What is Panchang?

Panchang is a Hindu calendar that provides important astrological details used for religious, cultural, and daily life activities. The word "Panchang" comes from Sanskrit:

• Pancha (पञ्च) – Five

• Ang (अंग) – Parts

Thus, Panchang consists of five key elements: Tithi (Lunar Day), Vara (Weekday), Nakshatra (Star Constellation), Yoga, and Karana.

The Five Components of Panchang

1. Tithi (Lunar Day)

• The time taken by the Moon to move 12° ahead of the Sun is called a Tithi.

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

• Shukla Paksha (Waxing Moon) – from Amavasya (New Moon) to Purnima (Full Moon)

• Krishna Paksha (Waning Moon) – from Purnima to Amavasya

Each Paksha has 15 Tithis:

1. Pratipada (1st)

2. Dwitiya (2nd)

3. Tritiya (3rd)

4. Chaturthi (4th)

5. Panchami (5th)

6. Shashthi (6th)

7. Saptami (7th)

8. Ashtami (8th)

9. Navami (9th)

10. Dashami (10th)

11. Ekadashi (11th)

12. Dwadashi (12th)

13. Trayodashi (13th)

14. Chaturdashi (14th)

15. Purnima (Full Moon) / Amavasya (New Moon)

Importance:

• Determines festival dates, fasting (vrat), and auspicious events.

• Ekadashi is significant for fasting.

• Amavasya and Purnima are important for rituals.

2. Vara (Weekday)

Hindu days start from sunrise to the next sunrise. The seven days of the week are:

1. Ravivara (Sunday) – Sun (Surya)

2. Somavara (Monday) – Moon (Chandra)

3. Mangalavara (Tuesday) – Mars (Mangal)

4. Budhavara (Wednesday) – Mercury (Budh)

5. Guruvara (Thursday) – Jupiter (Guru)

6. Shukravara (Friday) – Venus (Shukra)

7. Shanivara (Saturday) – Saturn (Shani)

Importance:

• Determines which planets influence the day.

• Used for selecting auspicious events like marriages and new ventures.
  
  

3. Nakshatra (Lunar Constellation)

The Moon moves through 27 Nakshatras (star constellations) every month. List of Nakshatras:

1. Ashwini

2. Bharani

3. Krittika

4. Rohini

5. Mrigashira

6. Ardra

7. Punarvasu

8. Pushya

9. Ashlesha

10. Magha

11. Purva Phalguni

12. Uttara Phalguni

13. Hasta

14. Chitra

15. Swati

16. Vishakha

17. Anuradha

18. Jyeshtha

19. Moola

20. Purvashada

21. Uttarashada

22. Shravana

23. Dhanishta

24. Shatabhisha

25. Purva Bhadrapada

26. Uttara Bhadrapada

27. Revati

Importance:

• Each Nakshatra has different energies and influences different activities.

• Used in birth charts (Kundali) and matchmaking.

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4. Yoga (Union of Sun and Moon)

Yoga is the angle between the Sun and the Moon. There are 27 Yogas, and each affects a person’s life and events.

1. Vishkambha

2. Priti

3. Ayushman

4. Saubhagya

5. Shobhana

6. Atiganda

7. Sukarma

8. Dhriti

9. Shoola

10. Ganda

11. Vriddhi

12. Dhruva

13. Vyaghata

14. Harshana

15. Vajra

16. Siddhi

17. Vyatipata

18. Variyan

19. Parigha

20. Shiva

21. Siddha

22. Sadhya

23. Shubha

24. Shukla

25. Brahma

26. Aindra

27. Vaidhriti

Importance:

• Determines auspicious and inauspicious times for events.

5. Karana (Half of a Tithi)

A Karana is half of a Tithi. There are 11 Karanas, divided into two types:

• Fixed Karanas (occur once per lunar month):
  
  

1. Kinstughna

2. Bava

3. Balava

4. Kaulava

5. Taitila

6. Garaja

7. Vanija

8. Vishti (Bhadra) – Inauspicious
   
   

• Movable Karanas (repeat eight times in a lunar month):
  9. Shakuni
  10. Chatushpada
  11. Nagava

Importance:

• Determines the suitability of actions, such as travel, business, or ceremonies.

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On Friday, April 4, 2025, the Panchang is as follows:​

Sunrise and Sunset:

• Sunrise: 6:08 AM​

• Sunset: 6:41 PM​

Moonrise and Moonset:

• Moonrise: 10:37 AM​

• Moonset: 1:29 AM on April 5​

Tithi:

• Saptami (Shukla Paksha) until 8:12 PM​

• Ashtami starts after 8:12 PM​

Nakshatra:

• Ardra until 5:20 AM on April 5​

• Punarvasu starts after 5:20 AM on April 5​

Yoga:

• Shobhana until 9:45 PM​

• Atiganda starts after 9:45 PM​

Karana:

• Garaja until 8:51 AM​

• Vanija until 8:12 PM​

• Vishti starts after 8:12 PM​

Auspicious Timings:

• Abhijit Muhurat: 11:59 AM to 12:49 PM​

• Vijaya Muhurat: 2:30 PM to 3:20 PM​

• Godhuli Muhurat: 6:39 PM to 7:02 PM​

• Amrit Kalam: 7:33 PM to 9:07 PM​

Inauspicious Timings:

• Rahu Kalam: 10:57 AM to 12:29 PM​

• Yamaganda: 3:34 PM to 5:07 PM​

• Gulika Kalam: 7:52 AM to 9:24 AM​

• Dur Muhurat: 8:47 AM to 9:37 AM and 12:54 PM to 1:43 PM​

• Varjyam: 2:04 PM to 3:38 PM​

Conclusion: 

Panchang is an essential part of Hindu culture, serving as a guide for religious, spiritual, and everyday activities. It is based on five key elements—Tithi, Vara, Nakshatra, Yoga, and Karana—which determine auspicious and inauspicious timings.

By following Today’s Panchang, individuals can select the best moments for important events like festivals, weddings, business ventures, and religious ceremonies, while avoiding inauspicious periods such as Rahu Kalam and Yamaganda.