Basics of Panchangam PDF
Basics of Panchangam PDF
Basics of Panchangam PDF
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BASICS OF PANCHANGAM
Benefits from use of Panchangam
Thithyeshcha Shreeyamapnothi Vaaraath Aayushyavardhanam
Nakshathraath Harathepaapam Yogaath Roganivaranam
Karanaath Karyasiddhishchaath Panchangam dashamephalam ·
Knowledge of Thithi bestows Wealth, Knowledge of Vaara increases
Longevity, Knowledge of Nakshatra erases Sins, Knowledge of Yoga cures
Diseases and Knowledge of Karana ensures Success in work
Panchangam
All instances of time have five characteristics viz. Vaara, Thithi, Nakshatra,
Yoga and Karana. These five characteristics are detailed for all the days of
the year in an almanac which is called Panchangam. (Pancha + anga). These
characteristics are derived from the positions of Sun and Moon. Panchangam
is used for knowing these five basic characteristics of time for sankalpa,
loca~ing dates of vratas, locating dates of shraddhas and for finding suitable
dates for auspicious functions.
Positions Sun, Moon and other planets are also given in the
Panchangams. These are used for fixing Muhurthas and preparation of horo-
scopes and predictions by Astrologers.
Planets (Grahas)
Panchangams consider 7 planets and 2 shadowy planets.They are:
SI. Planets/ Shadowy Planets IAntharyami Roopa
1. Surya or Ravi - Sun Rama
2. Soma or Chandra - Moon Krishna
3. Kuja or Mangala - Mars Narasimha
4. Budha or Soumya - Mercury Bouddha
5. Guru or Briha~pati - Jupiter Vamana
6. Shukra or Bhargava - Venus Parashurama
7. Shani or Manda -Saturn Kurma
1. Shadowy Planet: Rahu or Thama - Dragon's head Varaha
2. Shadowy Planet: Kethu or Sikhi - Dragon's Tail. Mathsya
Thus, from Sun to Saturn are planets and Rahu and Kethu are imaginary plan-
ets. They are actually the nodes (points) of intersection of the imaginary paths of
Sun and Moon (as visualised by an observer on Earth), located at diametrically
opposite points. Rahu and Kethu (Dragons' head and tail) are also known as shad-
owy planets.
In the Indian system of Astronomy, Sun is considered a planet eventhough it is
the source of light and heat unlike in the western system, where by definition, planets
are not the source of light and heat.
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Positions of Planets
Picture depicting the paths of all planets show that each planet is at a
different distance from the Sun and each is having its own orbit. The orbits
or paths are elliptical say oval for simplicity. By observing the above picture,
the possibility of different planets during theit movement, lying scattered
around the Earth can be visualised. For the purpose of Panchangam, the
angular positions of all planets with Earth as centre are calculated for each
day. Each planet's angular speeds vary from day to day. The angular posi-
Zodlae ~nd
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• np 11 ada d., Iha Zodiac
The 12 Rashis within the Zodiac are:
SI Rashi En glish Name Symbol SI Rashi En glish Name Symbol
1 Mesha Aries Ram 7 Thula Libra Man holding a Balance
2 Vrushabha Taurus Bull 8 Vruschika Scorpio Scorpion
1 Sagittarius Man holding a bow3
3 Mithuna Gemini Woman-Man Pair 9 Dhanus
4 Karkataka Cancer Crab 10 Makara Capricorn Deer faced Crocodile
5 Simha Leo Lion 11 Kumbha Aquarius Water Bearer
6 Kanya Virgo Virgin in a boat2 12 Meena Pisces Two Fishes
Makara Simha
10 5
In the rest of India, the pattern shown below is in common use and it
appears, there is more than one variety of numbering the houses within that
system, based on the region of use. In this, the houses are represented anti
clockwise.
Soora Dates
Soura Masa
There are 12 solar months in a year. The soura months have the same
names as that of Rashis. They also have Tamil equivalent names. They are
tabulated under the Length of months.
Length of Months
Since the apparent motion of the sun and moon is not always the same,
the lengths of the lunar and solar months vary. The names and durations of
each of the solar months in all the three systems are tabulated below. It will
be observed that the length of months are different in the three systems, but
the length of the year is the same.
Sun
Tropic of Concor
0
•
ZOd.lac Belt •........•...................
0 Tropic or Capncorn
Sun
Uttllarayana PutlyaJcala
Thithis:
Paksha:
Thithis:
A day in Panchangam
The time duration from one sun rise to the next sun rise is reckoned as a
day in Panchangam. This duration is considered equal to 60 ghatis (24 hours).
