The Five Sacred Elements of Tamil Panchangam (பஞ்சாங்கத்தின் ஐந்து அங்கங்கள்)
The word Panchangam is a Sanskrit compound: Pancha (five) + Anga (limb). Just as the five fingers of a hand work together, these five elements combine to give a complete picture of the cosmic energy on any given day. Tamil astrologers — called Jothidars — have consulted the Panchangam for over 2,000 years to guide every significant decision in life.
Each element is computed from the sidereal (Nirayana) positions of the Sun and Moon using the Lahiri Ayanamsa — the correction factor (~23.86°) that converts tropical zodiac positions to the fixed-star sidereal system used in Vedic astrology. Our calculator applies this correction automatically so every value you see is aligned with traditional Tamil Jothidam.
Tamil Tithi Guide — 30 Lunar Days (திதிகள்)
A Tithi begins when the Moon is exactly 0°, 12°, 24°... ahead of the Sun in sidereal longitude and ends when it gains another 12°. Because the Moon's speed varies, a Tithi can last anywhere from 19 to 26 hours — which is why the same Tithi can sometimes appear on two consecutive calendar days, or be skipped entirely (Kshaya Tithi).
🌗 Shukla Paksha (வளர்பிறை) — The waxing fortnight from New Moon to Full Moon. Tithis 1–14 plus Pournami (Full Moon, #15). This is considered generally auspicious for new beginnings, prayers, and ceremonies.
🌒 Krishna Paksha (தேய்பிறை) — The waning fortnight from Full Moon to New Moon. Tithis 16–29 plus Amavasai (New Moon, #30). More suited for ancestral rites, introspection, and completion of tasks.
The 30 Tamil Tithis & Their Significance
| # | Tamil Name | Sanskrit | Ruling Deity | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | பிரதமை | Pratipada | Agni | New ventures, travel |
| 2 | துவிதியை | Dwitiya | Brahma | Accumulation, learning |
| 3 | திரிதியை | Tritiya | Gauri | Weddings, auspicious work |
| 4 | சதுர்த்தி | Chaturthi | Ganesha | Ganesha puja, obstacle removal |
| 5 | பஞ்சமி | Panchami | Serpents | Medicine, healing |
| 6 | ஷஷ்டி | Shashthi | Karthikeya | Murugan worship, courage |
| 7 | சப்தமி | Saptami | Surya | Sun worship, health |
| 8 | அஷ்டமி | Ashtami | Shiva/Kali | Tantra, powerful rituals |
| 9 | நவமி | Navami | Durga | Devi worship, strength |
| 10 | தசமி | Dashami | Dharmaraj | Justice, legal matters |
| 11 | ஏகாதசி | Ekadashi | Vishnu | Fasting, Vishnu worship ⭐ |
| 14 | சதுர்தசி | Chaturdashi | Shiva/Kali | Shiva worship, Pradosham |
| 15 | பௌர்ணமி | Pournami | Chandra | Most auspicious — Full Moon puja ⭐⭐ |
| 30 | அமாவாசை | Amavasai | Pitru | Ancestor rites (Tarpanam) ⭐ |
⭐ Pro Tip: Ekadashi (11th Tithi) and Pournami (Full Moon) are the most widely observed auspicious Tithis in Tamil culture. Starting a business, signing contracts, or performing Griha Pravesam (housewarming) on these days is considered highly beneficial.
Today's Tamil Nakshatram — All 27 Stars Explained (நட்சத்திரங்கள்)
The 27 Nakshatrams divide the 360° zodiac into equal segments of 13°20′ each. The Moon travels through all 27 in approximately 27.3 days (one sidereal month). The Nakshatram occupied by the Moon at any moment powerfully influences the nature of that time — a principle at the heart of Tamil astrology (Tamil Jothidam).
Most Auspicious Nakshatrams for Important Events
| Nakshatram | Tamil | Best Events | Nature |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rohini | ரோகிணி | Weddings, business launch, griha pravesam | Highly Auspicious |
| Hasta | ஹஸ்தம் | Travel, learning, starting new jobs | Highly Auspicious |
| Pushya | பூசம் | Purchasing gold, investments, education | Highly Auspicious |
| Uttara Phalguni | உத்திரம் | Weddings, partnerships | Auspicious |
| Uttara Ashadha | உத்திராடம் | Long-term commitments, ceremonies | Auspicious |
| Revati | ரேவதி | Journeys, charity, endings & completions | Auspicious |
| Ashlesha | ஆயில்யம் | Avoid auspicious events — serpent star | Inauspicious |
| Jyeshtha | கேட்டை | Avoid major beginnings | Inauspicious |
| Mula | மூலம் | Avoid auspicious events — destructive nature | Inauspicious |
Rahu Kalam Today Tamil — Complete Weekly Chart (ராகு காலம்)
Rahu Kalam (ராகு காலம்) is the most widely observed inauspicious period in Tamil daily life. It is named after Rahu — the North Node of the Moon — which is considered a shadow planet (Chaya Graha) associated with illusion, obstacles, and sudden reversals. Starting any new, important activity during Rahu Kalam is strongly advised against in Tamil tradition.
