Aaj Ka Panchang | Free Hindu Daily Calendar | My Destiny Path
Today’s Panchang (Aaj Ka Panchang)
View today's Panchang with Tithi, Nakshatra, Yoga, Karana, Rahu Kaal, and auspicious Muhurats for your city. Free daily Hindu calendar by My Destiny Path. Sunday, April 5th, 2026.
Sunday, April 5th, 2026
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Calculating Planetary Positions...
How Our Panchang Calculator Works — A Plain-Language Guide
Our Panchang calculator uses the **Swiss Ephemeris** — the same precision astronomical engine trusted by research institutions worldwide. Every result you see is computed in real-time from your exact location and date. No pre-calculated tables. No approximations. The five limbs of Panchang (Tithi, Vara, Nakshatra, Yoga, Karana) are each derived from actual celestial geometry. Here is exactly what each number means and how we arrive at it.
"The Moon's phase is the tide of the mind. Tithi tells you the emotional climate of each day."
Tithi (Lunar Day) — What It Is & How We Calculate It
**Tithi** is the Vedic lunar day. We calculate it by measuring the angular gap between the Sun and Moon on the ecliptic. Every **12° of separation = 1 Tithi**. Since the full cycle is 360°, there are exactly 30 Tithis in a lunar month — 15 during the waxing Moon (Shukla Paksha: Moon moving away from Sun) and 15 during the waning Moon (Krishna Paksha: Moon moving back toward Sun). When you see 'Shukla Dashami' on our tool, it means the Moon is 108°–120° ahead of the Sun at your local sunrise.
**Why does Tithi change mid-day?** The Moon moves at varying speeds (12°–15° per day depending on its elliptical orbit). A fast Moon completes a Tithi in under 20 hours; a slow Moon may take 26 hours. This is why the same Tithi can appear on two calendar dates, or two Tithis can fall in one day. Our tool shows the Tithi at your local sunrise. **Rikta Tithis** (4th, 9th, 14th) mean 'empty hands' — avoid signing contracts or starting journeys. **Nanda Tithis** (1st, 6th, 11th) favour joy and new beginnings. **Purna Tithis** (5th, 10th, Purnima) are full and abundant.
Special Tithis at a Glance:
- Purnima (Full Moon): Peak spiritual and physical energy. Ideal for charity, worship, and high-visibility activities.
- Amavasya (New Moon): Introspective energy. Best for ancestor remembrance and deep rest. Avoid new ventures.
- Ekadashi (11th day): The most important fasting day in Vedic tradition. The digestive system benefits from rest; mental clarity is heightened.
- Chaturdashi (14th day): Intense, volatile energy. Sacred to Shiva. Avoid new starts; good for intense sadhana or letting go of the old.
"The Nakshatra is where the Moon rests each night. It shapes the character of the entire day."
Nakshatra (Lunar Mansion) — The Moon's Hourly Address
**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.
Nakshatra Types for Daily Planning:
- Soft (Mridu): Mrigashira, Chitra, Anuradha, Revati — art, learning, new clothes, building friendships.
- Fixed (Sthira): Rohini, Uttara Phalguni, Uttara Ashadha, Uttara Bhadrapada — foundations, marriage, buying land.
- Moveable (Chara): Punarvasu, Shravana, Dhanishta, Shatabhisha — travel, vehicle purchase, job change.
- Sharp (Tikshna): Moola, Jyeshtha, Ardra, Ashlesha — litigation, confrontation, exorcism, ending bad habits.
"Yoga means union. It is the alchemy of how the Sun's soul and the Moon's mind combine today."
Yoga (Sun–Moon Alignment) — The Day's Invisible Force
**How we calculate it:** Yoga = (Sun's ecliptic longitude + Moon's ecliptic longitude) ÷ 13°20'. The result (0–26) gives one of 27 Nithya Yogas. Unlike Tithi (which measures the *difference* between Sun and Moon), Yoga measures their *sum* — how the solar energy and lunar emotion combine that day. Think of Tithi as the day's mood; Yoga as its background music.
**Auspicious Yogas** to act on: Siddhi (success guaranteed), Shiva (spiritual depth), Harshana (happiness and joy), Shubha (general goodness), Sadhya (achievable goals). **Inauspicious Yogas** to avoid for new starts: Vyatipata (sudden reversal — highest caution), Vaidhriti (separation, conflict, things fall apart), Vajra (lightning — destructive force), Ganda (danger, obstacles), Atiganda (extreme danger). Our tool highlights these so you can plan accordingly.
Quick Yoga Reference:
- Ayushman: Long-life yoga — best for health treatments, inaugurating clinics, or anything health-related.
- Saubhagya: Fortune yoga — ideal for financial ventures, loan applications, marriage.
- Vaidhriti: Conflict yoga — avoid all auspicious work. Use only for opposition, debating, or litigation.
- Vyatipata: Calamity yoga — the highest warning. No new starts of any kind. Even routine tasks may hit obstacles.
"Karana is the hand that does the work. It determines whether the day's effort yields results or is withheld."
Karana (Half-Day Unit) — The Micro-Timing Window
**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.
Karana Quick Guide:
- Bava: Excellent for starting new work, nutritional activities, and healing.
- Kaulava: Social and relational activities — dating, friendships, negotiations.
- Vishti (Bhadra): Avoid all auspicious starts. Powerful for aggressive or purifying tasks.
- Kimstughna: The most auspicious fixed Karana — ideal for new beginnings at the start of the bright fortnight.
"Time is not a river flowing in one direction — it is a wheel with spokes of different qualities rotating over you."
