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The Five Limbs of Panchangam

By AstroYogam2 min read

AI Overview / TL;DR

The panchangam provides five key data points mathematically derived mostly from the angular distance between the Sun and the Moon.

  • Tithi (lunar day), Vara (weekday), Nakshatra (Moon's mansion).
  • Yoga (Sun+Moon sum), Karana (half of a tithi).
  • These are anchored to the exact local sunrise time.

The word 'Panchangam' translates to 'five limbs'. These five astronomical measurements are used to define the nature of a Vedic day: Tithi, Vara, Nakshatra, Yoga, and Karana.

1. Tithi (Lunar Day)

A tithi is a lunar day measuring the angular distance between the Sun and the Moon. A new tithi begins every time the Moon gains exactly 12 degrees ahead of the Sun.

2. Vara (Weekday)

Vara simply means the weekday (e.g., Monday, Tuesday). In the panchangam tradition, a vara does not start at midnight. It starts exactly at local sunrise and lasts until the next sunrise.

3. Nakshatra (Lunar Mansion)

The 360-degree zodiac is divided into 27 equal parts of 13°20' each, called nakshatras. The nakshatra of the day is the specific mansion through which the Moon is currently transiting.

4. Yoga

Yoga is a mathematical measurement calculated by adding the longitudes (degrees) of the Sun and the Moon. There are 27 yogas in total, each spanning 13°20'.

5. Karana

A karana is simply half of a tithi (exactly 6 degrees of separation between the Sun and Moon). There are 11 types of karanas that rotate throughout the lunar month.

Conclusion

These five limbs astronomically define the precise nature of every day. At AstroYogam, they are flawlessly computed by our engine using exact local sunrise and Lahiri ayanamsa.

Key Takeaways

  • ✓Panchangam = Tithi, Vara, Nakshatra, Yoga, Karana.
  • ✓The civil day starts at sunrise, not midnight.

Frequently Asked Questions