What is Panchang?
The word Panchang (also spelled Panjika or Panchangam) comes from Sanskrit — "Pancha" meaning five, and "Anga" meaning limb. It refers to the five essential elements of the Hindu almanac that together describe the cosmic quality of each day.
For thousands of years, Panchang has been the backbone of Hindu timekeeping — used by priests, astrologers, and families to determine everything from wedding dates to business launches to temple worship timings.
The Five Limbs of Panchang
- Tithi (Lunar Day): One of 30 lunar days in a month, based on the Moon's distance from the Sun. Governs the nature of the day — auspicious, neutral, or inauspicious.
- Vara (Weekday): Each day of the week is ruled by a planet — Sunday by Sun, Monday by Moon, etc. Determines which activities are favored.
- Nakshatra (Lunar Mansion): The 27 Nakshatras represent the Moon's daily position. Each has a unique energy affecting mood, decisions, and outcomes.
- Yoga (Auspicious Period): 27 special Yogas formed by combining the Sun and Moon's longitudes. Some are highly auspicious (Siddha, Amrita), while others are inauspicious (Vyatipata, Vaidhriti).
- Karana (Half Lunar Day): Each Tithi is divided into two Karanas, governing the energy of smaller time blocks within the day.
"Every moment in time has a cosmic signature. Panchang is the science of reading that signature."
How Panchang is Used Today
- Determining Muhurta — the most auspicious time for weddings, housewarming, travel, and business
- Planning festivals and vratas (fasting days)
- Scheduling medical treatments, surgeries, and important meetings
- Daily prayer timings and Rahu Kaal (inauspicious period to avoid)
Access Daily Panchang via API
Our Panchang API delivers all five elements of the daily Panchang in real time for any location worldwide. With sunrise, sunset, moonrise, Rahu Kaal, Choghadiya Muhurta, and festival data — you can build powerful Hindu calendar applications with ease.