Lecture on Muhurta

Muhurta is also known as Electional Astrology or Elective Astrology.

Muhurtas means electing or choosing an auspicious or favourable day
called panchanga shuddhi to commence an important auspicious work.
After selection of day, one is to choose appropriate time and election of
time is called lagna shuddhi.
Mathematically, it is = two ghatis = 48 minutes.

Rahu kaal: about 1. ½ hours in a day belong to Rahu kaal. No

auspicious work should be started in this period. Divide dinmaan in 8
equal parts. 8th part on Sunday (4.30pm. to 6.00pm.) 2nd part on Monday
(7.30am. to 9.00am.) 7th part on Tuesday (3.00pm. to 4.30pm.) 5th part on
Wednesday (12.00 to 1.30pm.) 6th part on Thursday (1.30pm. to
3.00pm.), 4th part on Friday (10.30am. to 12.00 noon) and 3rd part on
Saturday (9.00am. to 10.30am.) are periods of Rahu kaal.

Abhijit muhurta: Eighth Muhurta out of 15 muhurtas of the day is

called Abhijit Muhurta which can be safely used if nothing else is
possible as it is considered very auspicious and is said to remove malefic
effects created by other components of muhurta to start any auspicious
deed. It lasts for 48 minutes starting from 24 minutes before local noon
and ending at 24 minutes after local noon. Add Sunrise time in Sun set
time and half it. 24 minutes on either side is abhijit muhurta. In a
situation in which one cannot wait, one can choose Abhijit Muhurta It is
also known as Vijaya Muhurta. It is said that Bhagwan Vishnu himself
destroys all faults with his Sudershan Chakra during the period of
Abhijit Muhurta.
Coincidence with Rahu kaal: 5th part on Wednesday and 4th part on Friday is
Rahu kaal. The first half portion of Rahu kaal on Wednesday and second half on
Friday coincides with Abhijit Muhurta. Effect of Rahu kaal is considered to be
more evil on the places situated on or near the terrestrial equator (within 9° on
either side of the ecliptic as Rahu and Ketu always remain within this belt). In
northern India much importance is not attached to this period.
Though as per sloka 42 of Chapter I of Muhurta Chintamani, if
there comes some auspicious yoga when there is inauspicious yoga also,

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then the auspicious yoga destroys the inauspicious effects of the
inauspicious yoga and gives good effects of its own yet it may be
desirable to avoid commencement of any good deed during the portion
of Abhijit Muhurta which coincides with Rahu Kaal.
Holashtaka: 8 days before Holi should be avoided in marriage and other
auspicious ceremonies
Pushya phala: During Pushya nakshatra doshas of yogini, chandra
yuti, tara, Jupiter’s transit, bhadra (vishti), Rahu are cancelled. Guru
Pushya is considered to be the best, Ravi Pushya is next. Pushya anyway
is however, inauspicious for marriage ceremony only.
Dakshinayana – A solar year contains two Ayanas: It is the period from
the Sun’s entrance into the sign Cancer to his entrance into the sign of
Sagittarius and his crossing the last amsha of this sign is called the
Dakshinayana. In other words, when Sun covers six signs, it is the
period of Dakshinayana and takes six months. It is also called
Yamyayana. Lord of Ayan is Sun. Dakshinayana is the period of Asuras.
All the auspicious actions are avoided during the period of
Dakshinayana because it becomes weak due to Sun’s defective rays.
During this period Sun’s movement is towards south. Sun in Uttarayana
is best period for entering a house.
Uttarayana - A solar year contains two Ayanas: It is the period from the
Sun’s entrance into the sign Capricorn to his entrance into the sign of
Gemini and his crossing the last amsha of this sign is called the
Uttarayana. In other words, when Sun covers six signs, it is the period of
Uttarayana and takes six months. It is also called Saumayayana. Lord of
ayan is Sun. During this period Sun’s movement is towards north. It is
the period of Gods. All the auspicious actions are to be done during
Saumayayana as the Sun has bright and pure rays and is auspicious.
Journeys: If Sun and Moon are in Uttarayana, then the journey towards
east and north is auspicious. If Sun and Moon are in Dakshinayana, then
the journey towards west and south is auspicious. If situation of Sun and
Moon are different ayans, then the journey in the direction indicated by
Sun may be made during daytime and that indicated by Moon will be
auspicious if made during night time. (Sl.39, Ch 11 Muhurta
Chintamani).

