VEDIC ASTROLGY LESSON 12

Panchangam – Continued.
Rahu kalam, Gulika Kalam, Yama Ghandam and Vishaghati are the time periods which are
especially considered inauspicious or unlucky (Ashubh).
Rahu Kalam:
Rahu Kalam is one of the 8 segments of the day and considered inauspicious period in Indian
astrology due to its association with malefic, Rahu. The segments are calculated by taking the total
time between sunrise and sunset, at a given place, and then dividing this time duration by 8.
Of the 9 planets in Vedic astrology, Rahu and Ketu are not physical bodies, they are sensitive
points called lunar nodes on the intersection of the ecliptic (the apparent path of motion of the
Sun) by the Moon's orbit. Rahu is the northern node and Ketu is the southern node. Ancient
astronomers felt that the mighty Rahu and Ketu have the strength to obscure the sun, thus
causing a solar eclipse. Hence it is considered inauspicious to begin any undertaking during this
"Rahu Kalam". Every day this Rahu Kalam lasts for around 90 minutes, but the duration differs
according to the length of the time between sunrise to sunset.
To calculate Rahu Kalam, the time between the sunrise and sunset is divided into 8 units or time-
groups, which time-group will have the Rahu Kalam depends on the weekday. Several websites
offer calculation for a given place and time.
For each weekday, Rahu Kalam falls as under:
Sunday - 8th Muhurt (Unit) Thursday - 6th Muhurt
Monday - 2nd Muhurt Friday - 4th Muhurt
Tuesday - 7th Muhurt Saturday - 3rd Muhurt
Wednesday - 5th Muhurt

The timespan of Rahu Kalam varies each day and needs to be calculated as per the sunrise and
sunset time. The times below can be used in absence of access to accurate Rahu Kalam. These
times are accurate only if the daylight lasts for 12 hours, and the sunrise is at 6.00 AM. For longer
or shorter days, the times need to be adjusted.
In English, the mnemonic phrase is "7.30am Mother Saw Father Wearing The Turban Suddenly"
Mother = Monday (7.30-9.00) The = Thursday (13.30-15.00)
Saw = Saturday (9.00-10.30) Turban = Tuesday (15.00-16.30)
Father = Friday (10.30-12.00) Suddenly = Sunday (16.30-18.00)
Wearing = Wednesday (12.00-13.30)
Yama Ghandam:
You might have noticed that all planets other than Rahu and Kethu rule on the allotted one day of
the week. Only Rahu and Ketu do not have a day for themselves. Instead, they rule every day, but
for one and half hours every day. Yama gandam timings occur today and every day, between
sunrise and sunset and change based on the Sunrise and Sunset time.
Yama gandam time changes for every day. General Yamagandam timings of the day
Sunday 1200 - 1330 Thursday 0600 - 0730
Monday 1030 - 1200 Friday 1500 - 1630
Tuesday 0900 - 1030 Saturday 1330 - 1500
Wednesday 0730 - 0900
The exact timing for Yama Gandam is also dependent on the time of sunrise and sun set.

Gulika Kalam:

Gulika is an Upagraha, a satellite, that is related to Saturn. It is a theoretical point, and its position
is mathematically determined for predictive purposes. Gulika, which is also known as ‘maandi,’ is
the offspring of Manda or son of Saturn. It is an imitative planet according to the notion in South
India particularly in Kerala. A few consider Gulika and Maandi as diverse concepts.

Vedic astrology makes out a set of two non-luminous shadowy planets, namely Rahu & Ketu.
Similarly, there is Gulika (Maandi), and it is believed that it has no physical shape or form, but has
a mention in the Puranas.

Varjya or Vishakatika
Varjyam is a bad time present on everyday calculated according to the nakshatram of the day and
usually varjyam lasts for 96 mins. During this time 96 any kind of subhakaryam should not be
performed.

Dur Muhurtham:

Durmuhurtam is bad time present on a day. It is calculated according to the Suryodayam (sun rise
time) of the day Durmuhurtam lasts for 48 mins except on Saturdays. During durmuhurtam, any
kind of subhakaryam should not be performed. Approximate starting time after Sunrise and
duration of dur muhurtham for each day is given below.

Sundays – starts 10.24 hrs. after sun rise - Duration 48 mins.

