Āsāḷha
/ˈaː.saːɭ.ha/noun
The fourth month of the traditional Buddhist lunar calendar, roughly corresponding to June–July, especially associated with the Buddha’s first sermon.
Did you know?Āsāḷha is linked with Āsāḷha Pūjā, also called Dharma Day, commemorating the Buddha’s first sermon and the beginning of the Buddhist monastic community.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European / Early Indo-Aryan
PIE/Sanskrit
*aṣāḍhā
“An ancient lunar-month name, probably connected with the Āṣāḍhā star or lunar mansion; its deeper derivation is uncertain.”
Classical Sanskrit
Sanskrit
Āṣāḍha
“The fourth lunar month, corresponding approximately to June–July; also the name of a lunar mansion.”
Ancient Prakrit
Prakrit
Āsāḍha
“A Middle Indo-Aryan development of Sanskrit Āṣāḍha, used as a calendar month name.”
Pāli
Pāli
Āsāḷha
“The fourth month of the Buddhist calendar, associated with the Buddha’s first teaching.”
19th–20th Century
English
Asalha / Āsāḷha
“A Buddhist calendrical and festival term adopted into English, especially in discussions of Theravāda traditions.”