The word Panchang comes from Sanskrit: Pancha (पञ्च) meaning "five" and Anga (अंग) meaning "limb". A Panchang is therefore the five-limbed Hindu almanac — a daily reference that encodes the positions of the Sun and Moon into five observable elements.

Unlike the Gregorian calendar which tracks only the solar year, the Panchang is a lunisolar system. It accounts for both the Sun's apparent motion through the zodiac and the Moon's orbit around the Earth. This makes it uniquely suited for determining auspicious timings (Muhurat), festival dates, Vrat (fasting) observances, and the daily rhythm of Vedic life.

The five elements of Panchang are: Tithi (lunar day), Nakshatra (lunar mansion), Yoga (luni-solar combination), Karana (half-tithi), and Vaar (weekday). Each is computed from real astronomical positions — not arbitrary conventions.

1. Tithi - The Lunar Day

Tithi is the most fundamental unit of the Hindu calendar. It measures the angular distance between the Sun and the Moon. Every time the Moon moves 12 degrees ahead of the Sun (in ecliptic longitude), one Tithi is completed.

There are 30 Tithis in a lunar month, divided into two fortnights (Pakshas):

• Shukla Paksha (waxing moon): 15 Tithis from Pratipada to Purnima
• Krishna Paksha (waning moon): 15 Tithis from Pratipada to Amavasya

Because the Moon's speed varies (it moves faster when closer to Earth), a Tithi can last anywhere from 19 to 26 hours. This is why you sometimes see two Tithis listed for a single calendar date — the first Tithi ends and the second begins partway through the day.

Key Tithis:

• Amavasya (New Moon): Associated with pitru karma (ancestral rites)
• Purnima (Full Moon): Auspicious for charity, meditation, and festivals like Holi and Sharad Purnima
• Ekadashi (11th Tithi): Sacred fasting day in both Pakshas, observed by Vaishnavas and many Hindu traditions
• Chaturthi (4th Tithi): Dedicated to Lord Ganesha; Sankashti Chaturthi falls on Krishna Chaturthi

A note on Hindu month names: India follows two systems for naming lunar months — Amanta (month ends on Amavasya, followed in South & West India) and Purnimanta (month ends on Purnima, followed in North India). The same festival falls on the same Tithi in both systems, but the month name may differ during Krishna Paksha. Read our detailed guide: Amanta vs Purnimanta: Hindu Month Systems Explained.

2. Nakshatra - The Lunar Mansion

The Nakshatra system divides the ecliptic (the path of the Moon) into 27 equal segments of 13°20' each. The Nakshatra at any given moment is determined by which segment the Moon currently occupies.

The 27 Nakshatras are: Ashwini, Bharani, Krittika, Rohini, Mrigashira, Ardra, Punarvasu, Pushya, Ashlesha, Magha, Purva Phalguni, Uttara Phalguni, Hasta, Chitra, Swati, Vishakha, Anuradha, Jyeshtha, Mula, Purva Ashadha, Uttara Ashadha, Shravana, Dhanishta, Shatabhisha, Purva Bhadrapada, Uttara Bhadrapada, and Revati.

Why Nakshatras matter:

• Janma Nakshatra: Your birth star (the Nakshatra of the Moon at your birth time) shapes your Vedic horoscope and is used in name selection, marriage compatibility (Guna Milan), and muhurat planning.
• Muhurat selection: Certain Nakshatras are considered auspicious for specific activities. For example, Rohini, Uttara Phalguni, and Uttara Ashadha are among the best for marriage ceremonies.
• Festival determination: Many festivals are tied to specific Nakshatras — for instance, Krishna Janmashtami falls when the Moon is in Rohini Nakshatra.

Nakshatras provide finer granularity than Tithis. While a Tithi tells you the phase of the Moon relative to the Sun, the Nakshatra tells you the Moon's absolute position in the sky.

3. Yoga - The Luni-Solar Combination

Yoga in the Panchang is an astronomical measure (not to be confused with the physical practice of Yoga). It is calculated by adding the longitudes of the Sun and the Moon, then dividing by 13°20'.

There are 27 Yogas, each spanning 13°20' of the combined Sun-Moon arc. They range from Vishkambha to Vaidhriti.

Auspicious Yogas include:

• Siddhi: Favorable for accomplishments
• Amrita: Considered the most auspicious — literally "nectar"
• Shubha: Generally good for all activities

Inauspicious Yogas include:

• Vyatipata: Considered one of the most inauspicious; avoided for important beginnings
• Vaidhriti: Similar to Vyatipata; rituals and new ventures are avoided

Yoga is particularly important in Muhurat (auspicious timing) calculations. A Muhurat that falls during a favorable Yoga is considered stronger, while an inauspicious Yoga can weaken an otherwise good Muhurat.

4. Karana - The Half-Tithi

A Karana is half of a Tithi. Since each Tithi spans 12° of the Sun-Moon angle, a Karana spans 6 degrees. Every Tithi therefore contains exactly two Karanas.

