Panchang is a very basic component of Vedic astrology. It is a Hindu Almanac to measure and record the units of time on the basis of Moon’s movement. Panchang is a compound word made up of two words: Panch and Ang. ‘Panch’ means five and ‘ang’ means limb. Therefore, the literal meaning of Panchang is five limbs of the Moon’s phase. They are: - 1) Vaar (week days), 2) Nakshatras, 3) Tithis, 4) Karans, and 5) Yogas.
1) Vaar (week days): - They are seven in number: Sunday, Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, and Saturday. Each of the vaars has its lord as shown against each of them: - Sunday: - Sun, Monday: - Moon, Tuesday: - Mars, Wednesday: - Mercury, Thursday: - Jupiter, Friday: - Venus, and Saturday: - Saturn. The weekdays are counted from Sunday onwards.
The logic according to the Hindu seers, Brahmagupta
and Bhashkarcharya is that Creation came into being only after the sun had come
into being and secondly, a day starts with the rise of the Sun, it is the sun
that wakens up the world every day. According to the Indian astrology a weekday
begins with the rise of the Sun and continues until next Sun rise; it means the
duration of the day is between Sunrise and sunrise next.
2)
Nakshatras: - In the zodiac there are 27
nakshatras. Full extent of the zodiac is 360°. Each nakshatra’s extent is 13
degree and 20 minutes: 13°-20´X 27=360° (for details of nakshatra, please,
refer to my previous article named ‘Relationship between zodiac and nakshatra).
The nakshatra that Moon takes on with her at the moment of occurrence of an
event or birth is called the nakshatra of the moment or the Janma Nakshatra.
The total extent of each nakshatra is divided into four equal parts called
Padas or quarters. One pada/quarter is equal to 3°-20´ (13°-20´÷4=3°-20´).
3) Tithi: - Tithi is one of the very important organs of the Panchang. Actually tithis are the days as per the lunar calendar. Tithis’ leagth is measured in degrees –the angular distance formed between the longitudinal distance of the Sun and the Moon. The unit of each tithi is 12°. As the Moon moves away from the Sun new tithis are formed with every 12° distance between them.
It means ending 12° indicates completion of one tithi. In one cycle route, the Moon creates 30 units of such 12 degrees: 12 X 30=360°. When the Moon’s displacement degree with Sun is 0°-0´-0", this day is called Amabashya or New Moon day and when the displacement is 180° then that day is called Poornima or Full Moon day.
Therefore,
Moon’s displacement creates two major and equal halves in her one cycle: 0° to
180° and 180° to 360°; it means two 180 degress: 0° to 180° is the period of
Bright half or the period of waxing Moon; and 180° to 360° (another 180°) is
the Dark half or the period of waning Moon. Each of the halves has 15 tithis:
180°÷12° ÷ 15 X2=30 tithis. Therefore, each of the halves has equal number of
tithis: 15 each. The names of the tithis of both the halves are same as shown in
the table below: -
|
Sukla Paksha (Bright half) |
Krishna Paksha (dark half) |
|
1)
Sukla Pratipada |
Krishna Pratipada |
|
2)
Sukla Dwitiya |
Krishna Dwitiya |
|
3)
Sukla Tritiya |
Krishna Tritiya |
|
4)
Sukla Chaturthi |
Krishna Chaturthi |
|
5)
Suklai Panchami |
Krishna Panchami |
|
6)
Sukla Shasthi |
Krishna Shasthi |
|
7)
Sukla Saptami |
Krishna Saptami |
|
8)
Sukla Astami |
Krishna Astami |
|
9)
Sukla Nawami |
Krishna Nawami |
|
10) Sukla Dashami |
Krishna Dashami |
|
11) Sukla Akadashi |
Krishna Akadashi |
|
12) Sukla Dwadashi |
Krishna Dwadashi |
|
13) Sukla Trayodashi |
Krishna Trayodashi |
|
14) Sukla Chaturdashi |
Krishna Chaturdashi |
|
15) Purnima (Full Moon) |
Amabashya (New Moon) |
4) Karans: - Karans are the half of the tithis.
Completion of each 6° of tithi means end of one Karan; in other words, the extent of each Karan is 6°. Therefore, each of the tithis has two kanans. Karanas are of two types: - sthir or fixed karanas and Chara or movable karans. Sthir karanas are four and movable karanas are seven. Therefore, in total,there are 11 karanas. The sthir or chara karans inevitably fall from the 2nd half of Krishna chaturdashi tithi to the 1st half of the sukla pratipada tithi. Namely, the sthir or fix karanas are: - 1) Shakuni, 2) Chatushpad,3) Naag, and 4) kingshtughna.
