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Are you shifting into your new home? Planning to start a new venture? Getting married? Consult the Panchanga to find the best time to begin any auspicious event in your life and you will be rewarded with success and happiness in whatever you plan to do.

So what is the Panchanga?

Panchanga is the Vedic astrological almanac to which astrologers and most Indians refer to, to calculate auspicious dates, events, solar and lunar eclipses, etc. Panchanga, in Sanskrit means consisting of five parts, which are:

1. Tithi: This is the time during which the difference of the increment of longitude of the Sun and the Moon amounts to 12°. Each Tithi or Lunar day is equal to 0.9483 of a day so that a lunar month, when the Moon completes a 360 degree rotation is equal to about 29.53 days.
2. Nakshatra: The zodiac is marked by 27 constellations or Nakshatras often termed lunar mansions. The position of a Nakshatra is dependent upon the actual time taken by the Moon to traverse 13° 20.' of ecliptic arc, of course, always beginning from the first point of the constellational zodiac.
3. Yoga: The period during which the longitudes of both Sun and the Moon combined amounts to a 13 degree arc. There are 27 yogas. Yoga represents a conjunction of subtle influences which strengthen our bodies, remove diseases, and help us to enjoy health and life.
4. Var: Weekdays. The weekdays are named in accordance with certain astronomical considerations. Therefore on a weekday bearing the name of a particular planet, the influence of that planet is said to be predominant.
5. Karana: Half of a tithi (day) which equals 6 degree of difference between the longitudes of Sun and the Moon. There are 11 Karanas, viz., (1) Bava, (2) Balava, (3) Kaulava, (4) Taitula, (5) Garija, (6) Vanija, (7) Visti, (8) Sakuna, (9) Chatushpada, (10) Naga and (11) Kimstughna. 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 Karanas and occur in order with the second half of the 29th lunar day

The Panchanga takes both Lunar and Solar months in consideration. Although some are Moon based and others are Sun based. In either case, apart from the difference in the basis, the rest information remains the same.

Earliest references to the Panchanga are found almost 5000 years ago. In the 20^th century when discrepancies were found between various Panchanga's in existence, an all India astrologers' committee was formed under the aegis of the Government of India, which brought out the Indian National Panchanga which is now used by all astrologers.

Panchangas now being published contain not only the five essential parameters but much other useful information for the astrologer. These almanacs are handy guides to check planetary positions, marriage compatibility, determining auspicious timings for various events, etc. Today, apart from the printed Panchanga, we also find computer software which gives accurate and more comprehensive information conveniently. Many astrologers are now shifting to these modern tools. Software versions which run on mobile phones are also now available.