Aaj Ka Panchang
Today’s Vedic daily calendar — tithi, nakshatra, yoga, karana, rahu kaal and muhurat timings
What is Panchang?
Tithi — Lunar Day
Tithi is one of the five limbs of the Panchang. It represents the lunar day — the angular relationship between the Sun and Moon. There are 30 tithis in a lunar month, 15 in the Shukla Paksha (waxing moon) and 15 in the Krishna Paksha (waning moon). Each tithi has its own deity, significance, and activities that are auspicious or inauspicious.
Nakshatra — Lunar Mansion
The Moon transits through 27 nakshatras (lunar mansions) in one month. Each nakshatra spans 13°20' of the zodiac and carries a specific planetary ruler, deity, and quality. The nakshatra of the day influences the energy available for actions — some nakshatras favour travel, others business, learning, or spiritual practice.
Yoga — Luni-Solar Combination
Yoga is calculated from the combined longitude of the Sun and Moon. There are 27 yogas. Some yogas like Siddhi, Amrita, and Shubha are highly auspicious for starting new ventures. Others like Vishkambha, Ganda, and Vajra are considered inauspicious for important beginnings. Checking the yoga before starting anything important is an ancient Indian practice.
Karana — Half Tithi
A Karana is half of a tithi — approximately 6 hours. There are 11 karanas, four fixed and seven repeating. The most well-known is Bhadra (Vishti Karana), which is considered highly inauspicious for starting new work. Knowing the karana helps in micro-planning auspicious moments throughout the day.
Var — Day of the Week
Var is the weekday, each ruled by a planet: Sunday (Sun), Monday (Moon), Tuesday (Mars), Wednesday (Mercury), Thursday (Jupiter), Friday (Venus), Saturday (Saturn). In Vedic tradition, each day has its own energy, colour, deity, and activities that resonate with the ruling planet's vibration.
Rahu Kaal — Inauspicious Period
Rahu Kaal is a period of approximately 90 minutes each day considered inauspicious for starting new work. It is governed by Rahu, the shadow planet associated with illusion and sudden events. The timing shifts each day of the week. Most Indians avoid beginning journeys, business deals, or important events during Rahu Kaal.