Chara Karans are seven in numbers. They are: 1) Bav, 2) Balav, 3) Kaulav, 4) Taitil, 5) Gar, 6) Vanij, and 7) Bishti. Bisthti karan is also called Bhadra Karan. Bhadra Karan is totally restricted for auspicious activities. But, this karan is considered effective for conducting malefic, cruel and harm inflicting activities, such as poisoning somebody or something, killing, kidnapping, waging wars and for practicing and reciting Mantras for successfully committing cruel deeds. As the Chara Karans are only 7 in number and the days are 30, so their cycle recurs in sequential order in a month.
Karan Table.
Sukla Paksha Tithi | 1st Tithi | 2nd Tithi | Krishna Paksha Tithi | 1st Tithi | 2nd Tithi |
Pratipada | kintusushgna | Bav | Pratipa-da | Balav | Kaulav |
Dwitia | Balav | Kaulav | Dwitia | Taitil | Gar |
Tritiya | Taitil | Gar | Tritia | Vanij | Bisti |
Chaturthi | Vanij | Bisti | Chatur-dashi | Bav | Balav
|
Panchami | Bav | Balav | Pancha-mi | Kaulav | Taitil |
Swashti | Kaulav | Taitil | Swasti | Gar | Vanij |
Saptami | Gar | Vanij | Sapta---mi | Bisti | Bav |
Astami | Bisti | Bav | Astami | Balav | Kaulav |
Nawami | Balav | Kaulav | Nawa---mi | Taitil | Gar |
Dashami | Taitil | Gar | Dasha--mi | Vanij | Bisti |
Akadashi | Vanij | Bisti | Akadas-hi | Bav | Balav |
Dwadashi | Bav | Balav | Dwada-shi | Kaulav | Taitil |
Trayodashi | Kaulav | Taitil | Trayod-ashi | Gar | Vanij |
Chaturd ashi | Gar | Vanij | Chatur-dashi | Bisti | Shakuni |
Poornima | Bisti | Bav | Amaba-shya | Chatushp-ad | Naag |
Basic attributes of karanas
1) Bav: - Bav Karan is ruled by Vishnu, the preserver. Individuals born in this karan are spiritual, liberal, happy, and contented with what they get. They are fit for any kind of work and perform any work assigned to them with utmost sincerity, diligence, and sense of commitment.
2) Baalav: - Baalav karan is ruled by Brahma, the God of creation. Individuals of this karan are highly spiritual, bold, and lucky. They like to go on for pilgrimage tours and spend more time of their lives in doing religious and philanthropic activities.
3) Kaulav: - Kaulav karan is ruled by Moon. People of this karan are usually very friendly but secretive and fickle minded. This karan endows people with some special talents like loving, caring and nurturing. But, these people may indulge in unrightous deeds.
4) Taitil: - Indra, the ruler of the heaven rules this karan. Individuals born in this karan are happy, affluent, gorgeous, and live very high standard life. Love matters are very important for them, but in attitude they are firm, bold and fierce, and by nature heroic and adventurous.
5) Gar: - Basudeva, the father of Sri Krishna, Balaram and Subhadra, and king of Vrishnis, is the ruling deity of this karana. The individuals born in Gara Karana may be physically weak. They believe more in their talent rather than luck and try to achieve their cherished goal through diligence and hard work. They are best fit in animal husbandry, fodder trade and construction works.
6) Vanij: - The ruling lord of Vanij Karana is Manibhadra, the chief of Yakshas. People of Vanij Karana are by nature interested in business and possess business and financial acumen.
7) Bisti or Bhadra Karana: - Mrityu or Mara or Yama is the Goddess of this karana. This is an inauspicious karana. Individual of this karana are generally believed to be cruel, fierce, adventurous, inclined to amoral activities by nature. People of this karana said to be best fit for destructive and cruel activities, such as attacking enemies, waging a war, kidnapping and the likes.
8) Shakuni: - Garud, the king of birds and the vehicle mount of Lord Vishnu, is the ruling deity of this karana. Individuals born in Shakuni karana are inclined towards law and justice and have inborn expertise in resolving any kinds of conflicts. They are calm, patient, and intelligent. They possess a good sense of foreboding.
9) Chatushpad: -Chatushpada karana always falls on Amabyasha (New Moon). The ruling deity is Vrishabha, the Bull and thus they are expert in eliminating enemies through Trantricism. They are spiritual, active, mighty, and respect educated and learned people. They are also very fond of pet animals and can easily diagnose animal diseases and cure them. They can make very successful veterinary (animal) doctors. Success comes easily to them in businesses related to cattle.
10) Naag: - Naag Karana is ruled by Naag. Individuals born in this karana are believed to be portentous and unlucky. Their life is full of struggles, obstacles, and problems. Success comes to their lives only after through struggle and hard work. They are endowed with inborn knowledge in metals and minerals.
