Panchang Explained: Tithi, Vara, Nakshatra, Yoga and Karana, and How to Read Them
What is a panchang, and what are its five limbs?
A panchang is the Hindu almanac of five daily elements: tithi (the lunar day, each 12 degrees of Moon-Sun separation), vara (the weekday), nakshatra (the Moon's mansion, one of 27), yoga (one of 27 divisions of the Sun and Moon's combined longitude) and karana (half a tithi, from 11 names). Together they describe the "quality of the day" and are used to choose festival dates, fasts, rituals and muhurat.
The word comes from Sanskrit: pancha means five and anga means limb. If you have ever looked at a panchang and felt lost in terms and times, this guide breaks it down. You can see today's values for any city on our panchang page.
The five limbs at a glance
| Limb | What it is | How many |
|---|---|---|
| Tithi | Lunar day, based on Moon-Sun distance | 30 per lunar month |
| Vara | Weekday | 7 |
| Nakshatra | The lunar mansion the Moon is in | 27 |
| Yoga | A division based on Sun plus Moon positions | 27 |
| Karana | Half of a tithi | 11 types |
1. Tithi: how is the lunar day measured?
A tithi is the time it takes for the Moon to gain 12 degrees on the Sun. Since a full circle is 360 degrees, there are 30 tithis in a lunar month.
The month is split in two halves of 15 tithis:
- Shukla Paksha (bright half): from the new Moon (Amavasya) to the full Moon (Purnima). The Moon is waxing.
- Krishna Paksha (dark half): from the full Moon back to the new Moon. The Moon is waning.
The names repeat in each half: Pratipada (1st), Dwitiya, Tritiya, Chaturthi, Panchami, Shashthi, Saptami, Ashtami, Navami, Dashami, Ekadashi, Dwadashi, Trayodashi, Chaturdashi, and then Purnima (full Moon) in the bright half or Amavasya (new Moon) in the dark half.
Why tithis do not match calendar days: tithis vary in length, between roughly 19 and 26 hours, because the Moon's speed changes. A tithi can begin and end at any time of day, and sometimes a tithi is skipped or repeated across calendar dates. This is why festival dates sometimes differ between regions.
Why it matters: many fasts and festivals are tied to a tithi, such as Ekadashi, Chaturthi, Ashtami and Purnima. Amavasya is used for ancestor rites, as in Pitra Dosh. The year's Ekadashi dates are on our Ekadashi page, and the main festivals are on the festivals calendar.
2. Vara: the weekday
The seven weekdays are each ruled by a planet:
| Vara | Day | Ruling planet |
|---|---|---|
| Ravivara | Sunday | Sun |
| Somavara | Monday | Moon |
| Mangalavara | Tuesday | Mars |
| Budhavara | Wednesday | Mercury |
| Guruvara | Thursday | Jupiter |
| Shukravara | Friday | Venus |
| Shanivara | Saturday | Saturn |
In the Hindu almanac, a day traditionally begins at sunrise, not midnight. This matters when an event falls in the early hours.
Each day is associated with specific prayers and practices, such as Tuesday for Hanuman and Saturday for Shani. See the planet stotra guide.
3. Nakshatra: the Moon's mansion
The nakshatra is the star group the Moon is passing through that day. There are 27, each 13 degrees 20 minutes wide, and the Moon spends about one day in each. To see which nakshatra your own Moon was in at birth, use the nakshatra finder. The nakshatra is used for muhurat, naming and many rituals. For the full list and meanings, read 27 nakshatras in Vedic astrology.
4. Yoga: the Sun-Moon combination
Yoga here is not the physical practice. It is a calculated measure: the combined longitudes of the Sun and Moon are divided into 27 equal parts of 13 degrees 20 minutes each, and each part has a name. In order, the 27 are Vishkambha, Priti, Ayushman, Saubhagya, Shobhana, Atiganda, Sukarma, Dhriti, Shula, Ganda, Vriddhi, Dhruva, Vyaghata, Harshana, Vajra, Siddhi, Vyatipata, Variyana, Parigha, Shiva, Siddha, Sadhya, Shubha, Shukla, Brahma, Indra and Vaidhriti.
