Daily Panchang

1. Tithi (Lunar Phase)

Tithi represents the angular distance between the Sun and the Moon. A single Tithi changes when the Moon moves exactly 12 degrees away from the Sun. A complete lunar month of 360 degrees is divided into 30 Tithis.

These 30 Tithis are divided into two fortnights or Pakshas:

• Shukla Paksha (Bright Fortnight): From New Moon (Amavasya) to Full Moon (Purnima), representing growth, abundance, and positive development.
• Krishna Paksha (Dark Fortnight): From Full Moon (Purnima) to New Moon (Amavasya), representing introspection, release, and spiritual activities.

2. Nakshatra (Constellation)

The 360-degree zodiac belt is divided into 27 equal divisions of 13 degrees and 20 minutes each, known as Nakshatras or lunar mansions. The Nakshatra in which the Moon resides at any given point determines the nature and mood of the day.

Nakshatras are divided into seven major categories:

• Sthira (Fixed): Rohini, Uttara Phalguni, Uttara Ashadha, Uttara Bhadrapada. Great for building houses, planting trees.
• Chara (Movable): Punarvasu, Swati, Shravana, Dhanishta, Shatabhisha. Best for travel, buying vehicles.
• Ugra (Aggressive): Bharani, Magha, Purva Phalguni, Purva Ashadha, Purva Bhadrapada. Good for starting construction, demolition.
• Mridu (Soft/Gentle): Mrigashira, Chitra, Anuradha, Revati. Good for arts, friendship, clothing.
• Kshipra (Swift/Light): Ashwini, Pushya, Hasta. Ideal for medicine, trade, educational courses.
• Tikshna (Sharp/Dreadful): Ardra, Ashlesha, Jyeshtha, Mula. Ideal for scientific research, litigation.
• Misra (Mixed): Krittika, Vishakha. Suitable for fire rituals, cleaning.

3. Yoga (Mathematical Union)

Yoga is calculated by adding the longitudes of the Sun and the Moon and dividing the sum into 27 equal parts of 13 degrees 20 minutes. There are 27 Yogas in total, representing the harmonious or discordant union of planetary energies.

Out of the 27 Yogas, 17 are considered auspicious (like Siddha, Sadhya, Shubha) and 10 are considered inauspicious (like Vyatipata, Vaidhriti, Vishkumbha, Gand). Important activities are typically avoided during the inauspicious Yogas.

4. Karana (Half-Tithi)

A Karana is exactly half of a Tithi (spanning 6 degrees). There are 2 Karanas in every Tithi, summing up to 60 Karanas in a lunar month. These 60 Karanas are generated from a group of 11 core Karanas:

• 7 Movable (Chara) Karanas: Bava, Balava, Kaulava, Taitila, Gara, Vanija, Vishti. They repeat in cycles.
• 4 Fixed (Sthira) Karanas: Shakuni, Chatushpada, Naga, Kintughna. They occur only once near the end of the dark fortnight.

Note that Vishti Karana is also known as Bhadra. It is considered highly inauspicious. Major auspicious tasks like marriages, travel, or starting a business are strictly avoided during Bhadra.

5. Vara (Weekday)

Vara is the solar day, representing the time from one local sunrise to the next local sunrise. The day of the week is governed by its respective ruling planet. Sunday (Sun), Monday (Moon), Tuesday (Mars), Wednesday (Mercury), Thursday (Jupiter), Friday (Venus), and Saturday (Saturn). Each weekday imparts the qualities of its ruling planet to the daily activities.

✨ Auspicious Muhurats

• Abhijit Muhurat: Approximately 48 minutes in the middle of the day (centered around local noon). It is ruled by Lord Vishnu and is powerful enough to cancel many minor doshas.
• Brahma Muhurta: Starts exactly 96 minutes before sunrise. This is the optimal time for meditation, study, and yoga due to high spiritual purity (Sattva Guna) in the atmosphere.
• Amrit Kaal: Calculated dynamically based on the Nakshatra's duration. It is highly favorable for starting any auspicious work.

⚠️ Inauspicious Periods (Avoid)

• Rahu Kaal: A 90-minute period occurring daily, ruled by Rahu. It is highly destructive for material starts.
• Yamaganda Kalam: Ruled by Yamaraj (God of Death). Work started during this time faces delays and failure.
• Gulika Kalam: Ruled by Gulika (son of Saturn). It acts as a multiplier; starting good things is avoided, but routine work is fine.