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Samkranti - The time of entrance of a planet from one sign into the
other sign i.e. the time of the ingress of a planet is ‘Samkranti kaal’
known as ‘Samkranti’. In this way there are Samkranti of all the planets
but in Electional Astrology only the 12 Samkranti of Sun are considered,
also known as ‘Surya Samkranti’. When Sun enters a new sign, 16
ghatis (6 hours 24 minutes) which occur before and 16 ghatis which
occur after the time of Samkranti is called ‘Punya Kaal’ and should be
avoided in commencing for all auspicious deeds.
Q. Is janma nakshatra a favourable or unfavourable for muhurta?
Answer: A day rule by janma nakshatra is held to be unfavourable for an
election. But in regard to nuptials, sacrifices, first feeding, agriculture,
Upanayana, coronation, buying lands, learning the alphabet, janma
nakshatra is favourable without exception. But it is inauspicious for war,
sexual union, and shaving, taking medicinal treatment, travel and
marriage. For a woman janma nakshatra is quite favourable for
marriage.

Havan muhurta: Add the numbers tithi plus vaar (taking Sunday as 1)
plus 1 and then divide this sum by 4. If the remainder is 0 or 3, the fire
dwells in the earth and is good for havan and the performer gets
happiness. If remainder is 1 or 2, fire dwells in sky or in pataal and is
bad for havan as it indicates death in family or loss of wealth
respectively.

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 Table to find Agni vaas for performing havan
Day → Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday
Paksha/Tithi
↓
Shukla 3 0 1 2 3 0 1
1
2 0 1 2 3 0 1 2
3 1 2 3 0 1 2 3
4 2 3 0 1 2 3 0
5 3 0 1 2 3 0 1
6 0 1 2 3 0 1 2
7 1 2 3 0 1 2 3
8 2 3 0 1 2 3 0
9 3 0 1 2 3 0 1
10 0 1 2 3 0 1 2
11 1 2 3 0 1 2 3
12 2 3 0 1 2 3 0
13 3 0 1 2 3 0 1
14 0 1 2 3 0 1 2
15 1 2 3 0 1 2 3
Krishan 2 3 0 1 2 3 0
1
2 3 0 1 2 3 0 1
3 0 1 2 3 0 1 2
4 1 2 3 0 1 2 3
5 2 3 0 1 2 3 0
6 3 0 1 2 3 0 1
7 0 1 2 3 0 1 2
8 1 2 3 0 1 2 3
9 2 3 0 1 2 3 0
10 3 0 1 2 3 0 1
11 0 1 2 3 0 1 2
12 1 2 3 0 1 2 3
13 2 3 0 1 2 3 0
14 3 0 1 2 3 0 1
30 0 1 2 3 0 1 2

0 and 3 indicate Agni vaas on earth – fit for havan,

1 indicates Agni vaas in Pataal – unfit for havan,
2 indicate Agni vaas in Akaash – unfit for havan.
Note: the tithis in panchanga are given as they exist at the time of Sunrise. Hence ending time of
Tithi may be seen to find if havan can be done on a particular day and if so, till or from what
time.

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Yogas: (also known as Niyati Yogas or Naisargika Yogas – these yogas remain in
the same order starting from Vishkumbha. Tatkalika Yogas are formed by special
combination of tithi-nakshatra etc.) It is the period during which the joint motions in
longitudes of Sun & Moon amount to 13°. 20`. There are 27 yogas as under. One yoga = 60
ghatis. Yoga is addition of longitudes of Sun and Moon. (Moon + Sun in minutes ÷ 800).
The yogas are:

1. Vishkumbha;
2. Priti;
3 Ayushman;
4 Saubhagya;
5 Shobhana;
6 Atiganda;
7 Sukarma;
8 Dhriti;
9 Shoola;
10 Ganda;
11 Vriddhi;
12 Dhruva;
13 Vyaghata;
14 Harshana;
15 Vajra;
16 Siddhi;
17 Vyatipata;
18 Variyan;
19 Parigha or Paridha;
20 Shiva;
21 Siddha;
22 Sadhya;
23 Shubha;
24 Shukla;
25 Brahma;
26 Indra;
27 Vaidhriti.

The nine yogas which have been underlined are bad for any auspicious work. However, they are
good for bad deeds only.

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For new dictionary:
Yogas: also known as Niyati Yogas or Naisargika Yogas, Yogas formed as a result of joint
motions in longitudes of Sun and Moon amounting to 13°. 20` (Moon + Sun in minutes ÷ 800).
There are 27 yogas Vishkumbha; Priti; Ayushman; Saubhagya; Shobhana; Atiganda; Sukarma;
Dhriti; Shoola; Ganda; Vriddhi; Dhruva; Vyaghata; Harshana; Vajra; Siddhi; Vyatipata; Variyan;
Parigha or Paridha; Shiva; Siddha; Sadhya; Shubha; Shukla; Brahma; Indra; Vaidhriti.
Niyati Yogas- Please see Yogas.
Naisargika Yogas – Please see Yogas.