What is Panchangam?
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Panchangam is the Hindu Almanac. Pancha means five and anga means limbs. The five limbs of Panchangam are Thithi, Vaara, Nakshatra, Yoga and Karana. The positions of the sun, moon and stars are used to know the quality of the astrological combinations at any given time. The elements of the Panchangam are not merely measures of time and space, but are living celestial divinities, whose daily blessings are auspicious and always benevolent.
Before every ritual, we chant the Panchagam, detailing our location on planet Earth as we record our sankalpa (intention) to the Cosmos, ensuring our sankalpa becomes a reality.
Masa (Solar month): In the Shaiva Agamas, Sadashiva mentions that among the different types of calendars, the solar calendar is superior. The months are calculated based on the movement of the sun into different zodiac moon signs (rashis). For example, when the sun is in Mesha rashi, the month is called Mesha masa.
Thithi (Lunar day): Thithi is calculated based on the lunar day, along with the rising and setting of the moon in the sky. Thithi is the time period during which the moon gains 12 degrees, or integral multiples, of longitude on the sun. In this calendar, each thithi will have a time next to it, indicating the end time of that particular thithi. After that, the next thithi automatically begins. Sometimes a lunar day is shorter or longer than the 24-hour solar day.
Vaara (day of the week): Vaara is the day calculated in relation to the seven days of the week. They are Bhanu, Sunday; Soma, Monday; Mangala, Tuesday; Budha, Wednesday; Guru, Thursday; Shukra, Friday; and Sthira, Saturday.
Paksha (phase of the moon): The waxing phase of the moon is called Sukla paksha, and the waning of the moon is called Krishna paksha.
Nakshatra (stars in relation to the moon): Nakshatra is the time taken by the moon to traverse a segment of 13.33 degrees or integral multiples of nirayana (calculation without the movement of the sun) zodiac. There are 27 nakshatras covering the 360 degrees along the zodiac.
Yoga (time measure in relation to the moon): Yoga is calculated from the sum of the nirayana longitudes of the sun and moon. When this sum amounts to 13.33 degrees, the first yoga ends. When it amounts to 26.66 degrees, the second yoga ends and so on. There are 27 yogas covering 360 degrees.
Karana (time measure which is half a Yoga): Karana is the time period during which the moon gains 6 degrees in longitude on the sun, and thus there are two karanas covering two half periods of the time period of a thithi. There are 7 karanas that repeat in a cyclical order, starting from the 2nd half of Shukla paksha, and ending at the first half of Krishna paksha chatudashi (14th lunar day of the waning phase of the moon). There are 4 sthira, or non-recurring karanas, that cover the period from the 2nd half of Krishna chaturdashi to 1st half of Shukla pratipada. It is the same way for thithi: the name of karana will be shown along with its end time.