What Is Tithi?
A tithi is the time taken when the Moon moves away from the Sun by 12 degrees. It can take anywhere between 19 to 26 hours. A lunar month consists of 30 tithis, divided into two phases, shukla paksha (waxing moon) and Krishna Paksha (waning moon).
- It determines when to observe fast
- It tells auspicious and inauspicious muharats
- It governs human emotions
- It tells when to honour deceased ancestors
What Is Nakshatra?
A Nakshatra is the star cluster the Moon is resting near on any given night. As the Moon travels through the sky, it passes through 27 such star clusters, spending roughly one day in each.
- It determines one’s personality
- It tells the consequences of events that will occur in one’s life
- It predicts marriage compatibility between two people
- It determines the muharat for specific actions, such as when to start a business or when to travel
What Is Yog?
A Yog is formed by adding the Moon's position and the Sun's position. It indicates on a particular day whether the two celestial bodies would cooperate or conflict.
- It tells whether the day's overall energy is auspicious or inauspicious
- It determines if a day is suitable for starting new ventures or better avoided
- It guides the timing of religious ceremonies and rituals
- It warns of particularly difficult days that carry obstacle or conflict energy
What Is Karan?
A Karan is simply half of a Tithi. Since one Tithi spans 12 degrees of the Moon's movement, one Karan spans 6 degrees. Every day has two Karans, one in the first half and one in the second half. There are 11 Karans in total, 7 repeating and 4 fixed.
- It tells about Muhurta selection in the exact middle of the day
- It identifies the most inauspicious half-day window where no new work should be started
- It tells the best half-day window for signing contracts, travel, and ceremonies
- It is the most practical element of Panchang for hour-by-hour daily planning
What Is Var?
Var simply means the weekday. Each day is ruled by a planet. It predominantly tells which planet or cosmic force will be in charge from sunrise to sunset.
- It determines which activities suit the day based on the ruling planet
- It guides professionals on their luckiest and unfavourable days
- It combines with Tithi and Nakshatra to form or break auspicious Muhurtas
- It governs Hora, each hour within the day