What the Panchang Is
"Panchang" means five limbs (panch-anga). It's the Hindu almanac that describes the quality of a day through five components, each derived from the positions of the Sun and Moon. For thousands of years it has been the basis of muhurta — choosing the right moment to begin something important. The panchang doesn't predict events; it describes the texture of time, so you can align your actions with favourable conditions and avoid the unfavourable.
The Five Limbs
1. Tithi (lunar day)
A tithi is the time the Moon takes to gain 12° on the Sun. There are 30 tithis in a lunar month — 15 in the waxing fortnight (Shukla paksha) and 15 in the waning (Krishna paksha). Each tithi has a character and is suited to particular activities; some (the Rikta tithis — 4th, 9th, 14th) are traditionally avoided for new beginnings.
2. Vaara (weekday)
The seven weekdays are each ruled by a planet — Sunday by the Sun, Monday by the Moon, and so on. The ruling planet colours the day and makes it more or less suitable for certain kinds of work.
3. Nakshatra (lunar mansion)
The zodiac is divided into 27 nakshatras, and the Moon passes through them in about a month. The nakshatra the Moon occupies sets a major part of the day's energy — and it's the same system that anchors your personal birth chart and dasha.
4. Yoga (Sun–Moon combination)
Yoga here is a specific angular relationship between the Sun and Moon, cycling through 27 named yogas. Some (like Siddhi or Amrita) are auspicious; a few are best avoided for important starts.
5. Karana (half-tithi)
A karana is half a tithi — there are two per tithi and eleven karanas in rotation. Karanas refine the timing further, particularly for short tasks and the precise moment of an action.
Rahu Kalam and the Inauspicious Windows
Rahu Kalam is a roughly 90-minute window each day that's traditionally avoided for starting important new work. It's calculated by splitting the time between sunrise and sunset into eight equal parts; which part belongs to Rahu depends on the weekday. Because it's anchored to sunrise, Rahu Kalam shifts with both your location and the date — which is why the tool computes it from the sunrise and sunset for the place you choose.
Location matters for the time-of-day windows. Tithi, nakshatra, yoga and karana are tied to the Sun and Moon and barely change with place. But sunrise, sunset, Rahu Kalam and Abhijit do — so set your current location, not your birthplace, for accurate daily windows.
How to Use the Day's Panchang
- Planning something important? Favour a supportive tithi, nakshatra and weekday for the task, and steer clear of Rahu Kalam for the start.
- Checking a future date? Pick the date in the tool to see that day's full panchang before you commit to it.
- Travelling or relocated? Set your current city so the sunrise-based windows are right for where you actually are.
A general panchang tells you the quality of the day for everyone. A personalised muhurta goes one step further — it weighs the day against your own chart and current dasha, which is where the full reading picks up.
Life Timing Intelligence
The Day Has a Quality. So Does Your Timing.
Nyovah weighs the day's panchang against your own birth chart and current period to find genuinely personal auspicious windows — for marriage, travel, a launch, or a fresh start.
Find My Auspicious Timing →Free panchang · No account needed to start · Personal muhurta in the app
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Panchang?
The Panchang is the Hindu almanac for a day, built from five limbs: tithi (lunar day), vaara (weekday), nakshatra (lunar mansion), yoga (Sun–Moon combination) and karana (half-tithi). Together they describe the quality of the day and underpin muhurta — choosing auspicious timing.
What is a tithi?
A tithi is a lunar day — the time the Moon takes to move 12° ahead of the Sun. There are 30 in a lunar month, 15 waxing (Shukla paksha) and 15 waning (Krishna paksha). Each has its own character and favours different activities.
What is Rahu Kalam?
Rahu Kalam is a roughly 90-minute daily window considered inauspicious for starting important new work. It's found by dividing sunrise-to-sunset into eight equal parts; the segment belonging to Rahu depends on the weekday, so it shifts with your location and the date.
Why does the Panchang depend on location?
Sunrise and sunset — and therefore Rahu Kalam and other day-segment windows — depend on where you are. Tithi, nakshatra, yoga and karana are tied to Sun/Moon positions and are largely location-independent, but the time-of-day windows are not. Set your current location for accurate windows.
What is a nakshatra?
A nakshatra is one of 27 lunar mansions — equal zodiac segments the Moon travels through, completing all 27 in about a month. The nakshatra the Moon occupies shapes the day's energy and is central to both daily panchang and your birth chart and dasha.
How do I use the Panchang for muhurta?
Muhurta is choosing an auspicious time. Favour supportive tithis, nakshatras, yogas and weekdays for the task, and avoid windows like Rahu Kalam. Different activities prefer different combinations, so the general panchang is the starting point; a personalised muhurta weighs your own chart too.
Can I check a future date?
Yes — pick any date in the tool and it computes that day's tithi, nakshatra, yoga, karana, weekday, sunrise/sunset and Rahu Kalam for your chosen location, which is useful when planning around an upcoming event.
Is this Panchang free?
Yes — today's (or any day's) panchang for any location is free and needs no account. A personalised muhurta, which weighs the day against your own birth chart, is available in the app.