Vedic Astrology time and again has the requirement of referring to the auspicious dates and the calendar to seek crucial dates or some important events like Full Moon, or New Moon, eclipses etc. These all the needs are served by the Panchang. A Panchang is a significant and valuable Vedic Astrology or ‘Jyotish’ text. Astrologers can utilise the information in Panchang to do astrological calculations when creating a birth chart, locating dashas, and calculating other important times based on birth specifics for forecasting life events.

The Panchang contains information on the positioning and transit of planets, as well as Hindu ephemeris and other astronomical features relating to the Hindu calendar. The Hindu calendar is based on the movement of the Moon, which is an important element to remember. It is a hybrid of the Hindu calendar and the almanack. It’s known by a variety of names, including Panjika in the east and Panchangam in the south. Panchang is the name given to it in northern India. The impacts of numerous planets and Nakshatras on the lives of individuals may be determined and analysed using the calculations.

Broadly speaking, a Panchang can be divided into five elements which form the very basis for undertaking various astrological calculations involving the planetary positioning and movements and these associated to the dates. Subsequently, based on these calculations and the placement or transit of planets, the Astrological predictions are made accurately by the Astrologers. These five elements are as described in succeeding paras.

Vaar or day of week

Vaar or the week day is the Hindu calendar day, which consists of weekdays from Sunday through Saturday, with each day consisting of 24 hours split into Hora. Each day begins with Sunrise and finishes with Sunrise the next day, including a 24 hour cycle.

Tithi or date as per Hindu calendar

The Tithi is the lunar day in the Hindu calendar. We can also say that the link between the Sun and the Moon is known as the tithi. The lunar day is determined by the movement of the Moon. Calculation of a tithi is done which includes when the moon moves 12 degrees eastwards from the sun. This initial 12 degrees gives the first Tithi whcih is called Pratipada Thithi during waxing phase of moon or the Shukla Paksha. A month is made up of 30 lunar days. 15 lunar days fall under the waxing Moon and called Shukla Paksha, which are the light 15 days, while the other 15 lunar days fall under the waning Moon, which are the dark 15 days called Krishna Paksha.

Nakshatra

The constellations are known as nakshatras. According to Vedic Astrology, there are 27 Nakshatras, each of which spans 13 degrees and 20 minutes and is split throughout the zodiac (360 degrees). Because each zodiac sign spans 30 degrees, it has roughly two complete Nakshatras and a fraction of the third Nakshatra. Astrologers utilise Nakshatras, like planets, to make predictions.

Yog

Yogas may be found in both the natal and sub-divisional charts, and they can be both beneficial and harmful. These occur as a result of planetary alignments and associated horoscope correlations. There are 27 permanent yogas and 28 temporary yogas.

Karan

Because there are two Karans in each tithi, there are 60 Karans in a Lunar month with 30 tithis. Out of these four Karnas, whose occurrence in a lunar month is fixed, the balance, fifty-six Karans are made up of eight repeats of seven karans are not fixed in a lunar month’s sequence.

Panchang is a very useful and important document for Astrology and a must for consulting for accurate predictions.