What is Panchang?
Panchang (Panchanga) is the Hindu almanac. The word means “five limbs”: Tithi (lunar day), Vaar (weekday), Nakshatra (lunar mansion), Yoga (the combined longitude of Sun and Moon) and Karana (half of a tithi). Together they describe the quality of a day and are used to choose muhurats for every important beginning.
Why check the Panchang every day?
- Marriage and engagement: dates are fixed only on favourable tithis and nakshatras.
- Business and new ventures: shop openings, contracts and investments are timed in auspicious windows such as Abhijit Muhurat.
- Naming, Mundan and Griha Pravesh: sanskars are performed when the day’s Panchang is supportive.
- Travel: Rahu Kaal and Dur Muhurtam are avoided for starting journeys.
- Fasts and festivals: Ekadashi, Purnima, Amavasya and festival dates all come from the tithi.
Auspicious and inauspicious timings
Brahma Muhurat, Abhijit Muhurat and Vijay Muhurat are considered favourable for new work. Rahu Kaal, Gulika Kaal, Yamaganda and Dur Muhurtam are traditionally avoided for beginnings. Choghadiya divides the day and night into eight parts each. Amrit, Shubh, Labh and Char are good, while Rog, Kaal and Udveg are avoided.
Chandrabalam lists the Moon signs for which the day’s Moon is favourable, and Tarabalam lists the birth nakshatras with good star strength today. If your Moon sign and nakshatra both appear, the day supports you personally.
Read more about the midday window in our Abhijit Muhurat guide.