Brief about Panchangam

Panchangam also called "Almanac" consists of 5 Parts:

1. Tithi,
2. Vara [Week-day],
3. Nakshatra [Star],
4. Yoga [Combined results of Sun + Moon Locations],
5.  Karana [Half of Tithi].

Panchanga or Panchang is Hindu Almanac. The literal translation of Panchanga is "Five Limbs". The five energies it represents are considered for selecting an appropriate and auspicious time for ceremonies or certain actions. Panchanga is consulted in matters of timing, i.e. calculating muhurta concerning marriage, education, travel and agriculture to name a few. It is very interesting to note the importance given to Sun and Moon in ascertaining a good time. While fixing a muhurta, we cannot possibly choose a time that is perfect in all respects, we therefore should try to choose a time that would do more good than bad.

The five limbs and a brief description is as follows:

• Tithi (along with Paksha): A tithi means a lunar day. A lunar day is about 0.95 of a normal day. When the Moon moves towards the Sun, it is called Krishna Paksha, otherwise its Shukla Paksha. When the Sun and Moon are closer to each other, it is Amavasya and when they are 180 degrees apart, it becomes Poornima.

• Vaar (Day of the weeks): 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) and Saturday (Saturn).

• Nakshatra (Constellation): Apart from the 12 signs, there are 27 constellations that are like "mansions" or "houses". The planets visit these houses while on their journeys through the skies. Nakshatra is a generic term and all planets are in one Nakshatra or the other at any given time. However, when someone says Janma Nakshatra or daily Nakshatra, he/she specifically means Moon Nakshatra.

• Yoga: Yoga means combination. In this context of Panchanga, it means a particular combination of Moon and Sun. This combination is said to affect a person's health.

• Karana: Karana means half a lunar day. There are 11 Karanas.

1) Tithis:

One Tithis form 12 degrees distance of Moon from the Sun. 

There are total 30 Tithis divided into 15 each in 2 Fort-nights (Bright & Dark).

Starts with Padyami, Vidiya, Thadiya, Chavithi, Panchami, Shashti, Saptami, Ashtami, Navami, Dasami, Ekadasi, Dwadasi, Trayodasi, Chaturdasi, Pournami and Amavasya.

The Full Moon-Day is called as " Pournami " formed when the distance between the Sun & Moon is 180 degrees.

While the New Moon-Day is called " Amavasya " is formed when Sun & Moon are in Same degrees.

The entire process is done in 29 1/2 Days.

2) Week-Days :

As we know, there are 7 Week-days starting from Sunday, Monday Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday.

        Every Week - day starts with Hora (Hour) of that ruling planet which is lord of Week-Day run in sequence.

For E.g:- Sunday Sunrise starts with 

Sun - Venus - Mercury - Moon - Saturn - Jupiter - Mars Horas which continues every hour till end of day (24 Hrs).

3) Nakshatras :

We already discussed there are 27 Stars [Aswini to Revati] covers 360˚ . 

There is another star called " Abhijit Star " occurs in Capricorn between 270˚ 40' to 280˚ 54' between the last quarter of Uttarashada star and Shravana star.

Each Zodiac Sign is 30˚ consists of 3 stars of 9 Padas (every Star consists 4 Padas). Thus there are 27*9 = 108 Padas.

4) Yogas :

The Sidereal Graha Sphutas of the Sun and the Moon when added leads to a Yoga. These are in order:

1)Vishkambham	2) Preeti	3) Ayushman	4) Soubhagya	5) Sobhana
6) Atiganda	7) Sukarma	8) Dhruti	9) Soola	10) Ganda
11) Vruddhi	12) Dhruva	13) Vyaghata	14) Harshana	15) Vajra
16) Siddhi	17) Vyatipata	18) Variyaan	19) Parigha	20) Siva
21) Siddha	22) Sadhya	23) Subha	24) Sukla	25) Brahma
26) Indra	27) Vydhruthi

5) Karanas :

Karana is obtained when Tithi is made into 2 equal parts. There are 60 Karanas in a Month.

Each Karana is counted 4 times in Fort-night.

1) Bava, 2) Balava, 3) Kaulava, 4) Taitula, 5) Garaja, 6) Vanija, 7) Vishti [Bhadra].

  In addition, there are 4 more Karanas by name 8) Sakini, 9) Chatushpada, 10) Naga and 11) Kimstughna each coming only once in a Month.

  Kimstughna is first Karana of the first day of the Month followed by first 7 numbered Karanas in order each eight times and last 3 Karans occur once. 1+(7 * 8) + 3 = 60.