Elements of Panchang
Panchang is a Hindu calendar and almanac, which follows traditional units of Hindu timekeeping, and presents important dates and the calculations in a tabulated form. The study of Panchang involves understanding Rasi phala, the impact of the signs of the zodiac on the individual. They are calculated by the planetary motions including Sun & Moon in our solar system.
Panchang = Panch (Five)+ Ang (Limbs)
The detailed combinations of these 5 elements on any particular time, date & place decide the auspicious & inauspicious moment.
Let’s see the elements of Panchang in detail…
Vaaram/Vaar (Days)
The counting of days begins with the sunrise of the first day to the sunrise of the second day. In astrology, this system is known as Ahoratra, which means day and night taken together. Each day consists of 24 Horas.
How are Weekdays derived?
Each day consists of 24 Horas counted from one sunrise to the next. Each hora is governed by a planetary lord. There are seven planetary lords who take turns in the order. For each day, the first hora of the day defines the nomenclature for that particular day.
The respective positions of the planets are — 1.Saturn 2.Jupiter 3.Mars 4.Sun 5.Venus 6.Mercury 7.Moon from the farthest positions. Each planet takes its own time to complete a revolution around the Earth.
For understanding, let us examine the hora lords of Sunday listed in the table.
1-Ravi, 2-Shukra, 3-Budha, 4-Soma, 5-Shani, 6-Guru, 7-Mangal, 8-Ravi, 9-Shukra, 10-Budha, 11-Soma, 12-Shani, 13-Guru, 14-Mangala, 15-Ravi, 16-Shukra, 17-Budha, 18-Soma, 19-Shani, 20-Guru, 21-Mangala, 22-Ravi, 23-Shukra, 24-Budha, 25-Soma.
The 25th hora lord happens to be Soma (Moon). This is the 1st hora of the next day which is called Soma Vaara (Monday). Similarly, it can be seen the first hora lords of successive days are in the order Ravi, Soma, Mangala, Budha, Guru, Shukra, and Shani which are the seven weekdays or Vaaras.
Each place has a different latitude and longitude, causing different sunrise and sunset times.
Thithi & Karana (Lunar days)
A tithi is a lunar day. There are 15 tithis in the waxing cycle of the moon (shukla paksha), and there are 15 tithis in the waning cycle of the Moon ( Krishna paksha). The tithi is based on a relationship between the Sun and the Moon. The first tithi is 12 degrees of the Moon away from the Sun after the new Moon (Amavasya) or full moon (Purnima). The second tithi is the next 12 degrees of the Moon away from the Sun, 12 to 24 degrees. A particular day is ruled by the tithi at sunrise, but the tithi can change any time of the day or night as it is not based on a solar day.
Tithis vary in duration from approximately 19 to 26 hours, according to the movement of the Moon.
The names of the Tithis are given below:
1. Pratipada
2. Dwitiya
3. Tritiya
4. Chaturthi
5. Panchami
6. Shashthi
7. Saptami
8. Ashtami (Half Moon)
9. Navami
10. Dashami
11. Ekadasi
12. Dwadashi
13. Trayodashi
14 Chaturdashi
15. Purnima (Full Moon),
Amavasya (New Moon)
The types of thithi and their nomenclature are given below:
A Karana is half a thithi, or each thithi is divided into two equal parts, each being a Karana known by a specific name. There are 11 types of Karanas.
This map shows the different types of karanas which have been observed on any particular thithi. I have formulated this map in a circular format as the moon rotates around the Earth in that shape. I have constructed the other elements of panchang in a similar format below.
Yoga (Auspicious & inauspicious periods)
Yoga is yet another term present in Panchang. The number of yogas completed at any time is calculated as the sum of the Nirayana (longitudes) of the Sun and the moon.
Yoga = (Longitude of Sun + Longitude of Moon) / 13°20′
There are 27 Yogas as aligned to the Nakshatras but not fixed with any of them. The source for the data could be seen here.
E.g. These Yogas and Karanas are particularly observed for childbirth and nature of the child being born during that time.
1. Vishkabhma (Supported) — prevails over others, victorious over enemies, obtains property, wealthy.
2. Priti (Fondness) — well-liked, attracted to the opposite sex, enjoys life with contentment.
3. Ayushman (Long-lived) — good health and longevity, energetic.
4. Saubhagya (Good Fortune) — enjoys a comfortable life full of opportunities, happy.
5. Sobhana (Splendor) — lustrous body and demeanor sensualist, obsessed with sex.
6. Atigandha (Danger or obstacles) — difficult life due to numerous obstacles and accidents; revengeful and angry.
7. Sukarma (Virtuous) — performs noble deeds, magnanimous and charitable, wealthy.
8. Dhriti (Determination) — enjoys the wealth, goods and spouses of others; indulges in the hospitality of others.
9. Soola Spear, Pain) — confrontational and contrary, quarrelsome, angry.
10. Ganda (Danger or obstacles) — flawed morals or ethics, troublesome personality.
11. Vriddhi (Growth) — intelligent, opportunistic and discerning; life constantly improves with age.
12. Dhruva Constant) — steady character, able to concentrate and persist, wealthy.
13. Vyagatha (Beating) — cruel, intent on harming others.
14. Harshana (Thrilling) — intelligent, delights in merriment and humor.
15. Vajra (Diamond, Thunderbolt) — well-off, lecherous, unpredictable, forceful.
16. Siddhi (Success) — skillful and accomplished in several areas; protector and supporter of others.
17. Vyatipata (Calamity) — prone to sudden mishaps and reversals, fickle and unreliable.
18. Variyan (Comfort) — loves ease and luxury, lazy, lascivious.
19. Parigha (Obstruction) — encounters many obstacles to progress in life; irritable and meddlesome.
20. Siva (Auspicious) — honored by superiors and government, placid, learned and religious, wealthy.
21. Siddha (Accomplished) — accommodating personality, pleasant nature, interest in ritual and spirituality.
22. Sadhya (Amenable) — well behaved, accomplished manners and etiquette.
23. Subha (Auspicious) — lustrous body and personality, but problems with health; wealthy, irritable.
24. Sukhla (Bright White) — garrulous and flighty, impatient and impulsive; unsteady and changeable mind.
25. Bramha (Priest, God) — trustworthy and confidential, ambitious, good discernment and judgment.
26. Indra (Chief) — interest in education and knowledge; helpful, well-off.
27. Vaidrithi (Poor Support) — critical, scheming nature; powerful and overwhelming mentally or physically.
Nakshatra
The position of the moon in the zodiac (counted in intervals of 13°20') is indicated by the name of the Constellation / Nakshatra it occupies. The time in which the moon (whose motion continuously varies in speed) requires to travel over the Ecliptic is also called the duration of the Nakshatra.
Each Nakshatra is divided into four equal parts and each of them is called a Pada. There are 27 Nakshatras to be related to 12 Rashis. By considering 27 Nakshatras as 108 Padas, 9 Padas account for 1 Rashi. A detailed information about the iconography of the Nakshatras have been given below.
The Nakshatra is rich in symbolism and meaning and provides a framework for seeing the relationship of human life to the cosmos.