Festival calendar in Houston, January 2025 · kundlit
Festival calendar in Houston, January 2025
Every Vedic festival, ekadashi, purnima, amavasya and sankranti for this month — computed live from the panchanga engine, tiered by rarity, citation-backed. 87 events: 0 major, 30 medium, 57 recurring.
Phaladeepika — Upagraha-prakarana (calculation of dhuma, vyatipata, parivesha, indrachapa, ketu), verse 5 (formula for vyatipata from solar position; Hindi-Alt ed., around lines 22701-22750)
Muhurta Chintamani — Shubhashubha-prakarana, Shunyatithi-chakra, verse 10Masa-wise shunya tithis enumerated; 4/9/14 (Rikta tithis) fall in the shunya set and Tuesday compounds the void.
Sun enters Makara (Capricorn), marking Uttarayana -- the northward journey of the sun. Most auspicious Sankranti. Dana, snana in sacred rivers, and tila-gur offerings are prescribed. Ganga snan on this day destroys all sins.
Sankranti Snana & Dana·
Makar Sankranti Surya Puja·
Makar Sankranti Surya Puja·
Tue · Jan 14
Sankranti
संक्रान्ति
Medium18:48 – 05:12sankrantisuryasnanadana
Sun enters a new rashi (solar ingress). All Sankrantis are considered punya kala. Sacred bath, surya arghya, tila dana, and charity are prescribed. The punya kala extends 16 ghatikas (~6.5 hours) before and after the exact transition moment.
Muhurta Chintamani — Nakshatra-prakarana (tyajya nakshatra and yoga), verse 34 (Pyarelal Mishra Hindi ed., lines 983-1007) — 'विष्कम्भवज्रवटिकात्रयमेव वर्ज्यम्'Vishkambha (with vajra) — first three vatikas (ghatikas) explicitly forbidden in shubha-karma; the yoga's name literally means 'obstruction'.
Muhurta Chintamani — Shubhashubha-prakarana, tyajya yoga section, verse 35Shula yoga's first 5 ghatikas explicitly enjoined for rejection in all karmas — especially travel.
Narada Purana — Purvabhaga, jataka-yoga-phala section, verses 195-196Shula-yoga jataka described as shura-vira but adhana (without wealth) — reinforces 'painful obstacles' theme.
Muhurta Chintamani — Shubhashubha-prakaranam (tyajya nakshatra-yoga section), verses 34-35'Parigha-rdhaṁ pancha shule shaṭ cha ganda-atigandayoh, vyaghate nava-naadyash cha varjyaah sarveshu karmasu.' Ganda and Atiganda yogas explicitly listed with 6 nadis to be avoided in all auspicious works.
Narada Purana — Purvabhaga, karana-prakarana, verse 124Enumerates Shakuni, Naga, Chatushpada, Kimstughna as the four sthira (fixed) karanas of the lunar month.
Bhavishya Purana — Uttara-parva, Chaturthi-vrata-kalpa (Angaraka-chaturthi-vrata-varnana), Chaturthi-vrata chapter (DLI Hindi ed., around lines 70101-70150)Krishna-Yudhishthira samvada on Chaturthi vrata including Angaraka Chaturthi.
Matsya Purana — Surya-vamsha-varnana (origin of Vishti/Bhadra), Vishti as Chhaya's daughter (Gita Press ed., around lines 5851-5900)Vishti (Bhadra) — bhayankara-rupavali tritiya kanya — is established as kala-karana-svarupa, the personification of the inauspicious karana.
Phaladeepika — Santanachinta-prakarana (use of Vishti-karana in muhurta), verse 15 (Hindi-Alt ed., around lines 9801-9850)Phaladeepika explicitly names Vishti-karana as varjya for shubha-karya and for santana-prashna; classical avoidance rule.
Narada Purana — Purvabhaga, Karana-jnana-vidhi (11 karanas including Vishti), around verses 124-125 (sankshipta ed., around lines 34051-34100)Lists the 7 chara + 4 sthira karanas including Vishti (#7) — formula to determine karana from tithi-number.
Vyatipata = (Sun + 4r 13°20') subtracted from 12 rashis — defined as 'a-prakasha-graha' (invisible graha).
