Understanding the Daily Panchang
The Panchang, or Panchangam, is a traditional Vedic astrological almanac that provides key timings and planetary positions for a given day and location. It's used in Hinduism for determining auspicious times (Muhurta) for various activities like weddings, ceremonies, starting new ventures, and travel.
The five core elements ("Pancha" - five, "Anga" - limbs) are:
- Tithi (Lunar Day): Based on the Moon's elongation from the Sun (30 Tithis in a lunar month).
- Nakshatra (Lunar Mansion): The constellation the Moon is transiting (27 Nakshatras).
- Yoga (Luni-Solar Combination): Calculated based on the combined longitudes of the Sun and Moon.
- Karana (Half Tithi): Each Tithi is divided into two Karanas.
- Vara (Weekday): The day of the week (Sunday to Saturday).
Additionally, Panchangs often include:
- Sunrise and Sunset times (crucial for timing).
- Moonrise and Moonset times.
- Inauspicious periods like Rahu Kaalam and Gulika Kaalam.
- Other details like Ayana (Sun's movement), Ritu (Season), Paksha (lunar fortnight).
How to Use
- Enter the **Location** (City, Country) for which you need the Panchang. Accurate timings depend heavily on geographic coordinates. You can try using your current location if your browser supports it and you grant permission.
- Select the **Date**.
- Click "Get Panchang Details".
The results will display the calculated elements for the selected date and location.
Calculation Complexity
Generating an accurate Panchang requires precise astronomical calculations for the Sun and Moon's positions, along with location-specific sunrise/sunset times and time zone conversions. This typically necessitates using specialized astronomical libraries (like Swiss Ephemeris) or accessing a dedicated Panchang API service. **This calculator's JavaScript provides placeholders and demonstrates the structure; it does not contain the complex astronomical algorithms.**