Panchang is the Hindu calendar consisting of five limbs known as: Tithi, Vaar, Nakshatra, Yoga and Karana. It is used by the Indian astrologers to make calculations with a high degree of accuracy. Read this article to understand Panchang in detail.
Panchang is a Hindu calendar which is based on placement of planets in Nakshatra and zodiac. The word Panchang is taken from the Sanskrit language in which, Panch means 5 and Ang means- limbs. These five limbs are known as: Tithi, Vaar, Nakshatra, Yoga and Karana. A Panchang is also known as Panchangam, Panjika, Panjangam, Panchangamu, Jantri and many more.
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Tithi (Date): Tithi is the lunar day and there are 15 Tithis is each month. Each month is divided into two parts: bright fortnight (it ends on full Moon night) and dark fortnight (it ends on new Moon night). In each fortnight, there are 15 days. The names of the Tithis are: Pratipada, Dwitiya, Tritiya, Chaturthi, Panchami, Shasthi, Saptami, Ashtami, Navami, Dasami, Ekadasi, Dwadasi, Trayodasi, Chaturdasi, Purnima and Amavasya.
Vaar (Day): Varas are the seven days of the week: Sunday, Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday.
Nakshatra (Constellation): Nakshatra consists of 27 stars. They are: Ashwini, Bharani, Krittika, Rohini, Mrigasira, Aarudra, Punarvasu, Pushya, Aslesha, Magha, Purva Phalguni, Uttara Phalguni, Hasta, Chitra, Swati, Vishakha, Anuradha, Jyestha, Moola, Poorvashada, Uttarashada, Sravana, Dhanishta, Satabisha, Poorva Bhadrapada, Uttara Bhadrapada, Revati.
Yoga: There are 27 yogas which are taken into account for estimating the auspicious time for any activity. The yogas are: Vishkambha, Preeti, Ayushman, Saubhagya, Shobhana, Atiganda, Sukarma, Dhriti, Shoola, Ganda,Vriddhi, Dhruva, Vyaghata, Harshana, Vajra, Siddhi, Vyatipata, Variyana, Parigha, Shiva, Siddha, Sadhya, Shubha, Shukla, Brahma, Indra and Vaidhriti.
Out of these 27 Yogas, 9 are considered inauspicious: Vishkambha, Atiganda, Shoola (fork), Ganda, Vyaghata, Vajra, Vyatipata, Parigha and Vaidhriti.
Karan: Karan is the half of the Tithi. There are total of 11 Karans: Bava, Balava, Kaulava, Taitula, Garija, Vanija, Visti, Sakuna, Chatushpada, Naga and Kimstughna. Karans are of two types: Charan (movable) and Sthira (fixed). The first 7 are the movable and the last 4 are fixed.
In astrology, these five limbs or elements are important for calculating the right time of marriage, plantation, starting a business, joining a new job and many more. The Panchang may also include details about Varjyam (inauspicious time), Rahukalam, planetary transits, Durmuhurtham, Lagna Pravesh tables and other astrological information.
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