🚫 Do NOT start during Rahu Kalam: Weddings, thread ceremonies, business launches, signing contracts, travel to new places, purchasing property, starting a new job, or any auspicious ceremony.
How Rahu Kalam is Calculated
The daylight hours (from sunrise to sunset) are divided into 8 equal segments. Rahu occupies one of these 8 slots depending on the day of the week. The formula is based on the ancient mnemonic: "Mother Saw Father Wearing The Turban Sunday" — mapping to slots 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2 for Sun through Sat.
For example, if sunrise is at 06:00 and sunset at 18:00, each segment = 90 minutes. On Monday, Rahu occupies slot 2 → starts at 06:00 + 1×90 min = 07:30 to 09:00.
Rahu Kalam — Approximate Times for Chennai (Sunrise ~06:00)
⚠️ These are approximate for Chennai with ~12-hour daylight. Exact times vary by your city and actual sunrise. Use our live calculator above for precise timings.
Yamagandam & Gulikai (எமகண்டம் & குளிகை)
Two additional inauspicious periods complete the "three forbidden slots" of Tamil daily life:
| Period | Tamil | Ruled By | Severity | What to Avoid |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rahu Kalam | ராகு காலம் | Rahu (Shadow planet) | Most Severe | All new auspicious beginnings |
| Yamagandam | எமகண்டம் | Yama (God of Death) | Very Severe | Travel, surgeries, major decisions |
| Gulikai | குளிகை | Saturn's son | Moderate | Financial transactions, important meetings |
Auspicious Muhurtham Times in Tamil Panchangam (சுப நேரங்கள்)
Abhijit Muhurtham (அபிஜித் முகூர்த்தம்) — The Golden Hour
Abhijit Muhurtham is considered the most powerful auspicious window of every day — so potent that it can override almost any negative planetary combination. It occurs at solar noon, specifically during the 8th Muhurtham of the day (each day has 15 Muhurthams of ~48 minutes each).
✨ Calculation: Abhijit = Midpoint of daylight ± (daylight duration ÷ 30). For a 12-hour day: it spans approximately 11:36 AM to 12:24 PM. This window is sacred enough to start any auspicious work — even on otherwise inauspicious days.
The only exception: Wednesdays. On Wednesday, Abhijit Muhurtham is considered ineffective or even harmful — a rare exception noted in the Muhurtha Chintamani, one of the classical texts on auspicious timing.
Brahma Muhurtham (பிரம்ம முகூர்த்தம்) — The Creator's Hour
Brahma Muhurtham falls in the pre-dawn hours — specifically the 14th Muhurtham of the night, approximately 1.5 to 0.8 hours before sunrise (roughly 4:24 to 5:12 AM for a 6:00 AM sunrise). This sacred window is revered across all Vedic traditions as the best time for:
- Meditation and pranayama (breathing exercises)
- Vedic studies, mantra recitation, and scripture reading
- Prayer and temple rituals
- Creative work and deep intellectual pursuits
- Spiritual practices of all kinds
Ayurveda and modern science both confirm that the pre-dawn hours see a natural peak in cortisol, serotonin precursors, and cognitive clarity — aligning ancient wisdom with contemporary neuroscience.
Other Auspicious Times in Tamil Tradition
| Muhurtham | Tamil | Approx. Time | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| Brahma Muhurtham | பிரம்ம முகூர்த்தம் | ~4:24–5:12 AM | Prayer, meditation, study |
| Abhijit Muhurtham | அபிஜித் முகூர்த்தம் | ~11:36 AM–12:24 PM | Any auspicious work ⭐ |
| Vijaya Muhurtham | விஜய முகூர்த்தம் | ~2:24–3:12 PM | Competitions, exams, battles |
| Godhuli Muhurtham | கோதூளி முகூர்த்தம் | Just after sunset | Weddings in some traditions |
| Amrit Kalam | அமிர்த காலம் | Varies daily | Medicine, healing, Ayurveda |
Sunrise & Sunset Times Across Tamil Nadu (சூரிய உதயம் & அஸ்தமனம்)
In Vedic tradition, the day begins not at midnight but at sunrise. All Panchangam values — Tithi, Nakshatram, Rahu Kalam — are anchored to your local sunrise. This is why the same calendar date can have different Panchangam values in Chennai versus Coimbatore. Our widget calculates sunrise and sunset using the NOAA Solar Position Algorithm, accurate to within 1–2 minutes for any location on Earth.
