MuhurtaThe exact juncture of time

© Dr. Satya Prakash Choudhary

Eccelesiastes states, “To everything there is a season and a time for every purpose under the heavens; a time to be born and a time to die; A time to plant and a time to pluck up that which is planted; A time to kill and a time to heal; A time to breakdown and a time to build up; A time to weep and a time to laugh; A time to mourn and a time to Dance; a time to get and a time to lose; A time to keep and a time to cast away”. Almost all religions state that there is a time for everything in the natural order. When one does anything at the right moment, it certainly has to bear fruit. Going with the rhythm of nature, one learns to swim along the current. Infact, is not success due to the right effort at the right time? Such a time is ascertainable definitely. Muhurta is the branch of astrology, which deals with the study of ‘time of commencement’. It is a part of the earliest writings of Vedic astrology gifted by the ancient sages. Traditionally this has been a very important and continuous living tradition in India since the Vedic times. The Vedic seers seemed to have given their insights into astronomy primarily for this purpose, for timing their various rituals. Aligning their day-to-day activities with the cosmos, they insisted on going with the common flow of the Universe.

Time is god. Time is MAHAKALA. Time is the creator of destiny. It is also the carrier of fruits of destiny. Time is the most important factor that plays a major role in our lives. Each and everything has been destined to take place in a particular time. And destiny is the power

that decides the course of events, another word for our own karmas. The time of commencement of life or the time of birth has certain information about the auspicious and inauspicious moments through which life will progress before it reaches its end. The moments or the instances of birth carry broad parameters of one’s destiny for his lifetime. As a man cannot control his time of birth or time of commencement of life, he cannot control all the good or bad he has to face just because his life started at that particular time. The way time of beginning of life influences the major incidents of life, time of commencement of any activity will contain certain favorable and unfavourable promises for such activity. And man as a progressive element of nature had always been curious to know about the future and found no other substitute to influence and change the outcome.

Muhurta is the branch of astrology, which deals with the study of ‘time of commencement’. It is a part of the earliest writings of Vedic astrology gifted by the ancient sages. The word muhurta literally means a period of 48-min. (2 ghatis). But in the actual sense, muhurta is a moment created. Or in other words the exact juncture of time within the existing limiting points of freedom of action, when the divine powers are more likely to aid us and are favourably disposed towards the success of the activity. Muhurta includes or is concerned with the planetary bodies and their various positions that contain certain vibrations or promises that show likely success of an activity (or a connected set of natural/human actions or operations that produce continuation or gradual change in order to reach a particular result or as a part of official system; which humans have little control) starting at that time.

The study of muhurta explains the effects that decide the fact of being suitable or unsuitable of that moment first for a particular action and

then for a particular individual. It is the study of time in various forms. The relative positions of the Sun and Moon are given more importance. The variables of muhurta are ayana, month, constellation, yoga, ascendant etc. all based on the movements of Sun and Moon individually and in relation to each other. Other planets also play their role by various positions. The right time which is promising or showing signs of future success for a particular activity is muhurta.

The practical value or importance can be observed in terms of self-created short-term destiny applicable to a specific aspect of life. This self-created short-term destiny will certainly prove when it is put in a state of complete agreement with the individual’s horoscope. If we avoid going against the forces of nature, eventually cosmic power comes favorable; muhurta helps us in searching those moments. To appreciate this better, we need a good understanding of the Indian calendar or Panchanga.

* * * * *

“From Lunar day the stages of growth and decay, from weekday the longer life, from constellation the seizure of bad actions, from yoga the cure of ill health, from Karana the result of the work, with all these the calendar or panchanga gives the required results”.

- Skanda Narayanan

The concept of muhurta or choice of an auspicious moment can be used to fix a particular time for the commencement of almost each and every activity: marriage, education, occupation, journey, oath taking, filing of nominations, procurement of vehicles, property etc. by

practicing it man can tune himself to the frequency of the cosmic powers instead of going against it.

