Panchang or Panchagam and Its Content

The Panchang Panchang or Panchangam is an ancient Vedic calendar in a tabulated form that helps to plan for travel, work, money, love, etc, well in advance. It is simply an Indian Vedic almanac. It has evolved for the past 5000 years or so. The theories found in the two scriptures namely , Surya Siddhanta and Grahalaghava form the basis for the panchang. In English Panchang is termed as Ephemeris. Panchang published is the most accurate one on the net with calculations based on Indian Astrological Computations. You can get to know the panchang of the current day as well as the past and the future days. This panchang has been calculated for Indian standard time and works for Chennai, 5:30 AM timing. The word Panchang is derived from “Panch” meaning five and “ang” meaning aspect. Panchang gives you the auspicious and inauspicious timings of any day. It gives the Day, the Tithi, the Nakshtra, the Yoga, and the Karana of the Day. Hence the name Panchang. The calculations for the panchang are based on the position of the various planets and constellations. In short it is a ready reckoner to find out if any day is suitable for activities like getting married, going on a trip, entering a new house, starting something new, etc. You need not totally rely on an Astrologer if you are well versed with the panchang. The Vara or Days A group of seven days is called vara or week. The days are named after the planets excluding Rahu and Ketu. Days change at sunrise. The Days in a Lunar year are as follows: Lunar Day English Name Ruling Planet Somvar Monday Moon Mangalvar Tuesday Mars Budhvar Wednesday Mercury Guruvar Thursday Jupiter Shukravar Friday Venus Shanivar Saturday Saturn Ravivar Sunday Sun Tithi The angular relationship between Sun and Moon is known as Tithi. One Tithi equals 12 degree difference between Moon and Sun.. In all there are 30 tithis. In fact, there are sixteen tithis in a month. The fourteen in each half go on changing throughout the month. The reigning tithi at sun rise should be taken as the tithi of the day. Every tithi has its own ruling deity as well. No Tithis 1 Pratipad 2 Dwitiya 3 Tritiya 4 Chaturthi 5 Panchami 6 Shashti 7 Saptami 8 Ashtami 9 Navami 10 Dashami 11 Ekadashi 12 Dwadashi 13 Trayodashi 14 Chaturdashi 15 Pournami 16 Amavasya Nakshatra Nakshatra refers to the stellar mansion in which Moon is located. One Nakshatra equals 13 degrees and 20 minutes. There are 27 Nakshatra in 360 degrees. No Nakshatra Lords 1 Aswini Ketu 2 Bharani Venus 3 Kritika Sun 4 Rohini Moon 5 Mrigasira Mars 6 Aridra Rahu 7 Punarvasu Jupiter 8 Pushya Saturn 9 Aslesha Mercury 10 Magha Ketu 11 Poorvaphalguni Venus 12 Uttaraphalguni Sun 13 Hasta Moon 14 Chitra Mars 15 Swati Rahu 16 Visakha Jupiter 17 Anuradha Saturn 18 Jyehsta Mercury 19 Moola Ketu 20 Poorvashadha Venus 21 Uttarashadha Sun 22 Sravana Moon 23 Dhanshita Mars 24 Satabisha Rahu 25 Poorvabhadrapada Jupiter 26 Uttarabhadrapada Saturn 27 Revati Mercury Yoga One Yoga equals 13 degrees and 20 minutes. There are 27 Yogas in 360 degrees. Yogas change every day. Yogas start with Vishkambha yoga and Vyateepata and Vaidhriti yogas have great importance. Yoga Ruler Vishkambha Vishvedeva Preeti Maruth Ayushman Hiranyagarbha Soubhagya Durga Shobhana Prithvi Athiganda Aditi Sukarma Surya Dhruti Ratri Shoola Indra Ganda Maruth Vridhi Ratri Dhruva Agni Vyaghata Hari Harshana Indra Vajra Hiranyagarbha Siddhi Vayu Vyateepaata Agni Pareeyan Hari Parigha Indra Shiva Indra Siddha Hiranyagarbha Sadhya Vayu Shubha Pavamana Soma Shukla Prithvi Brahma Indra Endra Vishedeva Vaidriti Maruth Karana Karana is half of a Tithi. One Karana equals 6 degree difference between Moon and Sun.Karanas are eighteen in total. The first seven are called as Sthira Karanas and the last four are called as Chara Karanas. The chara karanas begin on the second half the brighter side of the moon and continue to rule till the fourteenth day of the darker of the moon and recur regularly. Sthira Karanas Chara Karanas Bhava Shakuni Balava Catushpada Kaulava Nagavan Thrishila Kimsthugna Gara Vanija Bhadra Uses of Panchang Any work done on the right day of the week shall bring longevity for the native. Anything started on the right tithi will bring prosperity Something done with a favourable star shall ward off all evils A good yoga shall cure all diseases Any venture done during beneficial karana shall remove all obstacles en-route.