How to read panchangam

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• The First two line indicate chaandramana month name and paksha -- krishna paksha (wanning moon, leading to new moon) or shukla paksha (waxing moon, leading to full moon) (Pausha Shukla Paksha). There are two paksha in indian month. Krishna paksha and Shukla Paksha. Certain parts of India uses poornimant months -- Month ending with purnima or full moon. Their month will start with krishna paksha and ends with shukla paksha. Gujarat, Maharastra, Karnataka, Andrapradesh and other states uses Amavasyant months -- Their months ends with amavasya or new moon. Their months will start from shukla paksha and ends with krishna paksha having poornima in middle. There are twelve lunar months in a year. Sometimes when within a given month sun's sign doesn't change it becomes adhika masa giving us 13 months in a year. The Hindu calendar is based on the cycles of the Moon and the months are based on lunar months which vary from 27 to 29 solar days. The lunar year of twelve months consists of 354 solar days. However a solar year consists of 365 days which is the basis of civil calendars. There is a difference of 11 days between the lunar year and the solar year. Due to this difference the two calendars move out of synchronization and we notice that Holi is celebrated earlier and earlier in Spring every year as well as Diwali in the Fall. However in about two and a half years a difference of 29 days accumulates between the two calendars. Hence every two and half years an additional month or adhika masa (thirteenth month) is added to the Hindu calendar to bring it back in synchronization with the solar calendar. Names of lunar months are: Chaitra, Vaishakha, Jyestha, Ashadha, Shravana, Bhadrapada, Ashwayuja (Ashwin), Kartik, Margashirsha, Pausha, Maha, Phalguna.
  


• Next line indicate Name of shaka year -- Shalivahana Era. It started from the 78 AD. There are other years too like Vikrami year, etc...


• Next line indicates the current samvatsara in the saka era. There are 60 such samvatsara. It means one year. Each year has a name. The cycle repeats after 60 samvatsara. The first one is Prabhava the last one is kshaya.


• Next two lines indicate Names of Saurmasa and Tamil Months. These are solar months.


• The first two lines are sunrise and sunset times. The sunrise time indicates rising of middle of solar disk which is used in most astrological and muhurtham calculation. Most newspapers give sunrise time which is rise of sun's upper limb which is not used in astrological purpose. (Sunrise:08:01 Sunset:16:23). Unlike other online panchangam, all times presented in our panchangam have been adjusted for daylight saving time for North American/Candaian Panchangam. Please manually adjust for other places in the world where daylight saving time applies.


• The next line indicates Moonrise times.


• The next line if sun changes the sign or rasi that day it will have a line Sun: which means sun and the rasi after that is the rasi sun is changing to the time is the time when sun will enter that rasi or sign on that day. (Sun in Makara 4:36). This is also known as samkranti. For example: Makara samkaranti is when sun enters makara rashi (This also becomes Thai(Makara mase) month for tamil calendar). Likewise the same rule applies to the other samkrantis. Sun's rasi names can be also names for hindu solar month names. For example: Tamil calendar uses sun's rasi names as their solar months. The Tamil calendar is a derivative of the old Hindu solar calendar and is based on the sidereal year. Tamil solar month names are Chiththirai (Mesha), Vaikasi (Vrishabha), Aani (Mithuna), Aadi (Karka), Aavani (Simha), Purattasi (Kanya), Aippasi (Tula), Karthikai (Vrishika), Markazhi (Dhanu), Thai (Makara), Maasi (Kumbha), Panguni (Mina).
  Note for Muhurtha:  Please avoid day of eclipse and the six hours before and after from the time of samkranti for any good work / muhurtha. However this samkranti time is good for donation, satyanaraya puja but not good for Weddings, Graha Pravesha etc.


• The next line is Moon: which means moon sign changes, which means moon and the rasi after that is the rasi moon is changing to the time is the time when moon will enter that rasi or sign on that day. if moon occupies that rasi for whole day you'll observe (full) right after the rasi name. (Moon: Mithuna 20:38)
  A Note on chandra bala in muhurtha:  Chandra Balam is important in weddings, and other rituals. Tarabalam is more subtle. Counting from your moon rashi (Hindu rashi) to the day's chandra rashi if the count is 1,3,6,7,10,11 then that day will be good for you.


