PANCHANG: A GUIDE
Panchang in Hindu Astrology is a sort of Hindu Almanac. Literally it means "Five Limbs (parts)". It is an
astrological diary that gives useful astrological information required by an astrologer. It is consulted for
finding and selecting an appropriate and ++auspicious time for important occasions, ceremonies or
actions like marriage, education, travel, starting new business or project, examination, interview etc.
Basically, Panchang is used to match the current position of planets with the position of planets in a
person's astrological chart so as to find and if required to look ahead to find astrologically good days
and times for that person. It is an ancient method to synchronize our actions with good times so as to
reduce obstacles and increase our chances for success. In other words, it helps in knowing what days
and times are good for an individual and which ones may cause problems so as to avoid them.
The five parts of Panchang are described below :
1. Din (vaar) or Day of the Week
2. Tithi or the Lunar day
3. Nakshatra or the Constellation
4. Yoga
5. Karan
1. Din (also called Vaar) (Day of the week): The days of the week along with the ruler planet in the
brackets are :
Sunday (Sun)
Monday (Moon)
Tuesday (Mars)
Wednesday (Mercury)
Thursday (Jupiter)
Friday (Venus)
Saturday (Saturn)
2. Tithi :
Tithi (along with Paksha) is the day according to the Hindu lunar Calendar. The Hindu lunar calendar
consists of a dark and a bright fortnight also called paksha). When the moon completes 12 degrees of its
movement on the Sun, it is called a Tithi or Hindu lunar day. There are 30 tithis in a lunar month. Tithis
belong to either Shukl paksh (the moon is waxing) or Krishna paksha (the moon is wanning). There are
several rituals and festivals associated with Tithis. Most of the festivals fall on the new moon day
(amavsaya) or the full moon day (poornma). It should be noted that starting and ending of a Tithi depends
upon the degree of the Moon from that of the Sun. Ttherefore a Tithi can start or end at any time in a day.
The Hindu Tithis are classified into five types:
a. Nanda Tithi – bestows happiness and joy
b. Bhadra Tithi - good stating new work
c Jaya Tithi - good for winning over enemies
d. Rikta Tithi – not good for any important work, so it is avoided
e. Poorna Tithi – very good to complete all jobs
Shukla Paksha : 15 Tithis starting from New Moon to Full Moon ( Poornima) constitue the Shukla Paksha.
Krishna Paksha: The 15 Tithis starting from the Full Moon to New Moon ( Amavasya) form the Krishna
paksha.
Tithis are known by the following Hindu Names:
Tithi Nmae Type
1 Pratipada Nanda
2 Dvitiya Bhadra
3 Tritiya Jaya
4 Chaturthi Rikta
5 Panchami Poorna
6 Shashthi Nanda
7 Saptmi Bhadra
8 Ashtami Jaya
9 Navami Rikta
10 Dashmi Poorna
11 Ekadashi Nanda
12 Dwadashi Bhadra
13 Tryodashi Jaya
14 Chaturdashi Rikta
15 Poornima / Poorna
Amavasya
3. Nakshatra:
Nakshatras are the stellar constellations or Lunar mansions. Literally this word means “that which does
not decay.”
There are twenty-seven Nakshatras considered in Vedic Astrology. Each one of them has thirteen degree
and twenty minutes of the zodiac. Nakshatra can be known with help of degrees of Moon in a particular
sign at the time of birth.
The Nakshatras influence the quality of the Rashi in which they are positioned. The sequence of the 27
Nakshatras begins with Ashwini Nakshatra in Mesha Rashi.
Each Nakshatra has a planetary lord used for Vimsottari Dasa and K.P. calculations. The years assigned
to the signs are the Mahadasa durations of Vimsottari Dasa.
Nakshatras Lord Years
1. Aswini 10. Magha 19. Moola -----> Ketu 7
2. Bharani 11. Poorvaphalguni 20. Poorvashadha Venus 20
3. Krittika 12. Uttaraphalguni 21. Uttarashadha Sun 6
4. Rohini 13. Hasta 22. Sravana Moon 10
5. Mrigasira 14. Chitra 23. Dhanista Mars 7
6. Ardra 15. Swati 24. Satabhisha Rahu 18
7. Punarvasu 16. Visakha 25. Poorvabhadra Jupiter 16
8. Pushyami 17. Anuradha 26. Uttarabhadra Saturn 19
9. Aslesha 18. Jyeshta 27. Revati Mercury 17
Nakshtra also indicate Yoni, Gan and Nadi of an individual.