However, as the sun rise time varies from day to day by a small measure,
the duration of the day also varies to that extent.
Thithi's Beginning/End point
As the time duration of thithi varies from day to day, thithi's Beginning/
End points occur at different times of the day. Generally one thithi begins on
a day and ends on the next day which means on each day one thithi ends
and at the same time the next thithi begins. However, as the time duration of
thithis can vary from 59 ghatis to 65 ghatis, on some days (day as per
panchangam); (a). the same thithi will have its Beginning as well as End
point which means such days will have two Beginning/End points of thithis
(b). thithi will not have its end point which means such days will have no
Beginning/End point of thithis.
Days with two Beginning/End points of thithis and No Beginning/End points
of thithis are taboo for auspicious functions.
Day's Thithi
The thithi ruling at the time of sun rise of the day is reckoned as the thithi
of the day for all date referrals. During sankalpa thithi, nakshathra, yoga ,
karana ruling at the sun rise of the day is used.
Thithi classified into Five groups
Ph ala
an a ra ama, as 1, a as 1 nan a
Bhadra Dwitheeya, Sapthami, Dwadashi Arogya - Mangala
Jaya Thrutheeya, Ashtami, Thrayodashi Jaya (victory)
Riktha Chathurthy, Navami, Chathurdashi Nashta (loss)
Pooma Panchami, Dashami, Pournami/Amavasya Sampoorna
Two Types of thithis
Those extending for 60 ghatis from sun rise are called Poorna thithis
and others Sakhanda thithis .
Basics of Panchangam - - - - - 1 G ) 1 - - - - - - - - Achara Vichara
I Varieties of Sakhanda thlthis
Shuddha and Viddha are the two varieties. Thithis present at both sun
rise and sunset of the same day (and on days like Shivarathris extending
upto midnight) are called Shuddha while others (not present at both sun
rise and sunset) are referred to as Vlddha .
Viddha means one with vedha ie., One attached to another. Thithis with
End / Beginning point located between the sun rise and sunset of the same
day are said to have; (a) Poorva Viddha with the ending thithi (b) Para
Viddha with the beginning thithi.
Vedhas of thithis
Thithis starting from about 6 ghatis after Suryodaya are said to have
Pratharvedha with the previous thithi extending upto 6 ghatis from sun rise.
Thithis starting from about 6 ghatis before Sunset are said to have
Sayamvedha with the previous thithi extending upto 6 ghatis before sunset.
Adhika and Kshaya Thithis
A thithi starting before the day's sun rise and ending after the next day's
sun rise is called Adhika thitbi. During the time duration of an Adhika thithi ,
two sun rises will occur. On both days, the same day is used for date refer-
rals. Here the thithi has sustained an increase (Vriddhi) .
Such a thithi is also referred to as Thridinasprukh as it has touched
three days (1 . day before sun rise, 2. Day of Sun rise and 3. Day of second
sun rise).
Within the Adhika thithi, the portion after the second sun rise is referred
to as Puccha meaning tail.
• A thithi starting after the day's sun rise and ending before the next day's
( sun rise is called Kshaya thithi. During the time duration of a Kshaya thithi ,
no sun rise will occur. This thithi will not get into the realm of date referral.
Here the thithi has sufferred a diminition (Kshaya or Hrasa).
Such a Kshaya thithi is also called Avamaha . This thithi is referred with a
prefix Upari.
Refer to graphics on the next page .
Twelve lunar months are equal to 354/355 days, but there are 360 thithis
during that time. As though, to make this equation alright, on an average
there are 7 Adhika thithis and 13 Kshaya thithis in a year.
Adhika and Kshaya thithis are also taboo for auspicious functions .
Ekadashi and Viddha Dashami
Vaishnavas have to observe Ekadashi vratha on Ekadashi without
Dashami vedha is the rule. That means, by the time of Arunodaya on the
Ekadashi day, the previous thithi Dashami should have ended. [Eventhough,
Arunodaya is the last portion of aaay, in some places it is used as the first
portion of the day - Viddha Dashami is one such example.]
If the Dashami thithi ends during the Arunodaya of any day, (example
day 1: has Ekadashi at the time of Sunrise and Ekadashi will be the date
referral) that day will be considered Viddha Dashami (Goddu Dashami) and
treated as a Dashami for all practical purposes, and the following day (ex