‘No axe can cut what had already been written’. In the astrological history of India there lived a great mathematician and astrologer named Bhaskaracharya. He was a great expert in his subjects. And when it happened that he was studying the horoscope of his daughter Leelavati, he found that she had a certain dosha called “Mangalya dosha” in her horoscope (chances for widowhood).

Due to strong belief in his own abilities, he felt that he could alter the course of events that are destined to happen with his versatality. He tried various combinations and finally succeeded in fixing the marriage of his daughter in an ascendant in which all the planets are in a favorable position as to ensure she remains a deergashumangali. (One who would lead life with husband to a ripe old age). In those days, to measure time, people used to use a water pot, which consisted an upper and a lower part. The water in the upper receptacle would trickle through a hole into the lower container. The system was arranged in such a way that it gets filled up exactly after 24 min (1 ghati) or 1/60 the part of the day. It was a unit of time followed. The lower part would determine the time of day.On the day of the wedding, Leelavati dressed in her wedding robes, fascinated by the trickling drops sat, beside the water clock. As she peered into it, a pearl from her nose stud fell into it exactly into the hole. She being a small girl didn’t observe that. As the flow of water slowed down, the clock was no longer accurate. The exact auspicious time fixed for the marriage elapsed. When Bhaskaracharya discovered this he was shocked but it was too late for him to do anything to prevent the disaster that was going to happen. She led her widowed life with her father learning mathematics in the latter part of her life.

The waves of destiny are never less severe or cruel. Nor do they show pity.

Thus Muhurta has its limitations too. Prarabdha, the fraction of past karmas that the individual has to work on, in this life, already decides the general framework, within which an individual’s life operates. An astrologer can study prarabdha or destiny through the birth time. But part of the result of destiny depends on the individual’s freewill, how he chooses to alter his karma. With each thought, word and deed, we are constantly debiting or crediting our karmic account. So if the natal chart itself indicates unhappy married life, what can the choice of an auspicious muhurta for the marriage do? It can at best reduce the intensity of suffering by one-third! It is a common experience of many astrologers that individuals with very strong negative indications in the natal chart in a particular area often fail to even utilize the muhurta chosen. They either get wrong guidance, or have obstacles in using the auspicious moment chosen! After all we are up against the karmas through thousands and millions of lives.

But Muhurta is the most crucial area apart from remedial measures, in the area of free will. This is where the relevance of astrology as a useful subject of study becomes all the more significant. Both muhurta and remedial astrology come under the purview of free will. The outcome of free will depends largely on how strong the previous karmas are. Destiny vs freewill will remain an enigma, one of those secrets of the workings of the Cosmos, a complete knowledge of which man will probably never attain. Those who unravel this mystery fully will be among the liberated and enlightened.

Panchanga literally means “Five limbs”. The Hindu calendar has five limbs. It describes five ways to divide the span of the day. The day is

from one Sunrise to another Sunrise. In deciding the general auspiciousness of a moment, all five limbs are taken into account. Of course the planetary positions too are considered next. Finally the matching of the generally auspicious moment with the individual chart, is also done to ascertain whether it suits the individual or not. First we will cover the five limbs of the calendar briefly.

The five limbs are:

1. Lunar day (Tithi)2. Week day (Vaaram)3. Constellation (Nakshatra)4. Yoga5. Karana

LUNAR DAY (TITHI)Tithi is the name given to the various angles formed by the Sun and the Moon. When the Sun and Moon are together at the same degree it is called the new Moon (amavashya). As Moon moves away from the Sun at each 12 difference a new Lunar day is formed. Mathematically. Lunar day (tithi) = (Moon’s longitude – Sun’s longitude)/12

The 30-day lunar month is divided into a dark half, Krishna Paksha and a bright half, Shukla Paksha. Each half is further divided into 15 parts, which are called lunar days or tithis. A Lunar day is the daily spread of distance between the Sun and the Moon, which is 12 degrees. The lengths of Lunar days may differ as the amount of space covered by a lunar day varies from time to time. There are 30 Lunar days out of which 15 are in the bright half (Shukla Paksha) when Moon moves towards the Sun.