• The next line indicates tithi (Indian Day). The tithi name is right after Tithi: The time next to the tithi is the time when it is going to end. If the tithi ends after midnight but before next sunrise the endtime will have a value greater than 24 hours. To get actual time please subtract 24 from the time. Please remember that Indian date does not change at midnight 0:00 hours. the day is from one sunrise to another sunrise. (Tithi:Trayodashii 08:18:20). So if thithi ending time says for October 23rd is Tithi:Dwadashi 27:10:11. It means it ends after midnight of that day. So it means dwadashi will end at 3:10:11 AM of the next day (October 24th). Unlike other online panchangam, all times presented in our panchangam have been adjusted for daylight saving time for North American/Candaian Panchangam. Please manually adjust for other places in the world where daylight saving time applies. In vedic timekeeping, a tithi (also spelled thithi) is a lunar day, or the time it takes for the longitudinal angle between the moon and the sun to increase by 12°. Tithis begin at varying times of day and vary in duration from approximately 19 to approximate 26 hours. Unlike english dates the duration varies. The english date starts at midnight to another midnight. There are 30 days in one lunar months. Each day is tithi.
  Telugu Tithis and Sanskrit names: Padyami / Prathama, Vidiya / Dvitiya, Tadiya / Tritiya, Chavathi / Chaturthi. Rest of tithis maps exactly to samskritam names.
  General purpose good Day (Vaar):  Monday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday.
  General purpose good Tithi:  2 (Dwitiya), 3 (Tritiya), 5 (Panchami), 7 (Saptami), 10 (Dashami), 11 (Ekadashi), 13 (Trayodashi -- shukla paksha only). 1 (Prathama - Krishna Paksha Only). Please avoid Krishna Paksha 13 (Trayodashi), 14 (Chaturdashi), and Amavasya in all good work. Please also avoid Shukla paksha's 1 (Prathama) in all goog work. Please avoid rikta tithis 4-9-14 (From both paksha) in all good work.
  Good Tithi for Wedding:  All days (Vaara) are good for wedding. Please avoid Rikta 4-9-14, Krishna Trayodashi, Amavasya, Shukla Paksha prathama 1 tithi. Rest of tithis are good for weddings. According to some Rikta tithi 4-9-14 can be taken, but avoid 14 in krishna paksha.
  Good Tithi for Grahapravesha:  Avoid Sunday, and Tuesday. Avoid Shukla paksha's 1-4-9-14, and Krishna Paksha's 4-9-13-14-Amavasya. Rest tithis are good for Grahapravesha.
  Good Tithi for Buying a New Vehicle:  7-11-15. Avoid Amavasya. To learn more about tithis please follow link here.