Mondays - starts 6.24 hrs. after sun rise - Duration 48 mins. Again starts 8.48 hrs. after sun rise
and lasts for 48 mins.
Tuesdays _ starts 2.24 hrs. after sun rise – Duration 48 mins. Again starts 5.36 hrs. after sun set
and lasts for 48 mins.
Wednesdays - starts 5.36 hrs. after sun rise – Duration 48 mins.
Thursdays - starts 4.00 hrs. after sun rise – duration 48 mins. Again starts 8.48 hrs. after sun rise
and lasts for 48 mins.
Fridays - starts 2.24 hrs. after sun rise - Duration 48 mins. Again starts 8.48 hrs. after sun rise and
lasts for 48 mins.
Saturdays - starts from sun rise – Duration 1.36 hrs.
Abhijit Muhurtha:
Sometimes people do not find auspicious muhurat for their work, though it is urgent. The motto of
astrology is to simplify the principles of the society and life by showing the auspicious path. Abhijit
muhurat is a flexible astrological principle which relieves people if they perform an auspicious
work in it. Abhijit muhurtha is not special to any condition but it is present every day. Astrologers
say that a day’s 8th muhurat is called abhijit muhurat.

Abhijit Muhurt starts from 1 ghati (equivalent to 24 minutes) before the Local Noon Time (LNT) &
remains till 24 minutes thereafter (total duration 48 minutes) for 12-hour duration of daytime. Its
duration varies proportionally according to length of day because in Jyotish a day begins from sun-
rise to sun set.

Example- To calculate the abhijit muhurat at any place let’s assume

Sunrise at – 0530
Sunset at -1830
Local Noon Time(LNT)=(1830+0530)/2=12hr
Abhijit Muhurat=LNT± (Sun set- Sun rise)/30
=12±(1830-0530)/30 hrs.
=12±13/30hrs
=12±26minutes
In the above example the length of day is 13 hrs. That is why the standard duration of abhijit
muhurat changes from 48 minutes to 52(26x2) minutes.

Exceptions : This muhurat loses its beneficence on Wednesday. Avoid selecting it on Wednesday.
Secondly traveling in south direction in this muhurat brings inauspicious results. Finally, this
muhurat should be used in emergencies when no other suitable times are available otherwise one
may fail to harness the richness of other muhurats available on that day. It is ideal Muhurat to
initiate any activity except marriage or Upnayana.

Amirtha Kalam:
Amritakalam: This is an auspicious time for any undertaking. Not to be confused with Amirtha
Yoga, Siddha Yoga etc. which are also auspicious but different.