There are 11 Karanas in total:

• 7 Movable (Chara) Karanas: Bava, Balava, Kaulava, Taitila, Garaja, Vanija, and Vishti (Bhadra). These seven repeat in a cycle throughout the month.
• 4 Fixed (Sthira) Karanas: Shakuni, Chatushpada, Naga, and Kimstughna. These appear only once per lunar month, at the end of Krishna Paksha and the beginning of Shukla Paksha.

Practical significance:

• Vishti (Bhadra) Karana is considered inauspicious and is specifically avoided for starting new work, travel, and ceremonies. Many traditional Panchang readers check for Bhadra before fixing a Muhurat.
• Bava and Balava are among the most auspicious Karanas.

5. Vaar - The Weekday

Vaar is the simplest of the five elements — it is the weekday. The seven Vaars correspond to the seven classical planets (Grahas):

• Ravivaar (Sunday): Sun (Surya)
• Somvaar (Monday): Moon (Chandra)
• Mangalvaar (Tuesday): Mars (Mangal)
• Budhvaar (Wednesday): Mercury (Budh)
• Guruvaar (Thursday): Jupiter (Guru/Brihaspati)
• Shukravaar (Friday): Venus (Shukra)
• Shanivaar (Saturday): Saturn (Shani)

Why Vaar matters in Panchang:

• Rahu Kaal timing varies by Vaar — each day has a different inauspicious Rahu Kaal window.
• Choghadiya sequence is determined by the day's ruling planet.
• Certain activities are traditionally favored on specific days — for example, Saturdays are considered good for Shani puja, and Tuesdays for Hanuman worship.

How to Read a Panchang - Step by Step

Reading a Panchang may seem complex at first, but it follows a logical sequence. Here is a practical approach:

Step 1: Check the Date and Vaar

Start with the calendar date and the Vaar (weekday). The Vaar determines the Choghadiya sequence and Rahu Kaal timing for that day.

Step 2: Note the Tithi and Paksha

Check which Tithi is active and whether it falls in Shukla Paksha (waxing) or Krishna Paksha (waning). If two Tithis are listed, note the transition time — the Tithi at the time of your planned activity is what matters.

Step 3: Check the Nakshatra for Muhurat

For important events (marriage, griha pravesh, travel), the Nakshatra determines auspiciousness. Match the Nakshatra with standard Muhurat tables for your specific activity.

Step 4: Verify Yoga and Karana

An inauspicious Yoga (like Vyatipata) or an unfavorable Karana (like Vishti/Bhadra) can diminish an otherwise good Muhurat. Check these to confirm your timing.

Step 5: Check Inauspicious Periods

Avoid starting important activities during Rahu Kaal, Yamaganda, or Gulika Kaal. These veto periods change daily based on the Vaar.

Check the Panchang for your city's complete daily Panchang, or use the Choghadiya to see all auspicious and inauspicious time periods for today.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: What is the difference between Tithi and date?

A: A date is a fixed 24-hour solar day. A Tithi is a lunar day based on the Sun-Moon angle; it can be shorter or longer than 24 hours. This is why a single calendar date may have two Tithis, or one Tithi may span two dates.

Q: Why does Panchang vary by city?

A: Sunrise and sunset times differ based on geographical location. Since Panchang elements like the active Tithi at sunrise depend on local time, the Panchang values can differ between cities even on the same date.

Q: How is Panchang different from the Gregorian calendar?

A: The Gregorian calendar is purely solar — it tracks Earth's orbit around the Sun. The Panchang is lunisolar, it tracks both the Moon's orbit (Tithi, Nakshatra) and the Sun's position (Yoga, months). The Panchang also encodes astrological information (Karana, Yoga) that the Gregorian calendar does not.

Q: What is the best Tithi for starting new work?

A: Shukla Pratipada (1st), Dwitiya (2nd), Tritiya (3rd), Panchami (5th), Saptami (7th), Dashami (10th), Ekadashi (11th), Dwadashi (12th), and Trayodashi (13th) are generally considered auspicious for new beginnings. However, the Nakshatra and Yoga must also be favorable for a complete Muhurat.

Q: How are festivals determined from Panchang?

A: Most Hindu festivals are fixed by Tithi and sometimes Nakshatra. For example, Diwali is on Kartik Amavasya, Holi is on Phalguna Purnima, and Janmashtami is on Bhadrapada Krishna Ashtami when the Moon is in Rohini Nakshatra. The Panchang locates these combinations for each year.

Q: What is Adhik Maas (leap month)?

A: The lunar year (~354 days) is about 11 days shorter than the solar year (~365 days). To keep the lunar and solar calendars in sync, an extra month called Adhik Maas (also called Purushottam Maas) is inserted every 32–33 months. Festivals are not celebrated during Adhik Maas.

Q: Is Panchang the same as Panchangam?

A: Yes. Panchangam (पञ्चाङ्गम्) is the Sanskrit grammatical form of Panchang (पंचांग). Both refer to the same five-element Hindu almanac. "Panchang" is the Hindi/North Indian form while "Panchangam" is used more in South India.

Explore your city's complete Panchang:

Check the Panchang to see today's Tithi, Nakshatra, Yoga, Karana, and more — calculated accurately for your location.