Pancanga
पञ्चाङ्ग
Pancanga (पञ्चाङ्ग) - the five limbs of the traditional Hindu calendar - are tithi (lunar day), vara (weekday), nakshatra (constellation), yoga (auspicious combination), and karana (half-day). Together they form the framework for determining auspicious times.
2 min read
Pancanga - The Five Limbs of Time
The Pancanga (also spelled Panchanga) is the traditional Hindu calendar system that divides time into five limbs (anga). It is used to determine auspicious times for ceremonies, festivals, and daily activities.
The Five Limbs
1. Tithi (Lunar Day)
A tithi is the time it takes for the moon to move 12 degrees relative to the sun. There are 30 tithis in a lunar month, divided into two fortnights (pakshas): the bright fortnight (shukla paksha) from new moon to full moon, and the dark fortnight (krishna paksha) from full moon to new moon.
Different tithis are considered auspicious for different activities. For example:
- Ekadashi (11th day) is considered ideal for fasting and meditation
- Purnima (full moon) is auspicious for spiritual practices
- Amavasya (new moon) is suitable for ancestor rituals
2. Vara (Weekday)
The seven weekdays are named after the seven visible celestial bodies:
- Ravivar (Sunday) - Sun
- Somavar (Monday) - Moon
- Mangalavar (Tuesday) - Mars
- Budhavar (Wednesday) - Mercury
- Brihaspativar (Thursday) - Jupiter
- Shukravar (Friday) - Venus
- Shanivar (Saturday) - Saturn
3. Nakshatra (Constellation)
A nakshatra is one of the 27 lunar mansions - the constellations through which the moon passes during its monthly cycle. Each nakshatra has specific qualities and influences.
4. Yoga (Combination)
Yoga is the period during which the combined motion of the sun and moon covers a specific angular distance. There are 27 yogas, each with different effects.
5. Karana (Half-tithi)
A karana is half a tithi. There are 11 karanas in total, and they are used for determining the auspiciousness of specific moments.
The Daily Companion on Vedanta Loka
The Daily Companion page on Vedanta Loka (at /daily/) uses a client-side implementation of the Pancanga system, calculating the current tithi, nakshatra, and other elements using the mhah-panchang library. It pairs this traditional time-keeping with a curated verse from the Advaita tradition, offering a daily dose of spiritual reflection grounded in the cosmic calendar.
This integration of traditional time-keeping with Vedantic wisdom is unique to Vedanta Loka - most sites provide either calendar data or spiritual content, but rarely both in an integrated experience.