Some yogas are considered auspicious, and a few, such as Vyatipata and Vaidhriti, are traditionally avoided for beginnings. A name that sounds like a good omen does not make a day auspicious on its own, and the yoga is read together with the tithi and nakshatra.
5. Karana: half a tithi
A karana is half of a tithi, which is 6 degrees of Moon-Sun distance. There are 60 karanas in a lunar month, drawn from 11 names:
- Seven repeating (movable) karanas: Bava, Balava, Kaulava, Taitila, Gara, Vanija and Vishti (Bhadra).
- Four fixed karanas: Shakuni, Chatushpada, Naga and Kimstughna, which occur once each near the new Moon.
Vishti (Bhadra) is the karana most often avoided for auspicious activities. See muhurat guide.
Other things you will see in a panchang
- Sunrise and sunset times for your city, which set each day's start.
- Moonrise and moonset times.
- Rahu Kaal, Yamaganda and Gulika Kaal, daily windows that some people avoid for new beginnings. See the table in our Rahu remedies guide.
- Abhijit muhurat, an auspicious window around local noon.
- Hindu month (masa) and paksha, and the year in regional calendars such as Vikram Samvat or Shaka Samvat.
- Festivals and vrat days.
Why do panchangs differ?
Several things cause regional differences:
- Location. Sunrise, and therefore the tithi on a given day, differs between cities. Use a panchang for your own location.
- Amanta vs Purnimanta. In some regions the lunar month ends at the new Moon (amanta), in others at the full Moon (purnimanta). This shifts month names for the dark half.
- Calculation method. Different panchangs use slightly different methods and ayanamsa settings.
- Which tithi "counts" for a festival. Rules vary, such as which tithi prevails at sunrise, midday or night.
So if two sources disagree on a festival date, that is usually a difference of method, not an error. Follow your family or local tradition.
How do you read a daily panchang?
- Open the panchang for your city and today's date.
- Note the tithi and its end time.
- Note the nakshatra and when it changes.
- Check sunrise and sunset and the day's avoid windows such as Rahu Kaal.
- Look for festivals, fasts and special yogas.
- If you are planning something important, follow our muhurat guide.
The panchang page lets you change the city, so the sunrise-based values match where you live.
The panchang and your own chart
A panchang describes the sky today, which is the same for everyone in a city. Your birth chart describes the sky at your birth, which is personal. They are related, for example your birth nakshatra and tithi are listed in your chart, but they answer different questions. To see how the sky now connects to you, you need your own chart: find your Moon sign with the Moon sign calculator and your Lagna from a free kundli, and read the Lagna guide if the term is new.
Bring this to your own chart
See how this plays out in your birth chart
This article covers the general pattern. A focused reading applies it to your exact placements, current dasha, and the question you actually have.
Book a consultationFrequently Asked Questions
What are the five parts of a panchang?
Tithi (lunar day), vara (weekday), nakshatra (the Moon's star), yoga (a Sun-Moon combination) and karana (half a tithi).
How many tithis, yogas and karanas are there in a panchang?
There are 30 tithis in a lunar month (15 in each paksha), 27 yogas, 27 nakshatras, and 60 karanas in a month drawn from 11 names (7 repeating and 4 fixed).
How long is a tithi?
It varies, from roughly 19 to 26 hours, because the Moon's speed changes. A tithi is the time the Moon takes to gain 12 degrees on the Sun.
Why does the Hindu day start at sunrise?
In the traditional almanac, each day begins at sunrise, so the weekday and the tithi prevailing at sunrise are used for the day.
Why do festival dates differ between regions?
Because tithis do not align with calendar days, and regions use different rules, locations and calculation methods.
Is panchang yoga the same as yoga exercise?
No. In the panchang, yoga is a calculated division of 27 parts based on the Sun and Moon's combined position.
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