Panchang Glossary
Short, plain-English explanations for every Sanskrit term used across our daily panchang pages.
The five core elements
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Tithi #
The Hindu calendar's lunar day — measured by how far the moon has moved from the sun. Festivals are anchored to specific tithis (Ekadashi, Purnima…) rather than fixed Gregorian dates.
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Nakshatra #
The constellation the moon is currently sitting in. The sky is divided into 27 of these; each carries its own qualities used to read birth charts and pick auspicious windows.
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Yoga #
A sun-moon combination that colours the day's overall character. About half the 27 yogas are considered auspicious for new starts; the rest call for restraint.
27 sun-moon combinations Used in: Day character · Auspicious windows -
Karana #
Half a tithi — every lunar day has two karanas in sequence. Useful when you need finer timing than a full tithi offers.
11 types · 2 per tithi Used in: Fine-grained muhurta -
Weekday #
The weekday, each governed by one of seven classical planets — Sunday/Sun, Monday/Moon, and so on. Each day inherits the temperament of its ruling planet.
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Moon sign #
The sidereal zodiac sign the Moon occupies at sunrise — shifts roughly every two and a quarter days.
12 signs · ~2.25 days each Used in: Mantra · Naming · Daily mood -
Sun sign #
The sidereal zodiac sign the Sun occupies at sunrise — changes once a month at sankranti.
12 signs · ~30 days each Used in: Sankranti · Solar calendar
Auspicious time windows
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Brahma Muhurta #
The most auspicious ~48 minutes of pre-dawn, ideal for meditation, study, and spiritual practice.
~48 min · pre-dawn Used in: Meditation · Study · Sadhana -
Abhijit Muhurta #
A short auspicious window near solar noon, considered favourable for starting any important task.
~24 min · around solar noon Used in: Important new starts -
Amrit Kalam #
An especially auspicious window tied to the day's nakshatra. Excellent for new beginnings.
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Auspicious combinations today #
Auspicious combinations of weekday and nakshatra. When present, they're considered supportive for most work.
Weekday + nakshatra combos Used in: Important new starts
Inauspicious time windows
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Rahu Kalam #
An inauspicious daily window of about 90 minutes, traditionally avoided for starting important new work or travel.
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Yamaganda Kalam #
A second inauspicious daily window, similar to Rahu Kalam. Routine work is fine; major beginnings are avoided.
~90 min · once daily Used in: Avoid: major decisions -
Gulika Kalam #
A third inauspicious daily window, traditionally avoided for important decisions or new ventures.
~90 min · once daily Used in: Avoid: new ventures · commitments -
Varjyam #
A short window each day that is traditionally avoided for starting important work — derived from the nakshatra.
~96 min · tied to nakshatra Used in: Avoid: starting important work
Choghadiya windows
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Choghadiya #
A North Indian timing system: eight day windows and eight night windows, each rated good, neutral, or bad. A quick way to pick (or avoid) a slot for an everyday task.
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Amrit #
Nectar — the best Choghadiya. Excellent for any important task.
Related: Amrit Kalam Amrita -
Shubh #
Auspicious — favourable for new starts, ceremonies, and study.
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Labh #
Gain — favourable for business, trade, and financial work.
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Chal #
Movable — neutral; suited for travel and routine activity.
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Udveg #
Restlessness — a tense window. Avoid important work.
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Kaal #
Destructive — the most inauspicious window. Avoid all important work.
Related: Kaal -
Rog #
Sickness — avoid important work, especially health-related matters.
Gowri Panchangam windows
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Gowri Panchangam #
A South Indian tradition that splits the day and night into eight Gowri windows each — used for picking auspicious slots for everyday work.
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Shubha #
Auspicious — favourable for new starts, ceremonies, and worship.
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Roga #
Sickness — avoid health-related work, treatments, and new ventures.
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Udyoga #
Endeavour — excellent for work, effort, and professional starts.
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Chal #
Movable — neutral; suited for travel and routine activity.
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Labha #
Gain — favourable for trade, finance, and material pursuits.
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Amrita #
Nectar — the best Gowri window. Excellent for any important task.
Related: Amrit Kalam Amrit -
Kaal #
Destructive — an inauspicious window. Avoid important work.
Related: Kaal -
Shunya #
Void — efforts yield little result. Avoid major commitments.
Calendar terms
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Paksha #
A lunar fortnight. Shukla Paksha brightens from new moon to full moon; Krishna Paksha dims from full moon to new moon. Tithis 1–15 repeat in each.
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Lunar month #
A month in the Hindu lunar calendar. Two start conventions co-exist — Amanta begins at new moon, Purnimanta at full moon — so the same month carries two names depending on the region.
~29.5 days · 12 per year Used in: Festival dating · Year structure -
Samvat #
The Hindu calendar year — most commonly Vikram Samvat, which runs roughly 57 years ahead of the Gregorian year (CE 2024 ≈ VS 2081).
Vikram era · ~57 years ahead of CE Used in: Year reference -
Ritu (season) #
A traditional Hindu season. Six in total — Vasant, Grishma, Varsha, Sharad, Hemant, Shishir — each spanning two lunar months. Finer than the Western four-season scheme.
6 seasons · 2 months each Used in: Seasonal practices · Diet -
Ayana #
The sun's half-year direction. Uttarayana runs north-bound (roughly January to July) and is considered auspicious; Dakshinayana runs south-bound (July to January).
6 months each · Uttarayana / Dakshinayana Used in: Solar half-year reference -
Disha Shool #
The direction traditionally avoided for the day's first journey. Set by the weekday.
1 direction per weekday Used in: First-journey direction · Travel