Muhurtha — Panchanga Elements, Nava Taras & Special Tithis

Fundamental Principle — Same Muhurtha Not Good for All Events

• A muhurtha is chosen for a specific purpose — the same moment may be excellent for writing a book but terrible for starting a business
• You must decide: what is the primary goal of this event, and prioritize the panchanga element that governs it most
• When multiple priorities conflict, the astrologer must balance — not every element can be perfect simultaneously

• "Even if Brihaspati comes, he cannot find a muhurtha perfect for every element on every day."

  — PVNR

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The Five Panchanga Elements and Their Tattvas

Each of the five components of the Panchanga corresponds to a different element (Tattva) and governs a specific aspect of the venture:

Understanding Each Tattva

Jala (Tithi): Water is creative, flowing. A strong Tithi = creative, fertile, prosperous feeling and sense of well-being throughout the venture.

Agni (Vara): Fire is the life force within us. If Varesha is weak or afflicted → the fire in the project burns low → lethargy, delays, loss of momentum. If strong → energy, drive, sustained action.

Vayu (Nakshatra): Wind gives strength. Strong Nakshatra = capacity to push through obstacles. Too-strong Vayu can destroy (like a storm). Weak Nakshatra = person lacks the physical/mental stamina to complete.

Akasha (Yoga): Ether has no form — it is that which binds all other elements together. Yoga shows whether the various forces within the venture (people, intentions, abilities) will work in harmony or fall apart. Critical for ventures involving multiple people or competing internal forces.

Bhumi (Karana): Earth is solid, tangible. Karana shows what you actually accomplish and leave behind as a concrete result.

Priority Based on Purpose

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Three-Layer Evaluation for Each Panchanga Element

For each element, check three things — all three should ideally be favorable:

1. Inherently good or bad? — Is this Tithi/Vara/Nakshatra/Yoga/Karana considered auspicious by tradition in general?
2. Good for this specific native? — Is the lord of this element a benefic/malefic for THIS person's natal chart? (e.g., the Nakshatra lord may be the 9th lord = very good; or the 6th lord = not ideal)
3. Well-placed in the muhurtha chart itself? — Is the lord well-placed in the muhurtha's own chart (kendra/kona from lagna, etc.)?

If all three conditions are met → that element is at maximum strength.

Vara (Weekday) — Important Nuance

Traditional belief: Wed/Thu/Fri = good (benefics rule); Tue/Sat/Sun = bad (malefics rule). PVNR's view: This thumb rule is less important. If Mars (Tue) is your lagna lord and yogakaraka, Tuesday may be your BEST Vara. Always prioritize the native's own chart over generic benefic/malefic of Vara.

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Nava Taras — Nine Stars from Moon

The System

Starting from the native's Janma Nakshatra (Moon's nakshatra at birth), assign the 27 nakshatras to 9 categories of 3 each, cycling 3 times through:

How to Use

• At the time of the muhurtha: see where Moon is in the sky. Find which Tara it is from the native's Janma Nakshatra.
• Try to choose Sampat, Kshema, Sadhana, Mitra, or Paramitra.
• Avoid Vipat, Pratyak, Naidhana. Janma Tara is ambiguous.

All Three Janma Taras Share One Ruler

All three nakshatras classified as Janma Tara are ruled by the same planet. Similarly, all Sampat Taras share one planetary ruler. This connects to Vimshottari Dasha:

• The Vimshottari period of the Kshema Tara's planet = generally a period of well-being
• The period of the Pratyak Tara's planet = period with obstacles
• This is approximate, not precise, but provides general orientation

Multiple People (e.g., Marriage)

When choosing muhurtha for bride AND groom: find a nakshatra that is auspicious for both. This may limit options. If compromise is needed, boost the person whose chart has more weakness by choosing a Tara that is especially good for them.

JHora Software

Right-click the Longitude window → Select "Taras from Moon" to see each nakshatra's Tara classification for the native.

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Special Tithis — 12 Types

Standard Tithi Calculation

• Moon minus Sun = angle advanced
• Every 12° = one tithi → 30 tithis in a lunar month
• Amavasya: Sun-Moon 0° (new moon), Purnima: 180°

Special Tithis (Progressed at Different Speeds)

These are found by multiplying (Moon–Sun) by a factor, then dividing by 12°:

Computation: (Moon–Sun) × factor → subtract multiples of 360 → divide by 12 → take quotient + 1 = tithi number

Tithi Sandhi: A tithi transitioning from one to another — avoid muhurthas at sandhi points, especially at Amavasya/Pratipat boundary. JHora shows "% left" which indicates position within the tithi.

How to Use Special Tithis

For a specific activity, check whether the relevant special tithi is in a strong tithi position:

• Marriage: Check Kalatra Tithi — is it in an auspicious regular tithi? Is the Kalatra tithi lord well-placed?
• Career: Check Karma Tithi — if in an auspicious tithi with a good Karma tithi lord, excellent for career muhurthas
• Fortune: Check Bhagya Tithi
• These can override the general reputation of a tithi — e.g., a generally "bad" tithi may be your Karma Tithi = excellent for career purposes

Amavasya Rules

• Generally considered inauspicious for most activities
• BUT: excellent for starting tantric pujas, Kali sadhana, or specific deities' worship
• If you MUST do something on Amavasya: ensure Rahu is well-placed in the muhurtha chart (Rahu is the lord of Amavasya)
• Regional views differ widely on Amavasya

Tithi Lord Table (Memorization Aid)

Pratipat=Sun, Dvitiya=Moon, Tritiya=Mars, Chaturthi=Mercury, Panchami=Jupiter, Shashthi=Venus, Saptami=Saturn, Ashtami=Rahu... then repeats Sun-Moon-Mars-Mercury-Jupiter-Venus → Purnima=Saturn, Amavasya=Rahu

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