BRIGHT HALF Moon – Sun

Tithi Group NatureIn Auspicious Part

In Auspicious Part

00-120 Pratipada Nanda A Starting 24min120-240 Dwitiya Bhadra A240-360 Tritiya Jaya A360-480 Chaturthi Rikta A First 3h 12min480-600 Panchami Poorna A Ending 24min600-720 Shasthi Nanda M First 3h 36min720-840 Saptami Bhadra M840-960 Ashtami Jaya M First 5h 36min960-1080 Navami Rikta M First 10hrs1080-1200 Dashami Poorna M Ending 24min1200-1320 Ekadashi Nanda F.S Starting 24min1320-1440 Dwadashi Bhadra F.S First 4hrs1440-1560 Triyodashi Jaya F.S1560-1680 Chaturdashi Rikta F.S First 2hrs1680-1800 Purnima Poorna F.S Ending 24min

A: Inauspicious M: Medium F.S: Full StrengthRikta Lunar days are generally considered inauspicious.

DARK HALF

Moon – Sun

Tithi Group NatureIn Auspicious Part

In Auspicious Part

1800-1920 Pratipada Nanda S1920-2040 Dwitiya Bhadra S2040-2160 Tritiya Jaya S2160-2280 Chaturthi Rikta S First 3h 12min

2280-2400 Panchami Poorna S Ending 24min2400-2520 Shasthi Nanda M First 3hrs 36min2520-2640 Saptami Bhadra M2640-2760 Ashtami Jaya M First 5hrs 36min2760-2880 Navami Rikta M First 10hrs2880-3000 Dashami Poorna M3000-3120 Ekadashi Nanda A3120-3240 Dwadashi Bhadra A First 4hrs3240-3360 Triyodashi Jaya A3360-3480 Chaturdashi Rikta A First 2hrs3480-3600 Amavashya Poorna A Ending 24min

The time from one new Moon to another new Moon is called a lunar month.

MuhurtaThe lunar days are classified into five groups. (M.C.-Shubhashubha Prakaranam 4)Nanda (Delightful) …………… 1st, 6th, 11th, of both dark and bright halfBhadra (Auspicious/Cow) …….2nd, 7th, 12th, of both dark and bright halfJaya (Triumph/Victorious)…….3rd, 8th, 13th, of both dark and bright halfRikta (empty/Emptied) ………..4th, 9th, 14th, of both dark and bright halfPoorna (Full/Filled) …………………5th, 10th, 15th, 30th of both dark and bright half.

The first five lunar days of bright half are considered inauspicious (because Moon is weak), next five Lunar days medium, and the next five, full strength.In the dark half, first five – full strength, second five are medium, third weak.

LORDS OF LUNAR DAYSTithi Nature LordsPratipada Vriddhi (Increase) Agni (Fire)Dwitiya Auspicious

Happening Brahma (God of creation)

Tritiya Power giving Gauri (Goddess wife of Lord Shiva)

Chaturthi Khala Ganesh –god of fulfillment.Panchami Lakshmi (wealth) Naga (serpents) Shasthi Fame giving Kartikeya (Lord of Valor)Saptami Friendly SunAshtami Conflict Shiva (lord of destruction)Navami Aggressive Durga (goddess of power)Dashami Sober Yama (god of death)Ekadashi Enjoyment ViswedevaDwadashi Fame and good

qualitiesVishnu

Triyodashi Victory Kama Deva (God of sex)Chaturdashi Aggressive Shiva (god of destruction)Poornima Sober Moon Amavashya Pitara (ancestors)

Some of the prescribed or prohibited activities in the Lunar days are as follows:

1st: Marriage, Upanayana, travel, installation of deity, first feeding, tonsure, house construction, house warming, etc. are commended.

