Daily Panchang

Panchang (Sanskrit: Pañcāṅga, "five limbs") is the traditional Hindu almanac that summarises the astrological character of any given day. Nakshatrica computes the complete Panchang for your exact location and date using the Swiss Ephemeris with the sidereal Lahiri (Chitrapaksha) Ayanamsha — the standard adopted by the Indian Calendar Reform Committee. All timings are auto-adjusted to your local sunrise, sunset, and timezone.

The Five Limbs (Pancha Anga)

• Tithi: the lunar day, based on the Sun-Moon angular separation. 30 Tithis per lunar month, split into Shukla Paksha (waxing) and Krishna Paksha (waning). Key markers: Ekadashi (11th, fasting), Purnima (full moon), Amavasya (new moon), Chaturthi (Ganesha day).
• Nakshatra: the Moon's lunar mansion — one of 27 stellar divisions. Determines daily rituals, Muhurta selection, and traditional name-giving. Central to Vedic timing.
• Yoga: one of 27 combinations derived from the Sun+Moon longitude. Names include Vishkambha, Priti, Ayushman, Saubhagya, Shobhana, and more — each carrying its own auspiciousness.
• Karana: half a Tithi. 11 named Karanas (Bava, Balava, Kaulava, Taitila, Gara, Vanija, Vishti/Bhadra, Shakuni, Chatushpada, Naga, Kimstughna) cycle through the month.
• Vara: the weekday, each ruled by a planet — Ravivar (Sunday/Sun), Somvar (Monday/Moon), Mangalvar (Tuesday/Mars), Budhvar (Wednesday/Mercury), Guruvar (Thursday/Jupiter), Shukravar (Friday/Venus), Shanivar (Saturday/Saturn).

Auspicious & Inauspicious Windows

• Abhijit Muhurat — a ~48-minute window centred on solar noon, considered universally auspicious and victorious (except on Wednesdays in some traditions). Recommended for starting important undertakings.
• Brahma Muhurta — the ~96 minutes before sunrise, ideal for meditation, study, pranayama, and spiritual practice. Traditionally the most sattvic period of the day.
• Rahu Kalam — a ~90-minute daily period ruled by Rahu, considered inauspicious for new beginnings. Shifts by weekday (Sun 4:30-6:00 PM, Mon 7:30-9:00 AM, etc.).
• Yamaganda & Gulika Kalam — similar inauspicious windows ruled by Yama (death) and Gulika (Saturn's son), also weekday-specific.
• Choghadiya — a system of 8 daytime and 8 nighttime windows classified as Amrit/Shubh/Labh (auspicious), Char (neutral), or Rog/Kaal/Udveg (avoid). Widely used across Gujarati and Rajasthani communities for daily timing.

Why Location & Time Matter

Several Panchang elements are anchored to local sunrise and sunset, which vary by latitude, longitude, and date. The Tithi and Nakshatra at sunrise determine that day's "ruling" element for ritual purposes — even if the Tithi changes mid-day, the sunrise Tithi is what most Hindu observances reference. Rahu Kalam, Yamaganda, Gulika Kalam, and the Choghadiya windows are calculated as fractions of the day-length (sunrise-to-sunset), so they shift seasonally and by location. Abhijit Muhurat is anchored to local solar noon. Nakshatrica auto-detects your location so the Panchang you see is accurate for where you are — not a generic India-default.

Common Vrats & Observances

Panchang elements determine when major Hindu observances fall each month:

• Ekadashi Vrat: the 11th Tithi of each Paksha, observed with fasting
• Purnima: full moon day — Satyanarayan Puja, Guru Purnima, Sharad Purnima
• Amavasya: new moon day — Shraddha, Pitru Tarpan, Mahalaya
• Sankashti Chaturthi: 4th Tithi of Krishna Paksha — Lord Ganesha worship
• Pradosh Vrat: 13th Tithi — Shiva worship at twilight
• Sankranti: Sun's transit into a new zodiac sign — Makar Sankranti, Karka Sankranti

Browse full annual lists on the Ekadashi, Purnima, Amavasya, and Sankranti calendar pages.

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