Words of the Hindu calendar
The words our calendar pages use, each in a few plain sentences. Where traditions use a word in different ways, the entry says whose use it is.
Written for Pujadeep and checked against the sources listed.
The day
- Panchang · पंचांग pañcāṅga
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The Hindu almanac: for one place, each day's tithi, weekday, nakshatra, yoga and karana.
The name means “five limbs”, and these five are its limbs. A day's panchang depends on the place, because sunrise and sunset differ from city to city.
- Tithi · तिथि
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A lunar day: the time the Moon takes to gain 12 degrees on the Sun. A lunar month has 30 tithis.
A tithi starts and ends at one instant for the whole world, so its clock time differs from city to city. It lasts between about 20 and 27 hours.
- The sunrise rule (udaya tithi) · उदय तिथि का नियम
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A day takes the name of the tithi in force at its sunrise, even when that tithi ends soon after.
Some festivals look at another time of day, such as pradosh after sunset or nishita at midnight. Each festival page names the time its rule uses.
Sources: The sunrise rule (udaya tithi)
- Pujadeep, “How we calculate” (the methods page): the settings, the day and the tithi, festival dates, traditions, months and years, and known differences. Each rule's source is named there.
- Le Dharmasindhou, ou l'océan des rites religieux, du prêtre Kâshinâtha, tr. A. Bourquin, French by L. de Milloué (Annales du Musée Guimet VII, Paris: Ernest Leroux, 1884) (ch. IX, pp. 201–202 (leaves n56–n57))
- Festal Days of the Hindu Lunar Calendar, by F. Kielhorn (The Indian Antiquary, vol. XXVI, Bombay, 1897) (p. 177, notes 4 and 5 (leaf n179))
- Kshaya and vriddhi tithi · क्षय और वृद्धि तिथि kṣaya, vṛddhi
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A kshaya tithi touches no sunrise, so no day takes its name. A vriddhi tithi touches two sunrises, so two days do.
This is why a festival such as Navratri can run for eight to ten days.
Sources: Kshaya and vriddhi tithi
- Pujadeep, “How we calculate” (the methods page): the settings, the day and the tithi, festival dates, traditions, months and years, and known differences. Each rule's source is named there.
- Le Dharmasindhou, ou l'océan des rites religieux, du prêtre Kâshinâtha, tr. A. Bourquin, French by L. de Milloué (Annales du Musée Guimet VII, Paris: Ernest Leroux, 1884) (ch. IX, pp. 201–202 (leaves n56–n57))
- Nakshatra · नक्षत्र nakṣatra
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One of 27 equal parts of the sky along the Moon's path, each 13°20′ wide and named after a group of stars.
The nakshatra of a day is the part the Moon is in. Many families choose the first letter of a baby's name by the nakshatra of the birth.
- Yoga and karana · योग और करण yoga, karaṇa
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Two more limbs of the panchang. A karana is half a tithi. A yoga is counted from the Sun's and Moon's longitudes added together.
There are 27 yogas, each 13°20′ of the added longitudes. Bhadra is the karana called Vishti. Some rites, such as tying the rakhi on Raksha Bandhan, are kept out of it.
See: Raksha Bandhan
Sources: Yoga and karana
- Pujadeep, “How we calculate” (the methods page): the settings, the day and the tithi, festival dates, traditions, months and years, and known differences. Each rule's source is named there.
- Dharmasindhu of Kashinatha Upadhyaya (Bombay: Nirnaya Sagar Press, 1888), as read on the page images for the Pujadeep calendar rules: part 1, p. 20 (pradosha, the three muhurtas after sunset) and p. 24 (aparahna, the fourth of the day's five parts); part 2, p. 49 (Raksha Bandhan free of Bhadra) and p. 90 (nishitha, the 8th muhurta of the night). Public domain; summarised, not copied. (pp. 20, 24, 49 and 90 (leaves n42, n46, n71 and n112))
The month and the year
- Paksha: Shukla and Krishna · पक्ष: शुक्ल और कृष्ण śukla pakṣa, kṛṣṇa pakṣa
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Half of a lunar month. In Shukla paksha, the bright half, the Moon grows. In Krishna paksha, the dark half, it wanes.
Here Krishna means dark. “Krishna Ekadashi” is the Ekadashi of the dark half, not a day named for the god. Sudi and vadi (or badi) are other names for the two halves.
- Purnima and Amavasya · पूर्णिमा और अमावस्या pūrṇimā, amāvāsyā
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Purnima is the full-moon tithi, the last of Shukla paksha. Amavasya is the new-moon tithi, the last of Krishna paksha.
- Ekadashi · एकादशी ekādaśī
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The 11th tithi of each paksha, a fast day for many families. Dashami is the 10th tithi and Dwadashi the 12th.