2nd: Installation of deity, travel, marriage, upanayana and other auspicious activities are followed, but oil bath is prohibited.

3rd: Music, education, Seemanta, tonsure and other auspicious activities mentioned in the 2nd lunar day.4th: Experiment with Weapons, jail activities etc.5th: All auspicious activities, but giving loan is prohibited.6th: Activities belonging to architecture, war, house construction etc. but oil bath is prohibited.7th: All auspicious activities mentioned for the 2nd, 3rd and 5th lunar days.8th: Battles, Government activities, writing, dance, ornaments etc. but taking meat is prohibited.9th: Activities mentioned for the 4th lunar day.10th: Activities, mentioned for 2nd, 3rd, 5th, 7th, but oil bath is prohibited.11th: Temple activities, house construction, preparation of liquors, travel, wearing new clothes and ornaments etc.12th: Upanayana, marriage and other auspicious activities, but house-construction, house -warming and travel are prohibited.13th: All auspicious activities mentioned above, but oil bath, wearing new clothes and ornaments and yajnopaveeta dharana are prohibited.14th: All evil activities - but hair cutting and travel are prohibited.POORNIMA: Marriage, installation of deities, architectural work, yagna and propitiation etc. allowed.AMAVASYA: Giving oblations is commended, but sexual union with woman is prohibited.

CONSTELLATION (Nakshatra)

The Constellation is the Moon sign. From the starting point of the sidereal zodiac if we divide the zodiac into 27 equal parts then each part will be of 13 deg 20 min and is called a Constellation. Each Constellation is further divided into four sub-sections of 3 deg 20 min called pada (foot). When Moon transits in a particular division of 13 deg 20 min it is called constellation of that moment. Out of the five components of the panchanga, constellation is given maximum importance.

The constellations are classified into seven major groups according to their nature. They are: 1. Fixed and constant (Dhruva and Sthira)2. Movable (Char-chala) 3. Aggressive-cruel (Ugra-Kroora)4. Mixed and ordinary (Mishra-sadharana)5. Short and dynamic (Kshipra-laghu)6. Gentle-friendly (Mridu-maitra) 7. Ferocious and bitter (Teekshana-daruna).According to direction, constellations are divided into three major groups, they are:

1. Upward looking (Urdhwa mukha)2. Downward looking (Adho mukha)3. Straight looking (Triyung mukha)

Constellation Star

Appearance Lord/Deity CategoryDirectionEnglish Sanskrit

Arietus Ashwini N1

3 Horse’s face Ashwini Kumaras(Celestial twin Physicians)

Short-dynamic

Straight Looking

Arietisa Bharani N2

3 Vagina Yama (lord of death)

Aggressive- Cruel

Downwar

dLooking

TauriAloyoni

Krittika N3

6 Knife Agni (Fire) Fixed-constant

DownwardLooking

TauriAldeboran

Rohini N4 5 Shakat (Bullock cart)

Brahma(God of Creation)

Gentle-friendly

UpwardLooking

Orionis Mrighshira N5

3 Face of deer Chandhra (Moon) Ferocious And bitter

StraightLooking

Orionis Ardra N6 1 Mani or Jewel Rudhra (Lord of destruction)