• The next line is nakshatra. The Nakshatra name is followed by Nakshatra: The time next to the nakshtra indicates when it is going to end. The same rules for tithi timings applies to nakshatras as well. (Rohinii 09:02:42). Nakshatra is also known as star. so if you are looking for today's star use this one. Please avoid Aswini nakshatra on Tuesday, Rohini nakshatra on Saturday, and Pushyami nakshatra on Thrusday for all graha pravesha, marraige, and travel muhurthas. Although these combination causes Amrit Siddhi yoga but, the same combination is not good for above said purposes.Unlike other online panchangam, all times presented in our panchangam have been adjusted for daylight saving time for North American/Candaian Panchangam. Please manually adjust for other places in the world where daylight saving time applies.A nakshatra is one of the 27 or 28 divisions of the sky, identified by the prominent star(s) in them, that the Moon passes through during its monthly cycle, as used in Hindu astronomy and astrology. Therefore, each represents a division of the ecliptic similar to the zodiac (13°20’ each instead of the 30° for each zodiac sign). The orbit of the moon is 27.3 days, so the Moon takes approximately one day to pass through each nakshatra.
  General purpose good Nakshatras:  Ashwini, Rohini, Mrigashirsha, Punarvasu, Pushya, U.Phalguni, Hasta, Chitra, Swati, Anuradha, U.Shadha, Shravan, Dhanishtha, Shatabhisha, U.Bhadrapada, Revati. Please avoid your janma-nakshatra for all good works.
  Good Nakshatras for Wedding:  Rohini, Mrigashirsha, Magha (Avoid 1st quarter), U.Phalguni, Hasta, Swati, Anuradha, Mula, U.Shadha, U.Bhadrapada, Revati (Avoid last quarter).
  Good Nakshatras for Grahapravesha:  Rohini, Mrigashirsha, Pushya, U.Phalguni, Hasta, Chitra, Swati, Anuradha, U.Shadha, Shravana, Dhanishta, Shatabhisha, U.Bhadrapada, Revati.
  Good Nakshatras for Buying a New Vehicle:  Ashwini, Rohini, Punarvasu, Magha, U.Phalguni, Hasta, Chitra, Swati, Anuradha, U.Shadha, Shravana, U.Bhadra, Revati in the Shubha lagna (Ascendant) of Mithuna, Karka, Simha, Kanya, Vrischika, Dhanu, and Mina lagnam (Please refer to our lagna table to find these lagna, and panchanga to find nakshatra timings).
  Good Nakshatras for Starting a New Job:  Vaar: Sunday, Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday. Nakshatra: Rohini, U.Phalguni, U.Shadha, Dhanistha, Shatabhisha, U.Bhadrapada, Revati. In the muhurtha chart in the 1st, 10th or 11th house Sun and Mars. (Please refer to our lagna table to find these lagna, and panchanga to find nakshatra timings).
  Tara bala:  To find a day is suitable for your muhurtha tarabalam is required. Count from your birth nakshatra to nakshatra of the muhurtha day you are seeking. Please avoid 1-3-5-7-10-12-14-16-19-21-23-25 nakshatra counting from your birth nakshatra. For example: If your birth nakshatra is swati, and today's nakshatra is aswhini, now counting from swati to ashwini it gives us the count of 14th Which is not a good tarabalam. Hence till ashwini nakshatra prevails that time is bad.


• The next line is Yoga. The Yoga name is followed by Yoga: The time next to the Yoga indicates when it is going to end. The same rules for tithi timings applies to Yoga as well. (Yoga:Ganda 08:31:32). Unlike other online panchangam, all times presented in our panchangam have been adjusted for daylight saving time for North American/Candaian Panchangam. Please manually adjust for other places in the world where daylight saving time applies.
  Good Yoga:  Please avoid Vyatipata, Vaidriti, Parigha, Vishkumbha, Vajra, Shoola, Atiganda, Vyagata.


• The next two lines are Karana. Karana name is indicated by Karana: There are two karanas per thithi hence there are two lines for karana, where the time next to the karana indicates when it is going to end. The same rules for tithi timings applies to karana as well. (Karana: Balav 08:32:33). Please try to avoid vishti (Bhadra) karana in all auspicious ceremonies. Unlike other online panchangam, all times presented in our panchangam have been adjusted for daylight saving time for North American/Candaian Panchangam. Please manually adjust for other places in the world where daylight saving time applies.
  Good Karana:  Please avoid Vishti (Bhadra) Karana.


• The Rahukalam: means the Rahu kalam (Tamizh: Raghu kalam). The rising period of Rahu is considered inauspicious in the South as he is considered a malefic for auspicious functions. The time frame indicates rahu kalam duration. (Rahukalam:09:03-10:06). Please avoid this time for your muhurtha.


• The Yamagandam: Yamaganda is considered inauspicious. The time frame indicates yama kalam duration. (Yamagandam:11:09-12:12). Please avoid this time for your muhurtha.