Each Ekadashi of the year has its own name and story.
- Amanta and purnimanta · अमांत और पूर्णिमांत amānta, pūrṇimānta
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Two ways to name the months. An amanta month ends at the new moon. A purnimanta month ends at the full moon.
So the two systems give the dark half different month names. The day of a festival is the same in both. Our pages show both month names.
- Adhik maas · अधिक मास adhikamāsa
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An extra lunar month, added about every 32 or 33 months, so that the months stay in step with the seasons.
It comes when two new moons fall while the Sun stays in one sign, and it takes the name of the month after it. Annual festivals are not kept in it; monthly vrats are.
- Samvat: Vikram and Shaka · संवत: विक्रम और शक vikrama saṃvat, śaka saṃvat
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A count of years. Vikram Samvat is 56 or 57 years ahead of the Western year; Shaka Samvat is 78 or 79 years behind it.
North India begins the Vikram year in Chaitra (Chaitradi). Gujarat begins it in Kartika, on Kartika Shukla Pratipada (Bestu Varas), just after Diwali (Kartikadi), so for part of the year the two counts differ by one. Our pages give both.
- Sankranti · संक्रांति saṃkrānti
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The moment the Sun enters a new sign of the zodiac. Solar months, such as the Tamil months, begin with a sankranti.
The signs are counted against the stars (the sidereal zodiac). Makar Sankranti is the Sun's entry into Makara, Capricorn.
See: Makar Sankranti
- Tamil month · तमिल मास
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A solar month of the Tamil calendar. It begins when the Sun enters a new sign of the zodiac.
There are twelve, one for each sign: Chithirai (the Sun in Mesha), Vaikasi, Aani, Aadi, Avani, Purattasi, Aippasi, Karthigai, Margazhi, Thai, Maasi and Panguni (the Sun in Meena). When the Sun enters the sign before sunset, the month begins that day; when it enters after sunset, the month begins the next day. Pujadeep's panchang for each day shows the Tamil month and its day beside the lunar month. Many Tamil temples follow the vakya panchangam, and their month may begin a day earlier or later.
See: Panchang and Rahu Kaal by city
Sources: Tamil month
- Pujadeep, “How we calculate” (the methods page): the settings, the day and the tithi, festival dates, traditions, months and years, and known differences. Each rule's source is named there.
- N. Dershowitz and E. M. Reingold, “Indian Calendrical Calculations”, section 4: the critical time that decides the first day of a solar month, by region (for the Tamil calendar, sunset).
Times of the day and night
- Ghatika · घटी (घटिका) ghaṭikā
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An old unit of time: 24 minutes. Sixty ghatikas make one day and night.
The rules in the old books give times in ghatikas. Two ghatikas make one muhurta when the day and the night are each 12 hours long.
Sources: Ghatika
- Festal Days of the Hindu Lunar Calendar, by F. Kielhorn (The Indian Antiquary, vol. XXVI, Bombay, 1897) (p. 177, notes 4 and 5 (leaf n179))
- Pujadeep, “How we calculate” (the methods page): the settings, the day and the tithi, festival dates, traditions, months and years, and known differences. Each rule's source is named there.
- Muhurat (muhurta) · मुहूर्त muhūrta
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A span of time that a printed rule allows for a rite. As a unit, a fifteenth of the daytime or of the night: about 48 minutes.
The daytime and the night each have 15 muhurtas, so a muhurta of the daytime is longer on a long summer day.
See: Shubh muhurat: windows for samskaras, by city
Sources: Muhurat (muhurta)
- Pujadeep calendar: the windows of the day and the night (the five parts of the day, the 15 muhurtas of the day and of the night, Abhijit, pradosh, nishita, arunodaya, and the Rahu Kaal, Yamaganda and Gulika tables), with the sources each window lists.
- Abhijit muhurat · अभिजित मुहूर्त
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The 8th of the 15 muhurtas of the daytime, the one around local noon. Many panchangs do not use Abhijit on Wednesdays.
Sources: Abhijit muhurat
- Pujadeep calendar: the windows of the day and the night (the five parts of the day, the 15 muhurtas of the day and of the night, Abhijit, pradosh, nishita, arunodaya, and the Rahu Kaal, Yamaganda and Gulika tables), with the sources each window lists.
- Pratahkala, madhyahna and aparahna · प्रातःकाल, मध्याह्न और अपराह्न prātaḥkāla, madhyāhna, aparāhṇa
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Three of the five equal parts of the daytime: morning, midday and afternoon. Rules use them for parana and for some festivals.
The five parts, in order, are pratahkala, sangava (purvahna), madhyahna, aparahna and sayahna. Each is a fifth of the time from sunrise to sunset.