11) Kinshtughna: - This karana always falls on the 1st half of Sukla Pratipada tithi and is considered to be the best karana for doing any auspicious activity. The ruling deity of Kinshtughna Karana is Kuber, the God of wealth. Individuals born in this karana are lucky and wealthy and lead wealthy life style. They get high quality education, love charity and live happy and contented life.
Yogas: -
The literal meaning of Yoga is addition –addition of the longitudes of the Sun and the Moon. There are two types of yogas –Naisargik Nitya Yogas and Tatkalik Yogas. Naisargik Nitya yogas are created based on the longitudes of the Sun and the Moon. Yogas are created by every 13°-20´ displacement of the Moon from the Sun. Tatkalik yogas are determined on the basis of the Vaars (week days) and Nakshatras (constellations). The literal meaning of yoga is addition –addition of the longitudes of the Sun and the Moon. There are 27 yogas. They are sequentially bernamed below: -
1) Vishkambha, 2) Priti, 3) Ayushmaan,4) Saubhagya, 5) Sobhana, 6)Atiganda, 7) Sukarma,8) Dhriti, 9) Soola, 10) Ganda, 11) Vriddhi, 12) Druva, 13) Byaghata, 14) Harshana, 15) Vajra, 16) Siddhi, 17) Byatipaat, 18) Variyan, 19) Parigh, 20) Siva, 21) Siddha, 22) Sadhya, 23) Subha, 24) Sukla, 25) Brahma, 26) Indra, 27) Vaidhriti.
Meaning and attribution of the above Yogas are mentioned below in words: -
1) Vishkambha (Supported): - influential, victorious over opponents and enemies, wealthy.
2) Priti (Affectionate): - Well – liked by all and attracted to opposite gender, joyful life.
3) Ayushmaan (Long lived): - Blessed with good health and longevity, energetic.
4) Saubhagya (Good luck): - Bestowed with good fortune, comfort, opportunities, and happiness.
5) Sobhana (splendour and grandour): - look splendid, beautiful, and lustrous body, have a sensualist demeanor and obsessed with sex.
6) Atiganda (Danger and obstacle): - Angry and revengeful, difficult life due to frequent obstacles and accidents.
7) Sukarma (Virtuous and righteous): - wealthy, charitable and magnanimous; performs noble righteous and noble deeds.
8) Dhriti (Determination): - Talented, wise and wealthy; likes to live a happy and peaceful family life.
9) Soola (Pain): - likely to have pain or death with spear or iron pin like metal; confrontational and contrary nature.
10) Ganda (Danger and obstacle): - immoral and unethical nature, troublesome personality.
11) Vriddhi (Growth): - intelligent and opportunistic; life always improves with age.
12) Druva (Constant): - steady character and ability to concentrate and persist; wealthy.
13) Byaghat (Beating): - cruel nature and harmful intent for others.
14) ) Harshana (Thrilling): - delightful, merry making, humorous, and intelligent.
15) Vajra (Thunderbolt): - forceful, lascivious, unpredictable, and well off.
16) Siddhi (Success): -skillful, accomplished in many areas, and protector of others.
17) Byatipaat (Calamity): - prone to sudden mishaps and reversal; fickle minded and unreliable.
18) Variyan (Comfort): - lazy, loves comfort, ease and luxury; lascivious.
19) Parigh (Obstruction): - obstacles and confrontation in the path of progress in life, irritating and meddling.
20) Siva (Auspicious): - calm and peaceful, learned, spiritual, wealthy; honoured by superiors and government.
21) Siddha (Accomplished): - tending to rituals and spirituality, accommodating but pleasant nature.
22) Saddhya (Amenable): - well behaved, good manners and etiquette.
23) Subh (Auspicious): - lustrous body and personality, but health problem, aspiring to be wealthy.
24) Sukla (Bright white): - bright and clean; flighty, unstable and changeable mind.
25) Brahma (God, priest): - ambitious, confidential and trustworthy; ability and quality of discernment.
26) Indra (Chief): - helpful and well-off; inclination towards knowledge and learning.
27) Vaidhriti (Poor support): - critical and scheming by nature but physically and mentally powerful.
Significance of Panchang: -
1) Panchang gives us information about the energy (nature and intensity) with which a child is born or an event has occurred. Analysis of the birth chart straightaway, without examining the elements of the panchang, often than not is likely to lead to making unjustified conclusions for the strength of the yogas present in the natal chart through planetary combination may stand further strengthened or weakened with alteration of Vaars (weekdays), Tithis, Yogas and Karanas.
2) The panchang limbs let us know what will be the native’s nature, emotions, temperament, and personal attitude, and attitude to life. Besides, the Karanas, and Yogas give us some clue about the mindset of the person that has come to meet us or in a schedule to meet.
3) Panchang is used for every branch of Vedic astrology: natal, horary, and electional (auspicious time elated)
The End.
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