தினசரி பஞ்சாங்கம்

Understanding the Five Elements of Panchang

Tithi is the lunar day, determined by the angular distance between the Sun and Moon. There are 30 tithis in a lunar month – 15 in the waxing phase (Shukla Paksha) and 15 in the waning phase (Krishna Paksha). Each tithi has a presiding deity and specific qualities that make certain activities favourable or unfavourable. Ekadashi (the 11th tithi) is considered sacred for fasting, while Purnima (full moon) and Amavasya (new moon) are significant for rituals and ancestor worship.

Nakshatra is the lunar mansion – one of 27 constellations that the Moon transits through approximately every day. Each nakshatra spans 13°20' of the zodiac and has a ruling planet, deity, and nature (Dhruva/fixed, Chara/movable, Ugra/fierce, Mridu/gentle, etc.) that colours the quality of the day. The nakshatra at the time of your birth determines your Vimshottari Dasha sequence – the planetary period system that is the backbone of Vedic predictive astrology.

Yoga is the luni-solar combination formed by adding the longitudes of the Sun and Moon and dividing by 13°20'. There are 27 yogas, each with distinct qualities – from the highly auspicious Siddhi (accomplishment) and Shubha (auspicious) to the challenging Vishkambha (obstruction) and Vaidhriti (destruction). Karana is the half-tithi – there are 11 karanas that repeat in a cycle, with Vishti (Bhadra) being the most inauspicious. Vara is simply the weekday, each ruled by a planet: Sunday by Sun, Monday by Moon, through Saturday by Saturn.