Rahu Kaal, Gulika & Choghadiya — How These Timings Are Calculated
**Rahu Kaal:** We divide the daylight hours (sunrise to sunset) into exactly **8 equal parts**. The position of Rahu Kaal among these 8 parts is fixed by weekday: Sunday = 8th part, Monday = 2nd, Tuesday = 7th, Wednesday = 5th, Thursday = 6th, Friday = 4th, Saturday = 3rd. Because sunrise time varies by location and date, Rahu Kaal times change daily and differ between cities. Avoid starting anything new during this window. **Gulika Kaal** is calculated similarly as the 8th-part from a different starting point — it is the period of Saturn's son Gulika, also inauspicious for new starts.
**Choghadiya** ('four-ghati time') divides daylight and nighttime into **8 equal parts each**, with the quality cycling through 7 planetary rulers. The starting ruler is determined by the weekday. **Amrit, Shubha, and Labh** Choghadiyas are universally auspicious — use them for any important start. **Udveg** (anxiety) and **Rog** (disease) are inauspicious. **Kaal** is bad for new starts but usable for discipline. **Char** is neutral — good for travel. **Abhijit Muhurta** (around solar noon, approximately 48 minutes) overrides most Panchang doshas — it is your daily emergency Muhurta.
How to Use These Timings Practically:
- For urgent tasks with no pre-planned Muhurta: Use Choghadiya. Choose an Amrit, Shubh, or Labh window.
- For travel departures: Start during Char or Amrit Choghadiya. Never depart during Rahu Kaal.
- For medical procedures: Avoid Rahu Kaal and Gulika Kaal. Prefer Amrit Choghadiya and a Siddhi or Shiva Yoga day.
- For any auspicious new start: Verify the Tithi is not Rikta (4/9/14) AND the Karana is not Vishti.
"Planets are not just symbols — they are forces with measurable angular positions that affect tides, agriculture, and human psychology."
Planet Positions Table — Reading What It Shows
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.
Reading the Planet Table:
- Rashi (Sign): The sidereal zodiac sign. Moon changes signs every ~2.5 days; outer planets take years.
- Nakshatra: The lunar mansion within the sign — more precise than the sign itself. Changes every ~24 hours for the Moon.
- Pada (Quarter): The Navamsha subdivision within the Nakshatra. Used for precise Muhurta and deeper chart analysis.
- R (Retrograde): Planet energy turns inward; external results delay. Use for reconsideration, not launching new ventures.
Frequently Asked Questions
How our calculations work — answered in plain language.
Q.Why does my Panchang show different results than other websites?
Three factors create differences: (1) **Location** — All Panchang timings are sunrise-relative. Sunrise shifts by 4 minutes per degree of longitude, so even cities 100 km apart can show different Tithis for the same hour. Always enter your exact city. (2) **Ayanamsha** — We use Lahiri ayanamsha (~23°51'), the Indian government standard. Sites using Raman or Krishnamurti ayanamsha will show slightly different planet positions. (3) **Real-time vs tables** — We compute via Swiss Ephemeris in real-time. Many sites use pre-built tables rounded to the nearest degree, which can mis-assign a Nakshatra or Yoga near the cusp.
Q.What is ayanamsha and why does it matter?
Ayanamsha is the angular gap between the tropical zodiac (based on the spring equinox, used in Western astrology) and the sidereal zodiac (based on fixed stars, used in Vedic astrology). As of 2026, Lahiri ayanamsha ≈ 23°51'. This means Vedic planet degrees are shifted back ~24° from Western degrees. A planet at Aries 10° in a Western horoscope would appear at Pisces 16° in our Vedic Panchang. This is the root cause of the 'different zodiac sign' confusion between Vedic and Western readings.
Q.Why does the Tithi or Nakshatra sometimes change mid-day?
The Moon's orbital speed is not constant — it varies between ~12° and ~15° per day as it moves through its elliptical orbit. Since Tithi = 12° of Sun-Moon separation, a fast Moon can complete a Tithi in ~19 hours, while a slow Moon may take ~26 hours. Our tool shows the Tithi active at your local sunrise. If a Tithi starts just before sunrise and ends mid-morning, two Tithis can technically fall in the same calendar day — this is called a 'Kshaya Tithi' (lost Tithi).
Q.What does 'C' (Combust) mean next to a planet?
Combust means the planet is too close to the Sun in the sky, within the Sun's combustion orb. The Sun's brilliance overwhelms the planet's light, weakening its ability to deliver results. Orbs: Moon < 12°, Mercury < 14°, Venus < 10°, Mars < 17°, Jupiter < 11°, Saturn < 15°. A combust Mercury weakens communication, analysis, and business acumen. A combust Venus reduces relationship harmony and creativity. Combust planets are considered functionally weakened for the duration of their proximity to the Sun.
Q.Can I ignore a bad Yoga or Karana if my intentions are good?
Intention sets the direction; timing is the quality of the road. Think of planting a seed: your intention determines which seed to plant, but the Panchang determines whether the soil is fertile and the weather is favourable. A Vishti Karana or Vyatipata Yoga doesn't cause certain disaster — it adds friction and increases the chance of obstacles. For routine daily tasks it matters less. For significant decisions (surgery, marriage, business launch, property purchase), aligning with an auspicious Panchang can mean the difference between smooth progress and unnecessary struggle.
Q.What is Abhijit Muhurta and when does it occur?
Abhijit Muhurta corresponds to the period when the Sun crosses the local meridian (solar noon ± 24 minutes). At this moment, the Sun's energy is most direct and powerful. Classical texts state that Abhijit overcomes most Panchang doshas — even a Rikta Tithi or Vishti Karana is partially neutralised. It recurs every day and is the most accessible emergency Muhurta when no other favourable window exists. Our tool displays the exact Abhijit window for your location daily. Note: On Wednesday, Abhijit is considered weak and should be avoided for urgent work.