Sources: Pratahkala, madhyahna and aparahna
- Pujadeep calendar: the windows of the day and the night (the five parts of the day, the 15 muhurtas of the day and of the night, Abhijit, pradosh, nishita, arunodaya, and the Rahu Kaal, Yamaganda and Gulika tables), with the sources each window lists.
- Kalamadhava of Madhavacharya, ed. Ratna Gopal Bhatta (Benares: Vidya Vilasa Press, 1909), p. 5, verses 34–36: the five parts of the day, the first being pratah (morning). As read on the page images for the Pujadeep calendar rules. Public domain; summarised, not copied. (p. 5 (leaf n5))
- Dharmasindhu of Kashinatha Upadhyaya (Bombay: Nirnaya Sagar Press, 1888), as read on the page images for the Pujadeep calendar rules: part 1, p. 20 (pradosha, the three muhurtas after sunset) and p. 24 (aparahna, the fourth of the day's five parts); part 2, p. 49 (Raksha Bandhan free of Bhadra) and p. 90 (nishitha, the 8th muhurta of the night). Public domain; summarised, not copied. (pp. 20, 24, 49 and 90 (leaves n42, n46, n71 and n112))
- Pradosh (pradosha kala) · प्रदोष (प्रदोष काल) pradoṣa
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The evening time after sunset: the first fifth of the night, about 2 hours 24 minutes when the night is 12 hours long.
The old books give it as the three muhurtas, or six ghatikas, after sunset. Evening rites such as Lakshmi Puja use it. Pradosh Vrat is kept on the Trayodashi that holds this time.
Sources: Pradosh (pradosha kala)
- Pujadeep calendar: the windows of the day and the night (the five parts of the day, the 15 muhurtas of the day and of the night, Abhijit, pradosh, nishita, arunodaya, and the Rahu Kaal, Yamaganda and Gulika tables), with the sources each window lists.
- Festal Days of the Hindu Lunar Calendar, by F. Kielhorn (The Indian Antiquary, vol. XXVI, Bombay, 1897) (p. 177, notes 4 and 5 (leaf n179))
- Dharmasindhu of Kashinatha Upadhyaya (Bombay: Nirnaya Sagar Press, 1888), as read on the page images for the Pujadeep calendar rules: part 1, p. 20 (pradosha, the three muhurtas after sunset) and p. 24 (aparahna, the fourth of the day's five parts); part 2, p. 49 (Raksha Bandhan free of Bhadra) and p. 90 (nishitha, the 8th muhurta of the night). Public domain; summarised, not copied. (pp. 20, 24, 49 and 90 (leaves n42, n46, n71 and n112))
- Nishita · निशीथ niśītha
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The middle of the night: the 8th of the night's 15 muhurtas, around the midpoint between sunset and sunrise.
Night rites such as Janmashtami and Shivaratri look at this time. Some old books give it as the two ghatikas in the middle of the night.
Sources: Nishita
- Pujadeep calendar: the windows of the day and the night (the five parts of the day, the 15 muhurtas of the day and of the night, Abhijit, pradosh, nishita, arunodaya, and the Rahu Kaal, Yamaganda and Gulika tables), with the sources each window lists.
- Festal Days of the Hindu Lunar Calendar, by F. Kielhorn (The Indian Antiquary, vol. XXVI, Bombay, 1897) (p. 177, notes 4 and 5 (leaf n179))
- Dharmasindhu of Kashinatha Upadhyaya (Bombay: Nirnaya Sagar Press, 1888), as read on the page images for the Pujadeep calendar rules: part 1, p. 20 (pradosha, the three muhurtas after sunset) and p. 24 (aparahna, the fourth of the day's five parts); part 2, p. 49 (Raksha Bandhan free of Bhadra) and p. 90 (nishitha, the 8th muhurta of the night). Public domain; summarised, not copied. (pp. 20, 24, 49 and 90 (leaves n42, n46, n71 and n112))
- Arunodaya · अरुणोदय aruṇodaya
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The dawn before sunrise. In the Vaishnava Ekadashi rule, the 96 minutes (four ghatikas) before sunrise.
If Dashami is still in force at arunodaya, the Vaishnava rule moves the fast to a later day.
See: Ekadashi dates and parana times
Sources: Arunodaya
- Pujadeep calendar: the windows of the day and the night (the five parts of the day, the 15 muhurtas of the day and of the night, Abhijit, pradosh, nishita, arunodaya, and the Rahu Kaal, Yamaganda and Gulika tables), with the sources each window lists.
- Pujadeep, “How we calculate” (the methods page): the settings, the day and the tithi, festival dates, traditions, months and years, and known differences. Each rule's source is named there.
