Aaj Ka Panchang | Free Hindu Daily Calendar | My Destiny Path

**How we calculate it:** We divide the 360° zodiac into 27 equal segments of **13°20' each**. We check which segment the Moon currently occupies. The result is your Nakshatra. The Moon travels through one full Nakshatra in approximately 24 hours — making it the most time-sensitive indicator in the Panchang. While a Sun sign lasts a month and a zodiac sign lasts 2.5 days, the Nakshatra changes daily. Each Nakshatra has a ruling deity, a ruling planet, a symbolic animal, and a specific quality of energy.

**How to use today's Nakshatra:** Each Nakshatra falls into one of four types. **Fixed Nakshatras** (Rohini, Uttara Phalguni, Uttara Ashadha, Uttara Bhadrapada) are best for foundations — buying property, marriage, starting a business that should last. **Moveable Nakshatras** (Shravana, Dhanishta, Shatabhisha, Punarvasu) favour travel, vehicle purchase, and change. **Sharp Nakshatras** (Moola, Jyeshtha, Ardra, Ashlesha) are suited for confrontation — litigation, ending contracts, severing bad habits. **Soft Nakshatras** (Mrigashira, Chitra, Anuradha, Revati) are best for arts, learning, and gentle activities.

**How we calculate it:** Karana = half a Tithi. Since Tithi = 12° of Sun–Moon separation, Karana = 6°. The Karana changes approximately every **6 hours**, giving you a micro-planning window within each day. There are 11 Karanas in total — 4 fixed (Shakuni, Chatushpada, Naga, Kimstughna — appearing only once per lunar month at specific positions) and 7 moveable (Bava, Balava, Kaulava, Taitila, Gara, Vanija, Vishti — repeating 8 times each across the month).

**The most critical Karana is Vishti (Bhadra).** During Vishti, classical texts advise against marriage, travel, business launches, and contract signing, as outcomes are believed to reverse. However, Vishti is considered powerful for aggressive tasks — filing litigation, ending a bad relationship, or destroying negativity. **Kimstughna** (the first Karana of Shukla Pratipada) is extremely auspicious for starting the new lunar month's work.

The planet table shows current positions of all 9 Vedic planets (Navagrahas) — Sun, Moon, Mars, Mercury, Jupiter, Venus, Saturn, Rahu, Ketu — plus Uranus, Neptune, and Pluto. All positions are in the **sidereal zodiac using Lahiri ayanamsha** (official Indian government standard, ~23°51' offset from Western tropical zodiac). This means Vedic signs are shifted back by approximately 24° from Western astrology. A planet at Aries 15° in Western astrology would appear at Pisces 21° in our Vedic table. **R (Retrograde):** The planet appears to move backward from Earth's perspective. Its results are delayed or internalized — better for review than new starts. **C (Combust):** The planet is within the Sun's combustion orb (~6° for Moon, 12° for Mercury, 15° for Mars/Saturn, 11° for Jupiter) and its significations are weakened.

**What the Pada (Quarter) tells you:** Each Nakshatra divides into 4 Padas (quarters) of 3°20' each. The Pada determines the Navamsha sign a planet occupies — crucial for precise Muhurta selection and Navamsha chart analysis. When the Moon is in Pada 4 of Pushya (as shown in the table), it is in the Pisces Navamsha — adding a spiritual, compassionate quality to the day's emotional backdrop.