Movable UpwardLooking

GeminiPlollux

PunarvasuN7

4 House Aditi (mother of Devas)

Short-dynamic

StraightLooking

Cancri Pushya N8

3 Arrow Guru Ferocious-bitter Looking

Upward

Hydrae Ashlesha N 9

5 Wheel Sarpa (serpents) Aggressive-cruel

DownwardLooking

LeaonisRegular

Magha N 10

5 House Pitri (ancestors) Aggressive DownwardLooking

Leonis P.falguni N 11

2 Stage Bhaga (Name of Sun)

Fixed-constant

DownwardLooking

Corvi U. FalguniN12

2 Cot Aryama (Name of Sun)

Short-dynamic

UpwardLooking

VirginisSpiica

Hasta N13

5 Hand Sun Gentle-friendly

StraightLooking

BoothisArcturus

Chitra N14

1 Pearl Viswakarma (Architect of gods)

Movable StraightLooking

Librae Swati N15 1 Coral Vaayu (Air) Gentle-friendly

StraightLooking

Scorpionis

Vaishakha N16

4 Torana a Flag Indra Mixed-ordinary

DownwardLooking

Antaras Anuradha N 17

4 Pinda Mitra (Name of Sun)

Gentle-friendly

StraightLooking

Scorpionis

Jyeshtha N18

3 Ear rings Indra Ferocious-bitter

StraightLooking

Sagittanis

Moola N 19

11 Stage Rakshasa Ferocious-bitter

DownwardLooking

Sagittaris

P.shada N20

2 Elephant’s teeth

Jala (water) Aggressive-cruel

UpwardLooking

Sagittaris

U.shadaN21

2 Stage Vishawadeva Fixed-constant

UpwardLooking

N 21(a) Abhijit N 21(a)

3 Triangle Brahma Short-dynamic

UpwardLooking

Aquailate

Shravana N 22

3 Vaamana(Three foot steps)

Vishnu Movable Upward Looking

Dellphini

Dhanishtha N 23

4 Mridanga Vasu Movable UpwardLooking

Aquari Satabhisha N 24

100 Circle Varuna Movable UpwardLooking

Pegasi P.bhadrapadN 25

2 Stage Ajcharan (Name of Rudra)

Aggressive-cruel

Downward Looking

PegaseAndreda

U.bhadrapad N26

2 Twins Ahirbhudhnya (Name of Rudra)

Fixed-constant

UpwardLooking

Pocium Revati N 27

32 Mridanga Pusha (Name of Sun)

Gentle-friendly looking

Straight

(The lords of the Nakshatras-M.C.-Nakshatra Prakaranam-1)The Constellations are suitable for various activities depending on their nature.A rough guide is given below.

Understanding the energies of the stars

Fixed and constant (Dhruva-Sthira): Works of fixed nature like laying foundations, digging a well, house building, agriculture, and starting service are done in this category.(M.C.-Nakshatraprakaranam-2)

Movable (Char Chala): All movable activities like riding on vehicles, horses, elephants and journeys and any other activity needing motion can be done in this constellation.(M.C.-Nakshatraprakaranam3)

Aggressive-cruel (Ugra-Kroora): It is suitable for killing, cheating, works involving use of fire, theft, poisoning, research on poisonous medicines, purchase sale and use of arms.(M.C.-Nakshatraprakaranam4)

Mixed-ordinary (Mishra-Sadharana): Good for fireworks, welding, melting, gas works, fabrications, preparing medicines etc. (M.C.-Nakshatraprakaranam-5)

Short and dynamic (Kshipra-Laghu): Suitable for construction and starting a shop, selling, sex, starting education, making and wearing ornaments, fine arts, learning and display of arts etc., (M.C.-Nakshatraprakaranam-6)

Gentle-friendly (Mridu-Maitra): Singing, learning music, making and wearing clothes, playing, learning game skills, making friends, making and wearing ornaments etc., can be done in these. (M.C.-Nakshatraprakaranam-7)

Ferocious and bitter (Teekshana-Daruna): Killing, black magic, aggressive and deadly deeds, to divide others, to train animals and control animals etc.(M.C.-Nakshatraprakaranam-8)

According to direction:1. Upward looking: Suitable for construction of house, temples, multistoried buildings, horticulture etc, where the activity needs looking upward. (M.C.-Nakshatraprakaranam-9)

2. Downward looking: Digging for wells and ponds, digging for foundation laying, underground constructions, mining, sever works are done in these constellations where one has to face downwards.(M.C.-Nakshatraprakaranam-9)

