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The 8 Gauri periods (Amritha, Siddha, Marana, Rogam, Laabha, Dhanam, Sugam, Sokam), their weekday rotation, and how to use them for daily timing decisions
Gauri Panchang (also called Gowri Panchangam or Gowri Nalla Neram) is a traditional Vedic time-division system that splits each day and night into 8 equal periods, each approximately 90 minutes long. It is the South-Indian counterpart of Choghadiya — both share the same algorithmic structure (sunrise-to-sunset divided into 8, sunset-to-sunrise divided into 8), but Gauri uses 8 distinct period names with different weekday rotations. Gauri is widely consulted in Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, and Kerala, often appearing in printed Tamil and Kannada panchangs alongside Rahu Kaalam, Yamagandam, and Gulika Kaalam. Whereas Choghadiya has a 'neutral' tier (Char), Gauri does not — every one of its 8 periods is either clearly auspicious (Amritha, Siddha, Laabha, Dhanam, Sugam) or clearly inauspicious (Marana, Rogam, Sokam).
The 8 periods cycle in this canonical order: Amritha (nectar — most auspicious), Siddha (achievement), Marana (death — inauspicious), Rogam (disease — inauspicious), Laabha (gain), Dhanam (wealth), Sugam (comfort), Sokam (sorrow — inauspicious). Each weekday starts at a different position in the cycle (e.g., Monday starts with Amritha because Soma=Moon=Amritha is a classical association). After 8 slots the cycle completes; the night follows the same cycle but starting 4 positions later — the classical 'opposite face' of the day.
Each weekday begins the day-Gauri cycle at a different position. Sunday starts with Sokam (sorrow), Monday with Amritha (nectar), Tuesday with Marana (death), Wednesday with Laabha (gain), Thursday with Sugam (comfort), Friday with Siddha (achievement), Saturday with Rogam (disease). After the 8 slots are filled in cycle order, the night Gauri begins at the position 4 steps ahead of the day's starting position.
| Day | First Gauri |
|---|---|
| Sunday | Sokam |
| Monday | Amritha |
| Tuesday | Marana |
| Wednesday | Laabha |
| Thursday | Sugam |
| Friday | Siddha |
| Saturday | Rogam |
For starting a new business or moving home, Amritha is universally most powerful. Financial decisions: Laabha (gain) or Dhanam (wealth). Travel and family gatherings: Sugam (comfort). Exams, agreements, signing contracts: Siddha (achievement). Avoid Marana, Rogam, and Sokam for any auspicious work — they are best used for rest, routine maintenance, or activities you want to conclude rather than begin. Even an Amritha Gauri overlapping with Rahu Kaalam, Yamagandam, or Gulika Kaalam should be treated with caution — the inauspicious overlay takes precedence in classical Tamil and Kannada panchang practice.
Laabha, Dhanam
Sugam, Amritha
Amritha, Siddha
Even an Amritha Gauri during Rahu Kaalam, Yamagandam, or Gulika Kaalam should be treated with caution — the inauspicious overlay takes precedence.
Both systems share the same time-division shape — 8 day slots, 8 night slots, computed from sunrise and sunset. The differences: (1) Gauri has 8 distinct period names; Choghadiya has 7 (Char repeats to fill 8 slots). (2) Gauri has no neutral tier; every period is auspicious or inauspicious. (3) The weekday rotation differs. (4) Gauri is the traditional South-Indian system used in Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Andhra, Telangana and Kerala; Choghadiya is the North/West Indian version more common in Gujarat, Rajasthan, and Madhya Pradesh. Many printed panchangs in South India publish both side by side; the local language tradition of the family usually decides which one is used at home.