How to Read Your Daily Panchang
The Panchang has five core limbs — tithi, nakshatra, yoga, karana and vara. Learn what each means and how to use the day at a glance.
Panchang means "five limbs" (pancha + anga) — the five elements that define a Hindu calendar day. Together they tell you the quality of the day and the best times to act. Because they depend on the Sun and Moon at your location, a Panchang is always computed for a specific place and date.
The five limbs
- •Tithi — the lunar day, based on the angle between the Moon and Sun. There are 30 tithis in a lunar month, split into Shukla (waxing) and Krishna (waning) paksha.
- •Nakshatra — the lunar mansion the Moon occupies (one of 27), each with its own nature and ruling deity.
- •Yoga — a combination of the Sun and Moon's positions (27 yogas); some are auspicious, a few are avoided.
- •Karana — half of a tithi (11 karanas cycle through the month); Vishti (Bhadra) is the one to avoid.
- •Vara — the weekday and its planetary ruler.
Beyond the five limbs
A full Panchang also shows the paksha, the lunar month (maas), the samvat (Vikram/Shaka year), the Moon and Sun rashi, and sunrise/sunset/moon timings.
The auspicious and inauspicious windows
Most people read the Panchang to find good and bad times: the Choghadiya and Abhijit Muhurat for favourable windows, and Rahu Kaal, Yamaganda, Gulika, Varjyam and Dur Muhurtam to avoid.
Using it day to day
Glance at the tithi and nakshatra for the day's character, check Rahu Kaal to avoid, and pick a Choghadiya or Abhijit window for anything important. View today's full Panchang for your city on the Panchang tool.