The word Panchang comes from Sanskrit: pancha (five) + anga (limbs). These five elements form the basis of the Hindu almanac and are used to determine auspicious times for rituals, ceremonies, and important events. Here's what each element means.

1. Tithi (Lunar Day)

Tithi is the lunar day — the angular relationship between the Sun and Moon. As the Moon moves approximately 12° ahead of the Sun each day, each 12° arc constitutes one tithi. There are 30 tithis in a lunar month (15 in the bright fortnight, 15 in the dark fortnight).

Key tithis: Pratipada (1st), Panchami (5th), Saptami (7th), Ekadashi (11th), Purnima (full moon), Amavasya (new moon).

Tithi matters because different tithis are suited to different activities — for example, Ekadashi for fasting, Purnima for celebrating, Amavasya for ancestral rites.

2. Vara (Day of the Week)

Vara is the day of the week, each governed by a planet:

• Ravivara (Sunday) — Sun (Surya)
• Somvara (Monday) — Moon (Chandra)
• Mangalvara (Tuesday) — Mars (Mangal)
• Budhvara (Wednesday) — Mercury (Budh)
• Guruvara (Thursday) — Jupiter (Guru)
• Shukravara (Friday) — Venus (Shukra)
• Shanivara (Saturday) — Saturn (Shani)

Each vara has specific qualities. Thursday (Guruvara) is auspicious for beginning studies or seeking blessings from a guru; Friday (Shukravara) is considered good for auspicious beginnings and marriage-related activities.

3. Nakshatra (Lunar Mansion)

The sky is divided into 27 nakshatras, each spanning 13°20'. The Moon transits one nakshatra approximately every day. The nakshatra at the time of birth forms the Janma Nakshatra, which is central to Vedic astrology and muhurta selection.

Auspicious nakshatras for ceremonies: Rohini, Mrigashira, Hasta, Chitra, Swati, Anuradha, Uttara Phalguni, Uttara Ashadha, Uttara Bhadrapada, and Revati.

4. Yoga (Luni-Solar Combination)

Yoga is calculated by adding the longitudes of the Sun and Moon and dividing by 13°20'. There are 27 yogas, each with a specific quality. Some yogas are highly auspicious (like Siddhi Yoga and Amrit Yoga), while others are inauspicious (like Vishkambha and Vyatipata).

An Amrit Siddhi Yoga — formed by specific nakshatra-vara combinations — is considered highly auspicious for any undertaking.

5. Karana (Half-Tithi)

Each tithi is divided into two equal halves, called karanas. There are 11 karanas in total (4 fixed, 7 movable). Karanas matter for timing within a day — the Bhadra karana, for example, is considered inauspicious for new beginnings. Knowing the karana helps fine-tune the exact time window for a ceremony.

How to Use Panchang for Muhurta

A shubh muhurta (auspicious time) is when the tithi, vara, nakshatra, yoga, and karana all align favorably. For important events like weddings or griha pravesh, all five limbs are considered together. For everyday decisions, even two or three favorable limbs are sufficient.

Use BhaktiMala's daily Panchang to check today's five elements and plan your activities accordingly.