3. Straight looking: Activities facing straight like riding, driving, journeys, construction of roads etc. Each and every constellation has a specific shape, number of stars in it and a lord ruling it. Their suitability to various activities can also be decided by the above characteristics.(M.C.-Nakshatraprakaranam-9)

WEEK DAY ( VAARAM ) The period from one Sunrise to another Sunrise is called a day. Each day is allotted a planet. Ex. Sunday-Sun; Monday-Moon; Tuesday-Mars; Wednesday-Mercury; Thursday-Jupiter; Friday-Venus; Saturday-Saturn. Each day is considered for the influence brought about by the ruling planet. Out of these Tuesday and Saturday are malefic. Sunday is partially malefic. These are classified as constellations as follows:

Sunday Fixed-constant Dhruva-SthiraMonday Movable Char-chalaTuesday Aggressive-cruel Ugra-krooraWednesday

Mixed Mishra-sadharana

Thursday Short and dynamic Kshipra-laghuFriday Gentle and

friendlyMridu-maitra

Saturday Volatile Teekshana-daruna

Like the constellations the weekdays are also judged by their nature and are selected for the activity. Ex: Sunday for tasks of fixed nature and so on.

COMBINATION (YOGA OR NITYA YOGA):The relative position of the Sun and the Moon in the zodiac gives the yoga. The word yoga means the union or celestial relationship between

the longitudes of the Sun and the Moon. There are 27 yogas and a specific interpretation is allotted for each of them. To put it mathematically,Yoga = (Moon’s longitude – Sun’s longitude)/13°20min The quotient gives us the number of the yoga prevailing. Their names give an indication of benefic/malefic nature of the yoga.The malefic yogas are: 1.Vishkumbha 6.Atiganda 9.Shoola 10.Ganda 13.Vyaghat 15.Vajra 17.Vyatipata 19.Parigha 27.Vaidhriti. 1. Vishkumbha 10. Ganda 19. Parigha2. Preeti 11. Vriddhi 20. Shiva3. Ayushmana 12. Dhruva 21. Siddha4. Saubhagya 13. Vyghata 22. Sadhya5. Shobana 14. Harshana 23. Shubha6. Atiganda 15. Vajra 24. Shukla7. Sukarama 16. Suddhi 25. Brahma8. Dhriti 17. Vyatipaata 26. Indra9. Shoola 18. Variyana 27. Vaidhriti

Malefic portions of yogas to be avoidedVishkumbha

First 3 ghatis 1 hr 12 min

Ganda First 6 ghatis 2 hrs 24 minVyghata First 9 ghatis 3 hrs 36 minParigha First 30 ghatis 12 hrsVyatipata Full 60 ghatis 24 hrs Atiganda First 6 ghatis 2 hrs 24 minShoola First 5 ghatis 2 hrsVajra First 3 ghatis 1hr 24 minVaidhriti Full 60 ghatis 24 hrs(M.C.-Shubhashubhaprakaranam-35)

If on a particular day Vishkumbha yoga prevails for 25 hours then inauspicious period will be. (3*25)/24 = 75/24 3 ghatis and 7 and a 1/2 vighatis.

KARANAKarana is one half of a lunar day. Totally there are eleven karanas. Out of them four are fixed and seven are movable. The four fixed karanas are considered inauspicious and their names are as follows: 1.Shakuni 2.Chatushpada 3.Naga 4.Kimstughna.The seven movable karanas are 1.Bava2.Balava 3.Kaulava4.Taitila 5.Gara6.Vanija7.Vishti.Karanas give us a more exact description of the nature of the favorable and unfavorable influences occurring around us at a specific time of the day.

HOW TO FIND OUT THE KARANA:If it is the dark fortnight, double the lunar day's number and divide it by 7. The remainder gives you the name of the Karana in the first half of the lunar day. The next Karana would be in the 2nd half of the lunar day.