Major Tamil Nadu Cities — Approximate Annual Sunrise Range
How to Use Tamil Panchangam in Daily Life (அன்றாட வாழ்வில் பயன்பாடு)
For Weddings & Muhurtham Ceremonies
Tamil weddings require a Shubh Muhurtham — an auspicious window selected by a Jothi consultant using multiple factors: the Tithi, Nakshatram, day of week, Lagna (rising sign at the ceremony time), the couple's birth stars, and the absence of all three inauspicious periods. The most prized wedding Nakshatrams are Rohini, Hasta, Uttara Phalguni, Uttara Ashadha, and Revati.
For Business & Financial Decisions
Business owners across Tamil Nadu consult the Panchangam before major launches. Avoid Rahu Kalam for signing agreements or launching products. Pushya Nakshatram is specifically associated with financial prosperity — purchasing gold on Pushya is a near-universal practice. Thursdays (Guru Vaaram, ruled by Jupiter) are generally auspicious for financial matters.
For Daily Prayers & Temple Visits
Most Tamil households check the Panchangam before beginning morning prayers. The Brahma Muhurtham is the prime time. Key festivals — Aadi Perukku, Karthigai Deepam, Thai Pongal — are all anchored to specific Tithi-Nakshatram combinations from the Panchangam. Pradosham (Shiva worship) occurs on the 13th Tithi (Trayodashi) of both fortnights, ideally at sunset.
For Travel
Starting a journey (especially a new one) during Rahu Kalam or Yamagandam is strictly avoided. The ideal times to begin travel are during Abhijit Muhurtham or after checking that the ruling Nakshatram is favourable for movement (Ashwini, Punarvasu, Hasta, Swati, Shravana, and Revati are all considered travel-friendly).
🪔 Get Today's Exact Tamil Panchangam for Your City
Our live calculator above computes precise Tithi, Nakshatram, Rahu Kalam, Yamagandam, Gulikai,
Abhijit Muhurtham, Brahma Muhurtham, and sunrise/sunset for any city in Tamil Nadu — right now.
Frequently Asked Questions — Tamil Panchangam (அடிக்கடி கேட்கப்படும் கேள்விகள்)
Tamil Yogam — The 27 Sun-Moon Combinations (யோகங்கள்)
Yogam is computed by adding the sidereal longitudes of the Sun and Moon, then dividing the result into 27 segments of 13°20′ each. Yogams range from highly auspicious to deeply inauspicious — and unlike Tithi or Nakshatram (which follow the Moon alone), Yogam captures the combined energy of both luminaries.
| # | Yogam | Tamil | Nature |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Vishkumbha | விஷ்கும்பம் | Inauspicious — avoid new starts |
| 2 | Priti | பிரீதி | Auspicious — love, friendship |
| 3 | Ayushman | ஆயுஷ்மான் | Long life, health — very good |
| 4 | Saubhagya | சௌபாக்யம் | Prosperity, fortune |
| 5 | Shobhana | சோபனம் | Radiance, auspicious |
| 6 | Atiganda | அதிகண்டம் | Obstacles — avoid |
| 9 | Shula | சூலம் | Pain — avoid important work |
| 15 | Vajra | வஜ்ரம் | Harsh — avoid ceremonies |
| 16 | Siddhi | சித்தி | Achievement — excellent for goals |
| 17 | Vyatipata | வ்யதீபாதம் | Very inauspicious — avoid all |
| 27 | Vaidhriti | வைதிருதி | Very inauspicious — avoid all |
📌 Note: Vyatipata (யோகம் 17) and Vaidhriti (யோகம் 27) are considered the two most inauspicious Yogams in the entire cycle — comparable in severity to Rahu Kalam. No auspicious ceremonies should begin under these Yogams.
Understanding Ayanamsa in Tamil Jothidam (அயனாம்சம்)
Ayanamsa (அயனாம்சம்) is the angular difference between the tropical zodiac (used in Western astrology) and the sidereal zodiac (used in Vedic astrology). Currently in 2026, the Lahiri Ayanamsa is approximately 23.86°. This means when Western astrology says the Sun is at 10° Aries, Tamil Jothidam places it at 10° - 23.86° = ~16° Pisces.
This distinction is fundamental: Tamil Panchangam values are always sidereal. The Lahiri Ayanamsa — adopted as the official standard by the Government of India in 1955 — is the basis for all Tithi, Nakshatram, and Yogam calculations on this page. Our widget displays the precise Ayanamsa used for that day's calculation in the footer of the calculator.