice rather than material activity during this month. Here's what that looks like in practice.
Daily Practices
- Vishnu Puja — daily worship with Shodashopachara (sixteen offerings)
- Vishnu Sahasranama recitation — the 1000 names of Vishnu from the Mahabharata
- Om Namo Bhagavate Vasudevaya japa — the 12-syllable Vishnu mantra
- Tulsi offering to Vishnu — associated with Lakshmi's blessings
- Dawn bathing during Brahma Muhurta (4–6 AM) — in a river if possible; at home otherwise
Recommended Reading
The following texts are specifically cited by the Padma Purana and Bhagavata Purana for this month:
- Srimad Bhagavatam — completing a Saptah (7-day reading) of the entire text yields exceptional merit during Adhik Maas
- Bhagavad Gita, Chapter 15 (Purushottama Yoga) — directly connected to the month's presiding name and form of Vishnu
- Padma Purana chapters on Purushottam Maas and the two Ekadashis
Fasting Options
How strictly you fast depends on your capacity and health. The tradition offers several levels:
- Ekadashi Vrat — fasting on May 27 and June 11 only (the most accessible option)
- Ektana Vrata — one meal per day throughout the 30 days
- Satvik Vrat — fruits, nuts, sabudana (tapioca), and kuttu (buckwheat) only; no grains
- Nirjala Vrat — complete fast without water (the most austere form; consult a doctor before attempting)
Charity (Daan)
- 33 Malpua Daan on May 31 (Adhik Purnima) — the most distinctive charity of this month
- Food donation (Anna Daan) to the poor and to Brahmins
- Gau Seva — serving or donating cows
- Deep Daan — lighting 33 lamps with ghee or sesame oil; traditionally kept burning continuously throughout the month for Pitru Shanti (ancestral peace)
Pilgrimage
If you can travel, Vrindavan and Mathura are the primary destinations during Adhik Maas. Govardhan Parikrama (circumambulation of Govardhan Hill) and the Braj 84 Kos Parikrama (the 252 km spiritual journey around the Braj region) are both specifically recommended this month. Contact the ISKCON Vrindavan temple directly for 2026 program schedules.
What Should You Avoid in Adhik Maas?
The standard guidance is to pause material ceremonies and new worldly beginnings for these 30 days.
Ceremonies to postpone until after June 15:
- Weddings and engagements
- Griha Pravesh (housewarming)
- Mundan (first haircut ceremony)
- Upanayana (sacred thread ceremony)
- Namkaran (naming ceremony)
Material activities to avoid starting:
- New businesses or significant financial investments
- Property purchases and vehicle purchases
- Any activity requiring a formal auspicious muhurat
Dietary:
- Non-vegetarian food
- Alcohol
- Onion and garlic (a sattvic diet is preferred throughout)
The reason this is advised: Adhik Maas is specifically set aside for devotional focus. Starting material ventures in a month intended for worship is considered poor timing — not because the month is inauspicious (it is not; that was the old Mal Maas reputation), but because the intention of the month points in a different direction.
How Does Adhik Maas Affect the Hindu Calendar in 2026?
Adhik Jyeshtha inserts 30 days before the regular Jyeshtha begins. Every subsequent lunisolar festival in 2026 falls later than in a standard year — typically 20–30 days later.
| Festival | 2026 Date |
|---|---|
| Raksha Bandhan | 28 August 2026 |
| Krishna Janmashtami | 4 September 2026 |
| Ganesh Chaturthi | 14 September 2026 |
| Sharad Navratri begins | 12 October 2026 |
| Dussehra (Vijayadashami) | 20 October 2026 |
| Diwali (Lakshmi Puja) | 8 November 2026 |
Wedding muhurtas and other ceremonies resume after June 15 when Nija Jyeshtha begins. If you are planning any ceremony in the second half of 2026, check the Hindu calendar for September 2026 and later months against this shifted schedule.
Frequently Asked Questions
When is Adhik Maas in 2026?
Adhik Maas 2026 runs from 17 May to 15 June 2026. It is Adhik Jyeshtha — a second occurrence of the Jyeshtha month inserted to realign the lunar and solar calendars. The previous Adhik Maas was in 2023 (Adhik Shravan). The next will fall in 2028.
What is the difference between Adhik Maas, Mal Maas, and Purushottam Maas?
All three names refer to the same intercalary month. Adhik Maas means "extra month" in Sanskrit. Mal Maas ("the impure month") was the older, unflattering name given when no deity patronized it. Purushottam Maas is the honored name Lord Vishnu gave the month when he took it under his protection, as described in the Padma Purana.
Can you get married during Adhik Maas?
No. Weddings, engagements, housewarmings, and other material ceremonies are traditionally postponed during Adhik Maas. These resume after June 15, 2026 when Nija Jyeshtha begins. Consult a jyotishi for specific muhurtas in the weeks following Adhik Maas.
What is Padmini Ekadashi and when does it fall in 2026?
Padmini Ekadashi is the Ekadashi of the Shukla Paksha (waxing fortnight) of Adhik Maas. In 2026 it falls on 27 May. It is observed as a full fast day with Vishnu puja. The Padma Purana specifically names it and says fasting on both Ekadashis of Purushottam Maas gives merit equal to 100 Ashwamedha yagnas.
What is 33 Malpua Daan?
33 Malpua Daan is the practice of donating 33 sweet wheat cakes (malpuas) in a bronze vessel to a Brahmin on Adhik Purnima — May 31, 2026. The number 33 represents the 33 Koti Devatas (cosmic deities). It is the signature charitable practice of Adhik Maas, said to remove ancestral poverty and bring family blessings.
Why does Adhik Maas happen in some years and not others?
Adhik Maas occurs roughly every 32.5 months, not every year. It appears when a lunar month passes without a Surya Sankranti (solar transit into a new zodiac sign). The affected month rotates: in 2023 it was Shravan, in 2026 it is Jyeshtha. The underlying cause is the 11-day annual gap between the solar year (365.25 days) and the lunar year (354 days).
Does Adhik Maas 2026 affect when Diwali falls?
Yes. Because Adhik Jyeshtha adds 30 days before the rest of the calendar proceeds, all subsequent festivals shift approximately 20–30 days later. Diwali in 2026 falls on 8 November — about three weeks later than in a typical year.
Is Adhik Maas spiritually good or bad?
For spiritual practice — prayer, fasting, charity, scripture study — Adhik Maas is considered highly fruitful. The Padma Purana states a single act of devotion in this month gives more merit than an entire year of regular worship. For material ceremonies (weddings, new ventures), the tradition recommends waiting until the month ends on June 15.
Adhik Maas 2026: May 17 to June 15. Fast on Padmini Ekadashi (May 27) and Parama Ekadashi (June 11). Perform 33 Malpua Daan on Adhik Purnima (May 31). The presiding deity is Lord Vishnu in his Purushottam form.
Check the VedicTithi panchang for daily timings throughout the month.
Jai Purushottam!
References
- DrikPanchang — Adhik Maas / Purushottam Maas — source for all panchang and tithi timings
- 99Pandit — Adhik Maas 2026 Dates and Significance — festival dates and calendar data
- Vrindavan Mathura Tourism — Adhik Maas 2026 Complete Guide — pilgrimage information and regional events
- HinduTone — Adhik Maas 2026 Rules and Dos & Don'ts — ceremony guidance and prohibited activities
- Padma Purana — primary scriptural source for Purushottam Maas narrative, Ekadashi significance, and Malpua Daan
- Bhagavad Gita, Chapter 15 — Purushottama Yoga — scriptural basis for the month's presiding name