Karana in Panchang: Daily Activities Guide

What is Karana in Panchang?

Karana is the fifth and final element of the Panchang, representing half of a Tithi. Since each Tithi is divided into two equal halves, there are 60 Karanas in a complete lunar month (30 Tithis x 2). While often considered the most subtle of the five Panchang elements, Karana provides valuable guidance for fine-tuning the timing of activities within a single day.

How Karanas Are Calculated

A Karana corresponds to a 6-degree difference in the angular distance between the Sun and Moon (compared to 12 degrees for a Tithi). Each Tithi contains two Karanas — one for the first half and one for the second half. The duration of each Karana varies slightly but averages around 12 hours, making it a practical unit for dividing the day into activity-specific windows.

The 11 Types of Karanas

There are 11 distinct Karanas, classified into two groups:

• Chara Karanas (Movable — recurring): These seven Karanas repeat eight times each in a lunar month, cycling continuously through the Tithis:
  • Bava: Favorable for permanent and fixed activities like construction, investment, and establishing foundations
  • Balava: Auspicious for religious ceremonies, spiritual initiation, and acts of compassion
  • Kaulava: Good for friendship, socializing, romance, and building relationships
  • Taitila: Favorable for business, trade, financial transactions, and material acquisition
  • Garija: Suitable for agriculture, planting, and activities connected to the earth
  • Vanija: Excellent for commerce, sales, purchases, and market-related activities
  • Vishti (Bhadra): The only inauspicious Chara Karana — avoid starting new activities, especially travel and auspicious ceremonies
• Sthira Karanas (Fixed — occurring once per month): These four Karanas each appear only once in the lunar cycle:
  • Shakuni: Occurs in the second half of Krishna Chaturdashi — mixed results, suitable for resolving disputes
  • Chatushpada: Occurs in the first half of Amavasya — favorable for animal-related activities and agriculture
  • Naga: Occurs in the second half of Amavasya — inauspicious for most activities except destructive tasks
  • Kimstughna: Occurs in the first half of Shukla Pratipada — generally favorable, good for auspicious beginnings

The Vishti (Bhadra) Karana

Among all Karanas, Vishti or Bhadra deserves special attention because it is the only regularly recurring inauspicious Karana. It appears eight times in each lunar month. During Vishti Karana:

• Avoid starting journeys, especially long-distance travel
• Do not initiate auspicious ceremonies like weddings or housewarming
• Postpone signing important contracts or making major decisions
• Routine activities and ongoing work can continue normally

Using Karana for Better Timing

While Tithi and Nakshatra are the primary Panchang elements for Muhurta selection, the Karana provides an additional layer of refinement. When planning an important event, checking that the Karana is also favorable ensures the most auspicious timing possible.

View today's Karana along with all other Panchang elements at Purohit.app Panchang for precise guidance on daily activity planning.