A muhurat is an auspicious time window calculated by a Vedic astrologer for a specific event — a wedding, a business launch, a house move, a surgical procedure. The underlying belief: certain moments are inherently more supportive of success than others, based on the position of planets and the five elements of time.
The Panchang: Five Limbs of Time
The word Panchang means “five limbs” (panch = five, ang = limb). These are the five elements used to assess every moment:
1. Tithi — Lunar Day
A tithi is the time taken for the Moon to move 12 degrees from the Sun. There are 30 tithis in a lunar month. The waxing moon (Shukla paksha) is generally preferred for auspicious beginnings.
2. Vara — Day of the Week
Each day is ruled by a planet. For weddings: Wednesday (Mercury), Thursday (Jupiter) and Friday (Venus) are generally auspicious. Tuesday (Mars) and Saturday (Saturn) are typically avoided.
3. Nakshatra — Lunar Mansion
The nakshatra in which the Moon is transiting is one of the most important factors. For weddings, auspicious nakshatras include Rohini, Mrigashira, Uttaraphalguni, Hasta, Swati, Anuradha and Uttarashada.
4. Yoga — Planetary Combination
There are 27 yogas calculated from the combined longitudes of the Sun and Moon. Vishkamba, Atiganda, Vyatipata and Vaidhriti are inauspicious for new beginnings. Siddha, Amrita and Brahma yogas are especially auspicious.
5. Karana — Half Lunar Day
A Karana is half a tithi. Vishti (Bhadra) Karana is strictly avoided for all auspicious events.
Additional Factors
Beyond the five Panchang elements, our astrologers also consider: Lagna (rising sign strength), Rahu Kaal (90-minute inauspicious daily period), Tarabalam (birth star compatibility with the event nakshatra), Chandrabalam (moon sign relationship), and the client’s personal birth chart.