The ancient Sages of India had much better concept of time than the modern scientists and astronomers. Not only they understood the time but also what it stood for. In the universe there is constant process of creation, maintenance and destruction. These three processes were named as the Brahma, Vishnu and Mahesh.

While one thing is being born another is under destruction. Those which came in at auspicious time lasted longer than those which came in at inauspicious time. The sages found out what determines the auspicious and inauspiciousness of time. They found five tings determined it. Five is called Pancha in Sanskrit, Part is called an Anga, and so the book containing the details of the 5 factors for determination of auspicious time came to be known as the Panchanga.

The five items which the seers identified are Tithi (the distance between Sun and the Moon on the day in question) Vara = Week day, Nakshatra is the star of the day in which Moon is traversing, (these are 27 in number), Yoga = it is the period during which the joint motion in longitude of the Sun and Moon amounts to 13°-20’. (There are 27 yogas in all.)

Yoga represents the conjunction of subtle influences which strengthen our bodies, remove virus, and help us to enjoy good health and long life.

Finally the Karana or half the lunar day meaning the time taken to complete the distance which should be the multiple of 6 between the Sun and the Moon.
There are 11karanas. They are called Bava, Baalva, Kaulava, Taitula, Garija, Vanija, Vishti, Sakuni, Chatushpada, Naga and Kimstugna.

The first seven come by rotation eight times in a lunar month, commencing with the second half of the first lunar day The last four are said to be permanent Karana's and occur in order with the 2nd half of the 29th lunar day

A Muhurta is a conjunction of auspicious Tithi, Vara, Nakshatra, Yoga and Karana suitable for the purpose for which it is chosen. It has duration of 1-1/2 hrs.

For more details please refer the great Indian astrologer Dr B.V Raman’s book ‘Muhurta’.

Precise and detailed ‘Mahurta’ horoscope reading can be availed at www.soothsayers-india.com