Yoni:
There are 14 Yonis (animal symbols) in Vedic astrology assigned to nakshtras :
Nakshatras Yoni
Aswini, Satabhisha Horse
Swati, Hasta Buffalo
Dhanista, Poorvabhadra Lion
Bharani, Revati Elephant
Krittika, Pushyami Sheep
Poorvashadha, Sravana Monkey
Uttarashadha (Abhijit) Mongoose
Rohini, Mrigasira Serpent
Anuradha, Jyeshta Deer
Ardra, Moola Dog
Punarvasu, Aslesha Cat
Magha, Purvaphalguni Rat
Chitra, Visakha Tiger
Uttaraphalguni,
Uttarabhadra Cow
Gana:
There are 3 Ganas
1. Deva: Divine
2. Manuj: Human
3. Rakshas: Demon
Nakshatras assigned to the Ganas:
Nakshatras Gan
Aswini, Mrigasira, Punarvasu, Pushyami,
Hasta, Swati, Anuradha, Sravana, Revati ----> Deva
Bharani, Rohini, Ardra,
Poorvaphalguni, Uttaraphalguni, Poorvashadha,
Uttarashadha, Poorvabhadra, Uttarabhadra ---> Manuj
Krittika, Aslesha, Magha, Chitra, Visakha,
Jyeshta, Moola, Dhanista, Satabhisha ----> Rakshas
Nadi:
There are 3 Nadis
1. Adi: Vata
2. Madhya: Pitta
3. Antya: Kapha (or Shleshma)
Nakshatras assigned to the Nadis:
Nakshatras Nadi
Aswini, Ardra, Punarvasu, Uttaraphalguni,
Hasta, Jyeshta, Moola, Satabhisha, Poorvabhadra Adi (Vata)
Bharani, Mrigasira, Pushyami, Poorvaphalguni,
Chitra, Anuradha, Poorvashadha, Dhanista,
Uttarabhadra Madhya (Pitta)
Krittika, Rohini, Aslesha, Magha, Swati,
Visakha, Uttarashadha, Sravana, Revati Antya (Kapha)
Yoga:
A Yog is obtained from the sum of the Nirayna Longitude of the Moon and Sun and the sum is divided into
27 parts of 13°20' each. The first yog ( Viskumbh) ends when the sum is 13°20'. Second Yog ( Priti) ends
when it is 26°40' and so on .
There are 27 yogas, namely:
1. Vishkumbha 2. Priti 3. Ayushman
4. Saubhagya 5. Shobhana 6. Atiganda
7. Sukarama 8. Dhriti 9. Shoola
10. Ganda 11. Vridhi 12. Dhruva
13. Vyaghata 14. Harshana 15. Vajra
16. Sidhi 17. Vyatipata 18. Vriyana
19. Paridhi 20. Shiva 21. Sidha
22. Sadhya 23. Shubha 24. Shukla
25. Brahma 26. Indra 27. Vaidhriti
Karana:
Half of Tithi is called `Karna'. A Karna is completed when the Nirayana longitude of the Moon gains every
6° on that of Sun. In each Tithi there are two Karans covering the two halves of the Tithi.
There are 11 karnas in total. Four of them occur just once a month and are called the Fixed Karanas:
Kintughna, Chatushpada, Sakuni and Naga.
The other seven are movable Karanas. They follow one another in a fixed rotation: Bava, Balava,
Kaulava, Taitila, Gara, Vanija and Vishti.
Movable Karan Fixed Karan
Bava Sakuni
Balava Chatushpad
Kaulava Naag
Taitila Kintughna
Gara
Vanij
Vishti or Bhadra
Each of the Karanas is said to have its own influence and interpretation. ‘Vishti’ is considered the most
inauspicious karana. No important or new work is done during the period of this karana.
Rahukalam:
RahuKalam has a very important place in Vedic Astrology as it help in determining the inauspicious time
period with in a complete day for starting any new, auspicious or important work.
Though, RahuKalam is calculated with help of Sun-Rise and Sun-Set time. Hence, this is obvious that it
will differ from place to place.
Rahu Kalam is one and a half hour time each day of a week distributed at random in the week days.
Since the Rahu Kalam is dependent on the Sun-rise and Sun-set times of your particular location, you
must calculate it for any day.
Yamagandam:
Like Rahu Kalam there are periods known as Yamagandam during which it is considered to be
inauspicious to start any important work.