Choghadia Table: Mainly used by North Indians

Choghadiya or Chogadia is used for checking auspicious time to start new work. Traditionally
Choghadiya is used for travel muhurthas but due to its simplicity, it is used for any muhurtha.
There are four good Choghadiya, Amrit, Shubh, Labh and Char, to start an auspicious work. Three
bad Choghadiya, Rog, Kaal and Udveg, should be avoided.
The time between sunrise and sunset is called day Choghadiya and the time between sunset and
next day sunrise is called night Choghadiya.
Why Choghadiya Name?
The time between Sunrise to Sunset is divided into 30 Ghati. For Choghadiya Muhurta, the same
time duration is divided into 8 parts, which results in 8 Choghadiya Muhurta during the daytime as
well as during the night time. As each Choghadiya Muhurta approximates to 4 Ghati, it is known as
Choghadiya i.e. Choghadiya = Cho (four) + Ghadiya (Ghati). Choghadiya Muhurta is also known
as Chaturshtika Muhurta.
How to mark Choghadiya Good or Bad?
The first Muhurta on each weekday is ruled by the weekday lord. For example, on Sunday, the first
Choghadiya Muhurta is ruled by the Sun followed by Venus, Mercury, Moon, Saturn, Jupiter and
Mars respectively. The last Muhurta of the daytime is also ruled by the day lord.
Hence the effect of each division, either bad or good, is marked based on the nature of the ruling
planet. In Vedic Astrology, the time period under the influence of Venus, Mercury, Moon and Jupiter
is usually considered auspicious while the time period under the influence of Sun, Mars and Saturn
is usually considered inauspicious.
Udveg Choghadiya
The Sun is considered a malefic planet in Vedic astrology. Hence the time under the influence of it
is usually considered inauspicious and marked as Udveg. However, for government-related work,
Udveg Choghadiya is considered good.
Char Choghadiya
The Venus is considered a benefic planet in Vedic astrology. Hence the time under the influence of
it is considered auspicious and marked as Char or Chanchal. Due to the moving nature of the Venus,
Char Choghadiya is considered most appropriate for travelling purpose.
Labh Choghadiya
The Mercury is considered a benefic planet in Vedic astrology. Hence the time under the influence
of it is considered auspicious and marked as Labh. Labh Choghadiya is considered most appropriate
to start education and to acquire new skills.
Amrit Choghadiya
The Moon is usually considered a benefic planet in Vedic astrology. Hence the time under the
influence of it is considered auspicious and marked as Amrit. Amrit Choghadiya is considered good
for all type of works.
Kala Choghadiya
The Saturn is considered a malefic planet in Vedic astrology. Hence the time under the influence of
it is considered inauspicious and marked as Kala. No auspicious work is done during Kala
Choghadiya. However, Kala Choghadiya is recommended for those activities which are performed
to accumulate wealth.
Shubh Choghadiya
The Jupiter is considered a benefic planet in Vedic astrology. Hence the time under the influence of
it is considered auspicious and marked as Shubh. Shubh Choghadiya is considered good to conduct
ceremonies especially marriage ceremony.
Rog Choghadiya
The Mars is considered a malefic planet in Vedic astrology. Hence the time under the influence of it
is considered inauspicious and marked as Rog. No auspicious work is done during Rog Choghadiya.
However, Rog Choghadiya is recommended for war and to defeat the enemy.
If a Shub Choghadia overlaps Rahu kala or Yama Ganda or Dur Muhurtha or Varjya, the time has to
be taken as inauspicious.
Lagna Table:
The Lagna is the zodiac sign rising at the Eastern Horizon at the time of sunrise. It is called the Udaya
Lagna in Vedic astrology and Ascendant in western astrology. From one sunrise to the next sunrise
all 12 zodiac signs rise in the Eastern Horizon in a cycle.
The duration of each lagna or the time taken by each zodiac sign to cross the horizon is not same
for any two locations. Even for a single location the duration of all Lagnas is not the same. Lagna
plays an important role in the horoscope. It determines the physical structure and the character of
each person. It is also important to have Lagna suddhi for conducting any auspicious event and is
important in fixing Muhurath.
The Lagna table in the Panchang shows the start and end time of each Lagna for each day.

Shoolam:
Vara shula (vaara soolai or vara shulai / vara shulam / shoolam) is a guiding principle which
advises people to avoid travelling in a particular direction on a particular day of the week. Every
day of the week has a shoolam direction and travelling in that direction is considered inauspicious
and is sure to bring bad luck, loss of assets etc. Direction in which Lord Shiva's trident (trishul) lies
when placed on the ground decides the shula direction.
Shoolam direction for Monday and Saturday is East. It is recommended not to travel from your
residence (or from the place you stayed the previous night) in East direction on these days.
Similarly, each week day has a shoolam direction which must be avoided. However, if a travel in
the said direction is inevitable, there are certain remedial measures which may mitigate the ill
effects to a certain extent.

Special Yogas: On certain days when the Tithi, Nakshatra & Karana are all auspicious, that length
of time is called Shubha Yoga or auspicious time – like Siddha Yoga or Amrita Yoga etc. If the tithi,
Nakshatra & Karana combinations are bad it is called Asubha Yoga or like Marana Yoga.

Chandra balam:
From your natal moon, i.e. Rasi, if the moon is in the 6th, 8th, or 12th sign then it is bad and on
that day your chandra balam is bad or no chandra balam. All other places moon has chandra
balam. 8th is the worst.

Tara balam:
Tara balam – Strength of Constellation. – The constellation ruling at the time of birth is one’s
Janmanakshatra or birth star and the zodiacal sign in which the Moon is situated at the time of
one’s birth is one’s Janma Rasi or Birth Moon. Count from the birth constellation to the one ruling
on the particular day on which a new work is to be done or a journey undertaken and divide the
number by 9 if divisible. Otherwise keep it as it is. If the remainder is 1 (janma) it indicates danger
to body; if 2 (sampat) wealth and prosperity; if 3 (vipat) dangers, losses and accidents; if 4
(kshema) prosperity; if 5 (pratyak) obstacles; if 6 (sadhana) realisation of ambitions; if 7 (naidhana)
dangers; if 8 (mitra) good; and if 9 (parama mitra) very favorable. If the reminder is2,4,6,8 or 9
There is good Tara balam. Otherwise is bad.

To be continued in Vedic Astrology Lesson 13