How to read a panchangam · పంచాంగం
Pancha means five and anga means limb. The panchangam describes each day through five measures, based on the Sun and the Moon.
The five limbs
- Tithi · తిథి. The lunar day. There are 30 in a lunar month: 15 in the waxing Shukla paksham, ending at Pournami, and 15 in the waning Bahula paksham, ending at Amavasya.
- Vaaram · వారం. The day of the week, reckoned from sunrise.
- Nakshatram · నక్షత్రం. The star group the Moon is passing through. There are 27.
- Yogam · యోగం. One of 27 divisions based on the combined motion of the Sun and the Moon.
- Karanam · కరణం. Half of a tithi. There are 11 types.
Times people choose
- Abhijit muhurtam · అభిజిత్ ముహూర్తం. Around local midday.
- Amrutha kalam · అమృత కాలం. A favourable window that depends on the nakshatram.
- Brahma muhurtam · బ్రహ్మ ముహూర్తం. Before sunrise, valued for prayer and study.
Times people avoid for new beginnings
- Rahu kalam · రాహు కాలం. About an eighth of the daytime, at a different point each weekday.
- Yamagandam · యమగండం and Gulika kalam · గుళిక కాలం. Similar daily periods.
- Durmuhurtam · దుర్ముహూర్తం. One or two short windows each day.
- Varjyam · వర్జ్యం. A window that depends on the nakshatram.
Telugu tradition follows the amanta system, in which a lunar month ends at Amavasya. See all of this for your city on the calendar.
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