The 5 Limbs of Panchang (Pancha-Anga)
1. Tithi (Lunar Day)
Tithi is the angular relationship between the Sun and the Moon. There are 30 Tithis in a lunar month—15 in the bright half (Shukla Paksha) and 15 in the dark half (Krishna Paksha). It determines the auspiciousness of the day for rituals.
2. Nakshatra (Constellation)
The Moon travels through 27 star constellations or Nakshatras. The Nakshatra ruling the day governs the nature of energy—whether it is good for travel (Chara), stability (Sthira), or harsh actions (Ugra).
3. Yoga (Alignment)
Yoga is calculated from the sum of the Sun's and Moon's longitudes. It represents the "union" of planetary forces. Some Yogas like Siddha are auspicious, while others like Vyatipata are avoided.
4. Karana (Half-Tithi)
Each Tithi is divided into two Karanas. There are 11 Karanas in total. They are used to fine-tune the selection of time for specific activities like signing contracts or starting a journey.
5. Vara (Weekday)
The seven days of the week are ruled by seven key planets (Sun for Sunday, Moon for Monday, etc.). The ruler of the day imparts its specific qualities to the entire day.
Detailed FAQs
What is the best time to check Panchang?+
Panchang is traditionally checked at sunrise as many attributes (like Vara) are defined from one sunrise to the next. However, Tithi and Nakshatra change at specific times during the day.
What is Rahu Kaal?+
Rahu Kaal is a period of about 90 minutes every day that is considered inauspicious for starting new ventures. It shifts daily based on the weekday and sunrise time.
Can I use this Panchang for any location?+
Yes! This Pro Panchang calculates sunrise and sunset accurately for your selected city using the Swiss Ephemeris. All timings including Rahu Kaal and Choghadiya are location-specific.
What is Choghadiya?+
Choghadiya is a system of auspicious and inauspicious time periods within a day. Each day is divided into 8 day slots and 8 night slots, each with a specific quality like Shubh (good), Amrit (excellent), or Rog (bad).