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Spiritual · Vedic Astrology

Daily Panchang - Is Today Auspicious?

Today's Vedic almanac at a glance: Tithi, Vara, Nakshatra, Yoga, Karana, sunrise, sunset, and Rahu Kalam. The decision tool below maps today's Panchang to common life choices and tells you whether today is favorable for what you have in mind.

Use your current location, not your birthplace. Sunrise, Rahu Kalam, and the karana of the moment all depend on where you are right now.

The 5 Elements of Panchang

Tithi

Lunar day

Vara

Weekday

Nakshatra

Moon's asterism

Yoga

Sun-moon combination

Karana

Half-day unit

Together these five limbs describe the celestial quality of any moment in time.

5 min read · Vedic Astrology

What is Panchang?

Panchang is the Vedic almanac. The word comes from Sanskrit pancha (five) and anga (limb), referring to five qualities that describe any moment in time: the lunar day (Tithi), the weekday (Vara), the moon's asterism (Nakshatra), the sun-moon angular combination (Yoga), and the half-day period (Karana). Hindu families have consulted Panchang for thousands of years to choose auspicious timing for weddings, business launches, travel, and religious ceremonies. A moment is considered highly auspicious when multiple elements align favorably, and this is the basis of Muhurta. Modern Panchang calculators make this ancient system accessible to diaspora communities worldwide who no longer have a family pandit to consult.

How Panchang is Calculated

Tithi = (Moon longitude minus Sun longitude) / 12 degrees. Each of the 30 Tithis spans 12 degrees of angular separation. Nakshatra = Moon's sidereal longitude / 13 degrees 20 minutes. The 360-degree zodiac is divided into 27 equal segments. Yoga = (Sun longitude + Moon longitude) / 13 degrees 20 minutes. All positions use Lahiri ayanamsa for sidereal conversion.

Worked example: If Moon is at 45 degrees sidereal and Sun is at 300 degrees sidereal, their difference is 105 degrees, giving Tithi 9 (Navami). Moon at 45 degrees falls in Nakshatra 4 (Rohini).

Frequently asked questions

What is an auspicious Tithi?

Tithis 2, 3, 5, 7, 10, 11, 13 are generally considered auspicious for new beginnings. Tithis 4, 8, 12, 14, and Amavasya (new moon) are traditionally avoided for important events.

What is the difference between Yoga and Nakshatra?

Nakshatra is the moon's position alone. Yoga is a combined measurement of both the sun and moon. There are 27 Nakshatras and 27 Yogas, but they measure different celestial relationships.

Is Panchang the same everywhere in the world?

The five elements are calculated from astronomical positions, which are universal. However, local sunrise time affects the Vara assignment. A day that begins at sunrise in India may technically be a different Vara in California. This calculator uses your local date.

What is Abhijit Muhurta?

Abhijit is the 28th Nakshatra, assigned to the midpoint of the day (roughly 11:48 AM to 12:36 PM local solar time). It is considered universally auspicious regardless of other Panchang elements.

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The Panchang as a planning instrument

Across India, traditional life decisions have been timed against the Panchang for centuries. The five limbs together describe the celestial weather of the day, and Jyotish has built up a vocabulary of which weather patterns favor which kinds of action. The decision tool here applies that vocabulary directly: it reads today's Tithi, Nakshatra, Vara, and Rahu Kalam window, and tells you whether the day's factors align with what you are considering.

Use the tool the way a careful traditionalist would: as one input among several, not as the final word. An AVOID verdict for a new business launch is information about timing risk, not a moral judgment about the venture. If today is unfavorable but the calendar requires it, do the action with care - observe Abhijit Muhurta, avoid the Rahu Kalam window, and choose the cleanest hour you can within the day.