- Rahu Kaal · राहु काल rāhukāla
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One of the eight equal parts of the daytime, chosen by the weekday.
Rahu Kaal is a calendar fact, worked out from sunrise and sunset. Many families avoid starting new work in it. It is not a prediction, and Pujadeep makes none. Yamaganda and Gulika Kalam are two other parts, from other weekday tables.
See: Rahu Kaal today in Washington DC, Panchang and Rahu Kaal by city
Sources: Rahu Kaal
- Pujadeep calendar: the windows of the day and the night (the five parts of the day, the 15 muhurtas of the day and of the night, Abhijit, pradosh, nishita, arunodaya, and the Rahu Kaal, Yamaganda and Gulika tables), with the sources each window lists.
- Choghadiya · चौघड़िया
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The daytime and the night, each cut into eight equal parts that carry traditional names.
Each part carries one of seven names: Udveg, Char, Labh, Amrit, Kaal, Shubh and Rog. The names are labels from the tradition. Choghadiya is a calendar fact, not a prediction.
Fasts and their rules
- Vrat · व्रत vrata
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A vow kept on a set day, often with a fast and a puja.
Each vrat has its own rule for the day, and many have a set time to end the fast (parana).
See: Why do Hindus fast? What is a vrat?, Monthly vrats and their dates
Sources: Vrat
- Learn page “Why do Hindus fast? What is a vrat?” in this library, with the sources it lists.
- Pujadeep, “How we calculate” (the methods page): the settings, the day and the tithi, festival dates, traditions, months and years, and known differences. Each rule's source is named there.
- Parana · पारण pāraṇa
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Breaking a fast at the time its rule allows. For Ekadashi: on the next day, after sunrise and Hari Vasara, before Dwadashi ends.
The Smarta rule prefers pratahkala, the first fifth of the day, and avoids madhyahna.
- Hari Vasara · हरि वासर harivāsara
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The first quarter of the Dwadashi tithi. The Ekadashi fast is not broken in it.
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Two traditions' rules for the day of a festival or a fast. When they give different days, our pages show both and name each rule.
The Smarta rule is the rule of the Smarta tradition, and Pujadeep's default. For Ekadashi it looks at the tithi in force at sunrise. The Vaishnava rule follows Vaishnava calendars; we use the Gaudiya Vaishnava method. For Ekadashi it looks at arunodaya, about 96 minutes before sunrise, so its fast is sometimes a day later. Both are correct for the families who follow them.
See: Ekadashi dates and parana times
Sources: Smarta rule and Vaishnava rule
- Pujadeep, “How we calculate” (the methods page): the settings, the day and the tithi, festival dates, traditions, months and years, and known differences. Each rule's source is named there.
- R. E. Enthoven, The Folklore of Bombay (Oxford: Clarendon Press, 1923), “The Moon”, p. 56: when Ekadashi falls on two consecutive days, “the Smartas … observe the first, while the Bhagvats, i. e. worshippers of Vishnu, observe the second”. Enthoven died 1952: public domain. (p. 56 (leaf n60))
Sources
- Pujadeep, “How we calculate” (the methods page): the settings, the day and the tithi, festival dates, traditions, months and years, and known differences. Each rule's source is named there.
- Pujadeep calendar: the windows of the day and the night (the five parts of the day, the 15 muhurtas of the day and of the night, Abhijit, pradosh, nishita, arunodaya, and the Rahu Kaal, Yamaganda and Gulika tables), with the sources each window lists.
- Festal Days of the Hindu Lunar Calendar, by F. Kielhorn (The Indian Antiquary, vol. XXVI, Bombay, 1897) (p. 177, notes 4 and 5 (leaf n179))
- Le Dharmasindhou, ou l'océan des rites religieux, du prêtre Kâshinâtha, tr. A. Bourquin, French by L. de Milloué (Annales du Musée Guimet VII, Paris: Ernest Leroux, 1884) (ch. IX, pp. 201–202 (leaves n56–n57))
- Dharmasindhu of Kashinatha Upadhyaya (Bombay: Nirnaya Sagar Press, 1888), as read on the page images for the Pujadeep calendar rules: part 1, p. 20 (pradosha, the three muhurtas after sunset) and p. 24 (aparahna, the fourth of the day's five parts); part 2, p. 49 (Raksha Bandhan free of Bhadra) and p. 90 (nishitha, the 8th muhurta of the night). Public domain; summarised, not copied. (pp. 20, 24, 49 and 90 (leaves n42, n46, n71 and n112))
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- Written for this site from the sources listed here, and checked against them. Free to quote with credit.
- Checked
- Checked against the sources listed, October 28, 2026.