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Brahma Muhurta
Pre-dawn auspicious window
03:54 – 04:42
Roughly the 48-minute window ending 48 minutes before sunrise.
ब्रह्म मुहूर्त
Tithi, Nakshatra, Yoga, Karana and Vara with their end-times, plus the month and the Moon’s and Sun’s signs — computed for this city’s sunrise. Times after midnight use the traditional extended clock (e.g. 27:23 = 03:23 next morning).
The lunar day. It is set by how far the Moon has pulled ahead of the Sun — each 12 degrees of separation is one tithi. The tithi shapes which activities the tradition favours, and it ends at the time shown, when the next one begins.
Muhurta Chintamani — Tithi-prakaranam (Nanda/Bhadra/Jaya/Rikta/Purna tithi-types)Sidereal (Lahiri) ephemeris; anga end-times computed to the city’s actual sunrise. “Adhika maas” marks an intercalary lunar month (no solar sankranti within it).
Every time on this page is calculated from the actual positions of the Sun and Moon using the Swiss Ephemeris (the same high-precision astronomical engine used by professional astronomers), not from a printed almanac or a fixed table.
Significance and auspicious/inauspicious flags are drawn from classical texts (Muhurta Chintamani, Brihat Samhita, the Puranas and others) and cited inline — we never assert an effect a text does not state.
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Pick what you’re planning. See whether today suits your activity. Get the best time and the classical source below.
| Window | Start | End | Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rahu Kala | 09:08 | 10:58 | inauspicious |
| Yamaghanda Kala | 05:30 | 07:19 | inauspicious |
| Gulika Kala | 05:30 | 07:19 | inauspicious |
Brahma Muhurta
ब्रह्म मुहूर्त
03:54 – 04:42
Pratah Sandhya
प्रातः सन्ध्या
04:25 – 05:30
Vijaya Muhurta
विजय मुहूर्त
15:12 – 16:10
Godhuli Muhurta
गोधूलि मुहूर्त
19:51 – 20:15
Sayahna Sandhya
सायाह्न सन्ध्या
20:03 – 21:08
Nishita Muhurta
निशीथ मुहूर्त
24:23 – 01:11
Amrita Kalam
अमृत कालम्
18:15 – 19:40
Varjyam
वर्ज्यम्
18:15 – 19:40
The nakshatra-derived window the classics flag to avoid.
Dur Muhurtam 1
दुर्मुहूर्तम्
05:30 – 06:28
Weekday-keyed inauspicious sub-muhurta.
Dur Muhurtam 2
दुर्मुहूर्तम्
06:28 – 07:27
Weekday-keyed inauspicious sub-muhurta.
Source: Muhurta Chintamani; Dharma Sindhu. Sub-window arithmetic from sunrise + nakshatra position.
Surya Rashi
Vrishabha#2
Surya Nakshatra
Krittika कृत्तिका
Pada 2 of 4
Moon Pada Transitions Today
Source: Lahiri (Chitrapaksha) sidereal ephemeris. Pada arithmetic from nakshatra division into 4 equal arcs of 3° 20′ each.
Shaka Samvat
1948
Kilaka कीलक
Gujarati Samvat
2082
Vishvavasu विश्वावसु
| Position | Deity |
|---|---|
| Raja | Jupiter |
| Sasyadhipati | Jupiter |
Remaining governance positions (8) will populate as the engine resolves them.
Disha Shool
Eastपूर्व
avoid
Source: Avoid travel toward this direction today
Nakshatra Shool
Westपश्चिम
avoid
Source: Avoid travel toward this direction while today's nakshatra prevails
Chandra Vasa
Eastपूर्व
favourable
Source: Direction favored by today's moon position
Rahu Vasa
Westपश्चिम
avoid
Tamil Yoga
Mushala मुसल
inauspicious
Source: Inauspicious Tamil yoga -- avoid new ventures
Favourable Janma Rashis Today
Mesha, Mithuna, Karka, Tula, Vrishchika, Kumbha
Chandrashtama (avoid): Kanya
| # | Janma Nakshatra | Tara | Quality |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Ashwini | Sampat सम्पत् | auspicious |
| 2 | Bharani | Janma जन्म | inauspicious |
| 3 | Krittika | Ati-Mitra |
Ritu (Vedic)
Grishmaग्रीष्म
Ritu (Drik)
Vasantaवसन्त
Ayana
Uttarayanaउत्तरायण
Dinamana
14h 33m
Ratrimana
9h 27m
Madhyahna
12:47
Source: Suryasiddhanta. Dinamana = sunrise→sunset minutes; Madhyahna = local solar noon.
| Kaliyuga Year | 5127 |
| Kali Ahargana | 1872711 |
| Julian Day | 2461176.5 |
| Modified Julian Day | 61176 |
| Rata Die | 739752 |
| National Civil (Saka) | Vaishakha 26, 1948 Shaka |
| National Nirayana (Saka) | Jyeshtha 3, 1948 Shaka |
| Lahiri Ayanamsha | 24.2255° |
Derived from the day’s Julian Day and the Lahiri ayanamsha.
