What is Panchangam?
Panchangam (పంచాంగం / பஞ்சாங்கம்) is derived from Sanskrit: Pancha (five) + Anga (limb). It is the Hindu almanac that tracks five key elements of each day based on astronomical calculations. These five elements together determine auspicious and inauspicious times for any activity.
The Five Elements
1. Tithi: The lunar day — 1 of 30 tithis in a lunar month. Changes based on the moon's angular distance from the sun.
2. Nakshatra: The star (constellation) where the moon is positioned. There are 27 Nakshatras, each spanning 13°20' of the zodiac.
3. Yoga: A combination of sun and moon longitudes. There are 27 Yogas — some auspicious (Siddhi, Shubha) and some inauspicious (Vyatipata, Vaidhriti).
4. Karana: Half of a Tithi. There are 11 Karanas — some fixed (Shakuni, Chatushpada, Naga, Kimstughna) and some repeating.
5. Vara: The weekday — each day is ruled by a planet and associated with specific deities and activities.
Why is Panchangam Important?
Panchangam is used to determine auspicious times (Muhurtha) for marriages, gruhapravesh, business starts, travel, and all major life events. It is also used for daily prayer timing, festival determination, and understanding cosmic influences on daily life.