The Main Purpose behind Using Panchang

The rich history of Vedic Astrology has given birth to a number of gems that continue to guide us in our everyday lives. One of these is the religious almanac or ‘Panchang,’ which most of Indians consult before taking every small or big step of their life. The Daily Panchang as well as occasional Panchang represent the crux of centuries of work done by Indian astrologers, who studied planets, sun and moon in correlation with each other as well as different Nakshatras, before arriving upon the concept of Panchang. These learned men eventually settled upon a calendar which can be studied using basic arithmetic calculation & analysis. Panchang is known by different names like Panchangam or Panchanga or Janthri!

How to Use a Panchang

While everybody who is born and raised in a Hindu family is familiar with the basic concept and meaning of a Panchang or a Daily Panchang, reading this almanac or analyzing its contents is not everybody’s cup of tea. One needs to be adept in Vedic concepts like Tithi (the lunar day); Nakshatram (the given position of the moon with respect to an observer on the earth); Yoga (the angular relationship between sun and moon); Karana or cause (Half of a Tithi; One Karana is equal to 6-degree difference between moon and sun); and Var (each of the 7 weekdays). These five tenets form the basis of Panchang and its name is also derived from the word ‘Panch’, which means five in Hindi language. Usually, the uninitiated often feel intimidated to handle a Panchang but it only needs a rudimentary knowledge of arithmetic to read. Having said that, a detailed reading and analysis is the job of a trained, expert astrologer, usually known as a “Shastri.” So, if you feel you cannot navigate a Panchang easily, always consult a professional astrologer for consultation.

Uses of Panchang

Whether we are talking about the Daily Panchang or Periodical Panchang, the main purpose behind using it is to understand which moments in your life are auspicious or inauspicious for major as well as minor life decisions. In any case, it is important to understand not just how to use a Panchang but also what to use it for. A Panchang will tell you what to do when and how in case of birth, death, marriage, job interviews, housewarming, major investments, start of a business, etc and much more. The Panchang tells you the time in the form of good Muhurat (auspicious time) and bad Muhurat (inauspicious time). Panchang is used to prepare a newborn’s horoscope, pre-fixing Muhurat for upcoming auspicious events, to identify and note own dates for various fasting days as well as Shraaddh (post-death annual ritual as per Hindu custom), etc. Astrologers also consult a Panchang to find out vis-à-vis positions of the Sun, Moon and planets so as to forecast good as well as bad Muhurats.

Panchang & Indian Marriages

One aspect of a typical Indian family’s life, which is traditionally governed by Panchang, is marriage, whether love or arranged. Right from arranging a match between the boy and the girl, to analyzing their compatibility with each other, with respect to their horoscopes especially, a Panchang is right at the helm of a typical Indian marriage. After the associated priest or astrologer or both is satisfied with the compatibility part, he or she goes on to fix a date of events, again after consultation with the Panchang. Expert astrologers often suggest consulting a Panchang before saying yes to a match in order to avoid unnecessary trouble later on in the union.

Panchang for Today is your daily guide to better life decisions because whether you believe in it or not, your life is governed by astrology at a celestial level. Therefore, it is advisable to consult this desi almanac before you take a life-changing decision. 

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What Is Panchang And How Can It Guide Your Daily Life?

A Panchang or Panchanga is a Sanskrit name for a Hindu calendar plus almanac, which is a traditional way of timekeeping, followed across India and countries like Nepal. This almanac is basically consulted almost every day in a Hindu households, for daily life decisions, in the form of the Daily Panchang as well as for special occasions like marriage, births & deaths. The main purpose of a Hindu Panchang is to keep track of the large number of Hindu festivals and other auspicious as well as inauspicious moments, which can then guide the person in his day-to-day life.

Basics of Panchang

1.   As per the Vedic Astrology, a day is guided by five different attributes, which are –
2.    Tithi (the lunar day),
3.    Nakshatram (the given position of the moon with respect to an observer on the earth)
4.    Yog (the angular relationship between sun and moon)
5.     Karana or cause (Half of a Tithi; One Karana is equal to 6-degree difference between moon and sun)
6.   Var (each of the 7 weekdays)
   
   A combination of these five important attributes makes the Panchang or Daily Panchang, which astrologers, priests, or even knowledgeable commoners can read, analyse and draw inferences from. In India, there are several authors and institutions that publish different Panchangs. The basis of these different Panchangs is the same – Vedic Astrology. However, considering the fact that the moon changes its position with respect to other planetary bodies every moment, the Panchang for Today may not be the same as for tomorrow or the day before today. A Panchang is mainly a Hindu calendar consulted basically for a Muhurat (an auspicious moment) for important life decisions.

Accuracy of Panchang

The calculations in Panchang are highly accurate, even more so than the traditional horoscopes. It tells you about the best days meant for every life activity, be it birth, death, marriage, construction of a house, major investments, job interviews or travel. With the help of the five basic attributes of Vedic Astrology, a Panchang can convey the day, hour or moment most auspicious or inauspicious for your purpose. Therefore, owing to its multi-faceted relevance for every aspect of life for a typical Hindu family, Panchang has become an integral part of the Hindu way of living, across the sects and communities. It requires a basic knowledge of arithmetic calculation to be able to read the Panchang. However, there is no need to feel intimidated because after decades of research and precise calculation, authors have worked out the current form of this almanac so that the common man can benefit from it. Having said that, an in-depth reading of this document remains the exclusive domain of a trained, expert astrologer, also known as a “Shastri”.

International Recognition for Panchang

Noted American author William James has said, “From the Vedas, we learn a practical art of surgery, medicine, music, house building under which mechanized art is included. They are encyclopedia of every aspect of life, culture, religion, science, ethics, law, cosmology and meteorology.” Another renowned historian and author Emmelin Plunket writes in his work “Calendars and Constellations”, “They were very advanced Hindu astronomers in 500 A.D. Vedas contain an account of the dimension of Earth, Sun, Moon, planets and the galaxies.” The Indian Panchang is an extension of all the good work that has been achieved over the millennia by our astrologers, priests, authors and researchers of Vedic Astrology.

This ancient way of timekeeping in a tabulated form serves through all your life, reflecting key details about the time on a daily, weekly, monthly and yearly basis. The elder members in a Hindu household wouldn’t dream of venturing into any life-changing activity without consulting the Panchang first. A regular consultation of this work bears fruits for the past, present as well as the future of your life.