On Saturday, the 16th of May 2026, the Vedic calendar for those in Chicago carries a day of particular rhythmic quality. The morning light begins at 5:30 AM and dipping below the horizon at 8:03 PM, bringing 14 hours 33 minutes of daylight. The tithi is Amavasya of Krishna Paksha, and the nakshatra of the day is Bharani. Yoga for the day is Shobhana, completing the core panchang signature for 2026-05-16. Pre-dawn, from 3:54 AM to 4:42 AM, is Brahma Muhurta: the period the Vedic tradition reserves for prayer, meditation, and study.
For those in Chicago, From 9:08 AM to 10:58 AM Rahu Kala is in force — the period to avoid for new endeavours. On Saturday the Disha Shool (directional affliction) is East; the classical recommendation is to delay East-facing departures. On the auspicious side, Shubh (7:19 AM–9:08 AM) is the top-quality choghadiya of the day. Bharani nakshatra is governed by Venus, grounding the cosmic calendar in the rhythms of this specific place and time.
The Moon's star-mansion — the patch of sky it sits in today, one of 27. Each nakshatra has its own temperament that classical texts use to judge what the day is good for.
Brihat Samhita — Nakshatra chapters (nakshatra qualities)A combined Sun-and-Moon measure (one of 27 nitya-yogas) — not the physical posture practice. A few yogas, such as Vyatipata and Vaidhriti, are best avoided; most are ordinary.
Muhurta Chintamani — Yoga enumeration (tyajya-yoga list, v. 33)Half of a tithi — each lunar day holds two karanas. One of them, Vishti (also called Bhadra), is treated as inauspicious; the rest are workable.
BPHS — Karana-jnana-vidhi (11 karanas including Vishti)The weekday and its ruling planet. Each day's planet colours which tasks the tradition recommends — e.g. Thursday (Jupiter) for auspicious beginnings.
Muhurta Chintamani — Vara-prakaranam (weekday lords)The lunar month. India uses two reckonings — Amanta (new-moon to new-moon) and Purnimanta (full-moon to full-moon) — so the name can differ by region. An 'Adhika' (extra) month is inserted to keep the lunar and solar years aligned.
Nirnaya Sindhu — Adhikamasa-nirnaya (intercalary month)The fortnight. Shukla is the waxing half (Moon growing toward full); Krishna is the waning half (toward the new moon).
Calendar definition
The zodiac sign the Moon occupies now. Together with your birth Moon-sign it drives Chandrabala — the Moon's day-to-day favourability for you.
Muhurta Chintamani — 2.4-2.5 (Chandrabala)| 12:18 |
| 13:16 |
| auspicious |
Source: Muhurta Chintamani; Nirnaya Sindhu. Sub-window arithmetic from sunrise + Surya nakshatra position at the city’s coordinates.
Source: Direction occupied by Rahu; avoid offerings facing here
Agnivasa
Patalaपाताल
avoid
Source: Agni's dwelling for homa-suitability assessment
Shiva Vasa
Vrishabhaवृषभ
favourable
Source: Shiva's location for rudrabhisheka timing
Homahuti
Ketuकेतु
avoid
Source: Khala planet: offering inauspicious (खलग्रह के मुख में होमाहुति शुभ नहीं होती)
Anandadi Yoga
Dhwankshaध्वाङ्क्ष
avoid
Source: Inauspicious day-yoga (Anandadi) -- avoid new ventures
| auspicious |
| 4 | Rohini | Mitra मित्र | auspicious |
| 5 | Mrigashira | Vadha वध | inauspicious |
| 6 | Ardra | Sadhaka साधक | auspicious |
| 7 | Punarvasu | Pratyari प्रत्यरि | inauspicious |
| 8 | Pushya | Kshema क्षेम | auspicious |
| 9 | Ashlesha | Vipat विपत् | inauspicious |
| 10 | Magha | Sampat सम्पत् | auspicious |
| 11 | Purva Phalguni | Janma जन्म | inauspicious |
| 12 | Uttara Phalguni | Ati-Mitra अतिमित्र | auspicious |
| 13 | Hasta | Mitra मित्र | auspicious |
| 14 | Chitra | Vadha वध | inauspicious |
| 15 | Swati | Sadhaka साधक | auspicious |
| 16 | Vishakha | Pratyari प्रत्यरि | inauspicious |
| 17 | Anuradha | Kshema क्षेम | auspicious |
| 18 | Jyeshtha | Vipat विपत् | inauspicious |
| 19 | Mula | Sampat सम्पत् | auspicious |
| 20 | Purva Ashadha | Janma जन्म | inauspicious |
| 21 | Uttara Ashadha | Ati-Mitra अतिमित्र | auspicious |
| 22 | Shravana | Mitra मित्र | auspicious |
| 23 | Dhanishtha | Vadha वध | inauspicious |
| 24 | Shatabhisha | Sadhaka साधक | auspicious |
| 25 | Purva Bhadrapada | Pratyari प्रत्यरि | inauspicious |
| 26 | Uttara Bhadrapada | Kshema क्षेम | auspicious |
| 27 | Revati | Vipat विपत् | inauspicious |
| # | Janma Rashi | House from Janma | Favourable |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Mesha | 1 | yes |
| 2 | Vrishabha | 12 | no |
| 3 | Mithuna | 11 | yes |
| 4 | Karka | 10 | yes |
| 5 | Simha | 9 | no |
| 6 | Kanya | 8 | no |
| 7 | Tula | 7 | yes |
| 8 | Vrishchika | 6 | yes |
| 9 | Dhanu | 5 | no |
| 10 | Makara | 4 | no |
| 11 | Kumbha | 3 | yes |
| 12 | Meena | 2 | no |
Source: Muhurta Chintamani; Brihat Samhita. Tarabala uses the 9-cycle from janma-nakshatra to today’s nakshatra.
