What is Khar month called? What is the difference between Khar month and Mal month?

According to the Markandeya Purana, the Sun rides on a chariot drawn by seven horses, circling the entire universe. During this journey, the Sun’s chariot never stops for even a moment. The constant movement and the sun’s heat made the horses thirsty and exhausted. Seeing their plight, the Sun God decided to stop the chariot to give them rest and quench their thirst. The obstacle to this task was his vow to never rest on this ceaseless journey. With this thought in mind, the chariot of the Sun God continued moving forward.

After proceeding a little further, Surya saw two donkeys near a pond. He thought that while his chariot horses rested after drinking water, he should harness the donkeys to the chariot and continue his journey.

Thinking this, Surya ordered his charioteer, Aruna, to harness the two Kharas to the chariot instead of horses. At Surya’s command, his charioteer harnessed the Kharas to the chariot. At their slow pace, the Kharas proceeded on the circumambulation path, carrying Surya’s chariot.

Due to the chariot’s slow movement, the sun’s brightness also began to dim. Because the chariot is pulled by horses, it is called “Khar” month (beginning on December 16th). Khar month occurs twice a year. One, when the Sun is in Sagittarius. The other, when the Sun enters Pisces. During this time, the Sun’s full impact, or radiance, doesn’t fall on the Earth’s northern hemisphere. Due to this weak position of the Sun, auspicious events such as housewarming, building a new home, purchasing a new vehicle, tonsuring, marriage, etc. are prohibited during this period. No new work is started during this month.

Worshiping the Sun and Jupiter during this month is especially fruitful. According to the Garuda Purana, one does not attain salvation if one dies during the Khar month. Therefore, Bhishma Pitamah did not sacrifice his life during the Mahabharata War. He waited for the Sun to move northwards.

It’s worth noting that there’s a difference between Khar month and Mal month. Khar month occurs when the Sun moves into Sagittarius or Pisces. It occurs twice a year.

Mal Maas occurs once every three years. It is also known as Adhik Maas and Purushottam Maas. The demon Hiranyakashipu had a boon that he would not die in any of the twelve months, so Lord Vishnu created Mal Maas to kill him.