Panchang Explained: How to Read Tithi, Nakshatra, Yoga and Karana
Every day of the Hindu calendar has five elements — Tithi, Vara, Nakshatra, Yoga and Karana. Together they form the Panchang. A practical guide for non-astrologers.
Every Hindu puja begins with the priest reciting the "Sankalpa" — a formal statement of time and place. Inside that statement are five markers: today's Tithi, Vara, Nakshatra, Yoga and Karana. Together they are the Panchang — literally, the "five limbs" of time. A good Panchang is the difference between scheduling a wedding on an auspicious muhurta and scheduling it on Bhadra karana.
The five limbs
- ✦Tithi — the lunar day (30 per lunar month, based on the Moon-Sun angular distance)
- ✦Vara — the weekday (each weekday is ruled by a planet)
- ✦Nakshatra — the lunar constellation (27 in total, roughly one per day)
- ✦Yoga — the 27 combinations of Sun-Moon longitude; indicates energy quality
- ✦Karana — half a tithi (60 per lunar month)
Tithi — the lunar day
There are 15 Tithis in each half of the lunar month — Shukla Paksha (waxing, toward full moon) and Krishna Paksha (waning, toward new moon). Pratipada, Dvitiya, Tritiya... ending at Purnima (full moon) or Amavasya (new moon). Different tithis are auspicious for different activities. For example, Ekadashi (11th tithi) is ideal for fasting; Chaturdashi (14th) is considered heavy and avoided for new ventures.
Vara — the weekday
- ✦Sunday (Ravivar) — Sun, auspicious for meeting officials, self-confidence
- ✦Monday (Somvar) — Moon, emotional healing, Shiva worship
- ✦Tuesday (Mangalvar) — Mars, land matters, Hanuman worship, caution for surgery
- ✦Wednesday (Budhvar) — Mercury, business, education, communication
- ✦Thursday (Guruvar) — Jupiter, higher studies, weddings, Vishnu worship
- ✦Friday (Shukravar) — Venus, romance, art, Lakshmi and Durga worship
- ✦Saturday (Shanivar) — Saturn, debt clearance, Hanuman/Shani worship
Nakshatra — the lunar constellation
The ecliptic is divided into 27 equal segments of 13°20' each. The Moon spends about 24 hours in each. Your Janma Nakshatra (the nakshatra the Moon was in at your birth) is the single most important point in Vedic astrology — more important than your sun sign. Nakshatras have specific qualities: Rohini for rituals, Pushya for the most auspicious undertakings, Magha for ancestors, Revati for gentle endings.
Yoga and Karana
Yoga describes the energetic signature of the day from a Sun-Moon perspective. Of the 27 yogas, the four traditionally avoided are Vishkumbha, Atiganda, Vyatipata and Vaidhriti. Karana is a half-tithi; two karanas per tithi. Of the 11 karanas, Bhadra and Vishti are considered harsh and avoided for fresh undertakings — which is why Sankalpas carefully exclude them.
Why this matters for non-astrologers
You do not need to memorise anything. What you need is a reliable Panchang (Omrat's home page shows today's Panchang live). Look at it before major decisions — travel, signing contracts, surgery, starting a diet, proposing marriage. Avoid the obviously difficult windows (Bhadra, Rahu Kaal, Gulika Kaal). Prefer the obviously supportive ones (Abhijit Muhurta, Shubha Chaughadiya). This one habit, after a few months, will change how smoothly your calendar flows.