| # | Rashi | Start | End |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2 | Vrishabha वृषभ | 05:30 | 07:20 |
| 3 | Mithuna मिथुन | 07:20 | 09:40 |
| 4 | Karka कर्क | 09:40 | 12:10 |
| 5 | Simha सिंह | 12:10 | 14:45 |
| 6 | Kanya कन्या | 14:45 | 17:20 |
| 7 | Tula तुला | 17:20 | 19:50 |
| 8 | Vrishchika वृश्चिक | 19:50 | 22:20 |
| 9 | Dhanu धनु | 22:20 | 24:20 |
| 10 | Makara मकर | 24:20 | 01:50 |
| 11 | Kumbha कुम्भ | 01:50 | 03:00 |
| 12 | Meena मीन | 03:00 | 04:10 |
| 1 | Mesha मेष | 04:10 | 05:30 |
| 2 | Vrishabha वृषभ | 05:30 | 05:30 |
| # | Label | Start | End | Quality |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Agni अग्नि | 05:30 | 06:28 | inauspicious |
| 2 | Raja राज | 06:28 | 07:27 | inauspicious |
| 3 | Chora चोर | 07:27 | 08:25 | inauspicious |
| 4 | Shubha शुभ | 08:25 | 09:23 | auspicious |
| 5 | Roga रोग | 09:23 | 10:21 | inauspicious |
| 6 | Mrityu मृत्यु | 10:21 | 11:19 | inauspicious |
| 7 | Agni अग्नि | 11:19 | 12:18 | inauspicious |
| 8 | Raja राज | 12:18 | 13:16 | inauspicious |
| 9 | Chora चोर | 13:16 | 14:14 | inauspicious |
| 10 | Shubha शुभ | 14:14 | 15:12 | auspicious |
| 11 | Roga रोग | 15:12 | 16:10 | inauspicious |
| 12 | Mrityu मृत्यु | 16:10 | 17:09 | inauspicious |
| 13 | Agni अग्नि | 17:09 | 18:07 | inauspicious |
| 14 | Raja राज | 18:07 | 19:05 | inauspicious |
| 15 | Chora चोर | 19:05 | 20:03 | inauspicious |
Source: Muhurta Chintamani; Nirnaya Sindhu.
श्मशान साधना
Mahanirvana Tantra, Kaulajnana Nirnaya, Kamakhya Tantra, Rudrayamala
Dhumavati Sadhana
धूमावती साधना
Shakta Pramoda, Dhumavati Tantra, Mantra Mahodadhi, Tantrasara (Krishnananda)
Bhuvaneshwari Amavasya Dhyana
भुवनेश्वरी अमावस्या ध्यान
Tantrasara, Todala Tantra
Kimstughna Karana Sadhana
किंस्तुघ्न करण साधना
Muhurta Chintamani
Kali Maha Mantra Japa
काली महामन्त्र जप
Rudrayamala Tantra
Devi Kavacham Patha
देवी कवचम् पाठ
Devi Mahatmya, Markandeya Purana
Chandi Patha (Durga Saptashati)
चण्डी पाठ
Markandeya Purana, Devi Mahatmya
Baglamukhi Stambhana Sadhana
बगलामुखी स्तम्भन साधना
Baglamukhi Tantra, Rudrayamala, Mantra Mahodadhi
Tara Sadhana
तारा साधना
Tara Tantra, Todala Tantra, Tantrasara (Krishnananda)
74/ 100 points