The Panchang is the traditional Hindu almanac used to work out the auspicious and inauspicious periods of each day. Deccan Bhoomi’s Panchang widget calculates these details for whichever city you choose, but the terms themselves can be confusing if you are new to them. Here is a plain-language guide.
The five elements of Panchang
“Panchang” literally means “five limbs,” referring to five elements calculated for each day: vaara (weekday), tithi (lunar day), nakshatra (the Moon’s position among 27 star groups), yoga and karana. Most people encounter tithi and nakshatra most often, since they decide festival dates and are widely quoted in daily horoscopes.
Tithi: the lunar day
A tithi is a division of the lunar month based on the angle between the Sun and Moon. There are 30 tithis in a lunar month, split into the waxing (Shukla Paksha) and waning (Krishna Paksha) fortnights. Because tithis are based on the Moon’s motion rather than the clock, one tithi does not always last exactly 24 hours — it can run a little longer or shorter, which is why our widget shows the exact time a tithi ends.
Nakshatra: the lunar mansion
The 27 nakshatras divide the sky into segments the Moon passes through over about 27 days. Each nakshatra is associated with particular qualities in traditional astrology and is used, along with tithi, to determine muhurats (auspicious timings) for weddings, housewarmings and other important events.
Rahu Kalam, Yamagandam and Gulika Kalam
These are periods considered inauspicious for starting new ventures, each lasting roughly one-eighth of the time between sunrise and sunset, and falling at a different time slot depending on the day of the week. Many people avoid starting journeys, signing contracts or beginning new work during these windows, while treating the Abhijit Muhurat — a short period around midday — as auspicious.
Why the timings change by city
Because Panchang timings are based on real sunrise and sunset, they shift depending on your location, which is why our widget asks which city you want it calculated for. For festival dates and muhurats that matter to you personally, it’s always worth confirming with your family’s priest or a local panchangam, since regional traditions can differ.