Double the Lunar day’s number and subtract 2 from it and then divide it by 7, if it is the bright fortnight. The remainder gives you the name of the Karana in the 1st half of the lunar day. The next Karana would be in the 2nd half of the lunar day.

Example -1: The Lunar day is 5th in the dark half.So 2x5/7 = 10/7 R=3 so the karana is Kaulava in the first half of the Lunar day. In the 2nd half, it is Taitila.Example -2: The Lunar day is 5th in the bright half. So, 2x5 = 10; 10-2=8, and 8/7, R=1So, the Karana Bava is the 1st half of the Lunar day and Balava is the 2nd half of the Lunar day.

USES OF THE KARANAS:Bava: Nutritive worksBalava: Reading, teaching, in performing yogas.Kaulava: Making friendship or any work concerning women.Taitila: For married and un widowed womenGaraja: Ploughing and seed - sowingVishti: Setting fire, poisoning, war and for all evil acts.Sakuni: Making and taking of medicine.Chatushpada: Ruling the country; swearing - in ceremonies.Naga: Evil deeds.Kimstughna: Auspicious activities.

Bright half Dark halfSl.No

First halfOf Lunar day

Second half of Lunar day

Sl.N First halfOf Lunar day

Second half of Lunar day

1 Kimstughna Bava 16 Balav Kaulava 2 Balav Kaulava 17 Taitila Gar 3 Taitila Gar 18 Vanija Vishti 4 Vanija Vishti 19 Bav Balav 5 Bav Balav 20 Kaulava Taitila 6 Kaulava Taitila 21 Gar Vanija

7 Gar Vanija 22 Vishti Bav 8 Vishti Bav 23 Balava Kaulava 9 Balava Kaulava 24 Taitila Gar 10 Taitila Gar 25 Vanija Vishti 11 Vanija Vishti 26 Bav Balava 12 Bav Balav 27 Kaulava Taitila 13 Kaulava Taitila 28 Gar Vanija 14 Gar Vanija 29 Vishti Sakuni 15 Vishti Bav 30 Chatushpada Naga

Bhadra:When Vishti karana prevails, it is considered inauspicious in election. It is called Bhadra. (M.C.-Shubhashubhaprakaranam 43)

When Bhadra is in the daytime, the auspicious ceremonies are approved in the night, when the Bhadra is in the night, the auspicious ceremonies are allowed in the daytime. Bhadra is not evil in the evening.

Bhadra is considered auspicious for cutting the umbilical chord, Jaatkarma Samskara, barter transaction, cooking, Yagna, to present something to the king, propitiation of Lord Shiva and Parvati, ‘Haritalika pujan’ and Holika’.

Bhadra is not evil during the solar ingress in Pisces, in the worship of Shiva and Ganesh, in Devi Pooja and in the worship of Vishnu and Sun God. (Jyotirvidabharanam)

Tithis Shukla 4 Shukla 8 Shukla 11 Shukla 15

Krishna 14 Krishna 10 Krishna 7 Krishna 3

Bhadra Mouth

Starting 2hrsOfVishti Karana

From 3rd hrTo5th hour

From 6th to8th hour

From 9th

To 11th hour

BhadraTail

Ending 1hr 12min

From 1hr 48minTo3rd hour

From 4hrs 48min to6th hour

From 7hr 48 min to9th hour.

The above table: M.C.-Shubhashubhaprakaranam44

The living and the effects of Bhadra:When the Moon is in the signs of Aquarius, Pisces, Cancer or Leo Bhadra lives in the Mrityuloka (on earth); when Moon is in the Aries, Taurus, Gemini, or Scorpio, Bhadra lives in Swargaloka (abode of gods); when Moon is in Virgo, Sagittarius, Libra, and Capricorn, Bhadra lives in Pataalloka (the under world). The effects of Bhadra are felt in the loka it resides.(M.C.-Shubhashubhaprakaranam-45)