• The Gulikai: means the Gulika kalam (Gulikai). Gulika is the son of Manda alias Shani. His rising period is also not auspicious. The time frame indicates Gulika kalam duration. (Gulikai:09:03-10:06). Please avoid this time for your muhurtha. Rahu kalam, Yama kalam, Gulika (Kulika) needs to be avoided as they are inauspicious times.


• The Abhijit Muhurtha: (Abhijit Muhurtha: 12:30- 13:18). It is Sri Hari Vishnu's time. When you don't have any muhurtham you can use this time if its not overlapped by rahu kalam or durmuhurtham, or varjyam. On Wednesday abhijit muhurtham is bad as its the same time as durmuhurtham, hence we gave only durmuhurtham time on wednesday not the abhijit muhurtha time. For other days please check rahu kalam as well.


• The Durmuhurtham: means Durmuhurtha (Durmuhurtha:: 10:34- 11:22, 15:22- 16:10) means first Durmuhurtham starts at 10:34 AM till 11:22 AM and the next one starts at 15:22 PM to 16:10 PM. These times should be avoided for any good ceremonies.


• The Varjyam:: means Varjyam or Vishagatika (Varjyam:30:00-31:37) means varjyam starts at 6:00 AM of following day and lasts till 7:37 AM of following day. There could be more than one varjyam line. This time is not a good time. Please avoid in all muhurthams. Please donot perform annaprasana samskara in this time as this this visha-gatika time.


• The Amritkalam:: means Amritkala (Amritkalam: 15:13- 16:53) means Amrita kala starts at 3:13 PM till 16:53 period. This is a good time. There could be more than one Amrit kala line. This time is good for annaprasanam samskara as well as other rituals.


• About Rahu Kalam, Yamagandam and Gulika Kalam: What most online panchangam, and other panchangam give rahukalam which is fixed for every day of the week, for example Sunday 4.30 - 6.00, Monday 7.30 - 9.00, Tuesday 15.00- 16.30, Wed. 12.00 - 13.30, Thursday 13.30 - 15.00, Friday 10.30-12.00, Saturday 9.00-10.30. These times are given based on assumption that sun rises and set at 6:00 AM/PM. Which is completely wrong as the sun doesn't rise at 6:00AM and sets at 6:00PM for most part of the world every day. People who live in North America, Europe, Australia and other places where in summer sun rises at 4:00 AM (with the daylight time added 5:00 AM) and sets at 8:00 PM, and in winter sun rises at 8:00 PM and sets at 3:45 PM this rahu kalam time given above is off by hours then minutes (as one of my learned friend argued the world is not going to change if rahukalam is off by minutes, we are not talking about minutes but hours. For example in winter in certain places (America, Europe, Australia, etc..) if sun rises at 8:10AM and rahukalam duration is 7:30AM to 9:00 AM, sunrise doesn't happen till 8:10AM , so you are off by 40 minutes here (not some minutes, and it will not at at 9:00 could very well end just after 9:00AM).
  
  Now on Thursdays, Yamagadam is from 6:00AM to 7:30AM(According to the fix calculations assuming sun rises at 6:00 AM), and being winter sunrises at 8:10 AM, so your yamagandam has already passed before sunrise? aren't you off by one and half hour?. Rahukalam, Yamaganadam doesn't start till sunrise. Even in India if you live further north, the sun will rise earlier than 6 AM in summer and will set after 6 PM. Check the sunrise and sunset time of your local newspapers and if not look into our panchangam you'll notice that in 99% of the world sun will never rise at 6:00 AM and will set at 6:00 PM most of time (99% of time). You be the judge which rahukalam needs to be taken, precise or fix rahu kalam. Its your muhurtham, so you be the judge. Even if you took the fix one the world is not going to end but if you want to follow rahukalam why not the precise one?
  
  The fix rahu kalam is taken for ease of calculation, and simplicity. So it is important to calculate rahukalam and other information by subtracting the sunset from sunrise and divide by 8 and then use that as a kalam interval. The data provided here is based on actual precise method of arriving Rahu Kalam, Yama kalam (Yama Ganadam), and Gulika Kalam.