Parashara Smriti — Madhaviya-vritti, Dana-kala-nirupana, Section on vyatipata as inauspicious yoga / sankrama (Islampurkar 1894 ed., around lines 40233-40259)Mahavyatipata defined; cited alongside ayana and vishuva as auspicious-dana times despite the yoga itself being inauspicious for new beginnings.
Manasa-pancami (Naga-panchami) enjoined for monthly or festival worship — establishes Panchami-Naga link.
Both adhyayas prescribe Saptami-tithi as the supreme day for Surya worship using the twelve-name list (Bhanu/Arka/Ravi/Brahma/Surya/Shakra/Hari/Shiva/Shriman/Vibhavasu/Tvashta/Varuna).
Bhavishya Purana — Brahma Parva, Saptami-kalpa (Akshyanga Saptami adhyaya 111), opening versesBhavishya Purana's Saptami-kalpa is the standard nibandha source for Bhanu/Ravi-Saptami; Sunday + Saptami amplifies it.
— Prakriti Khanda (Shashthi-devi mahatmya)
, Shashthi-stuti section (devi identified as Kartikeya-pranapriya)
Devi Bhagavata — Skandha 3, Navaratri-vidhi (importance of Ashtami), Ashtami pujan prescription (Vol. 1 Gita Press ed., around lines 45751-45800)If unable to do full nine-day Navaratri, Ashtami tithi must be observed; references Daksha-yajna context.
Matsya Purana — Surya-vamsha-varnana (origin of Vishti/Bhadra), Vishti as Chhaya's daughter (Gita Press ed., around lines 5851-5900)Vishti (Bhadra) — bhayankara-rupavali tritiya kanya — is established as kala-karana-svarupa, the personification of the inauspicious karana.
Phaladeepika — Santanachinta-prakarana (use of Vishti-karana in muhurta), verse 15 (Hindi-Alt ed., around lines 9801-9850)Phaladeepika explicitly names Vishti-karana as varjya for shubha-karya and for santana-prashna; classical avoidance rule.
Narada Purana — Purvabhaga, Karana-jnana-vidhi (11 karanas including Vishti), around verses 124-125 (sankshipta ed., around lines 34051-34100)Lists the 7 chara + 4 sthira karanas including Vishti (#7) — formula to determine karana from tithi-number.
'Yam, Vishvedeva, Chandra, Brahma, Guru, Chandra, Indra, Jala, Sarpa, Agni, Surya, Bhumi, Rudra, Brahma, Varuna, Ganesha, Rudra, Kubera, Vishvakarma, Mitra...' -- Rudra is named twice (yoga 13 Vyaghata and yoga 20 Shiva); the Shiva-Yoga at index 20 derives its name from this lordship.
Twelve-month Navami-vrata catalogue — every Navami is sacred to Durga/Chandika/Kumari in some form.
Devi Bhagavata — Tritiya-skandha (Sharad/Vasanta Navaratri narrative), Tritiya-skandha, Sudarshana-Subahu Navaratri narrative (Gita Press Vol.1, around lines 44951-45000) — 'नवरात्रेषु सर्वेषु ... अर्चनं हवनं यागं देव्या'Each Navami caps the Navaratri sequence; the day is fixed for Devi-arcana, havana, yaga.
Lists 28 anandadi yogas: 'siddhi' named explicitly as one yielding karya-siddhi by its own name (siddha-yoga is the 21st nitya-yoga).
Narada Purana — Purvabhaga, Anandadi-yoga section, Anandadi 28-yoga list (sankshipta ed., around lines 42101-42150)Siddhi yoga #19 in Anandadi enumeration; 'svanama-phaladayaka' — gives fruit per its name.
Narada Purana — Uttarabhaga, Ekadashi-vrata-mahatmya (Rukmangada-Mohini samvada), Rukmangada vrata-pratijna (Sankshipta ed., lines 76451-76550) — 'एकादशीके दिन भोजन कैसे करूँगा ... मधुसूदनके पुण्यमय दिवस एकादशीको अन्नका सेवन नहीं करूँगा'King Rukmangada's vow never to take food on Ekadashi establishes the canonical fasting rule; Thursday (Guru/Vishnu's vara) intensifies the merit.
Brahma Vaivarta Purana — Krishna-janma-khanda (Ekadashi-vrata prescription), Dharmaraja-Vasundhara samvada (Gita Press ed., lines 27701-27750) — Vishnu-bhakti centrality of EkadashiIdentifies Vishnu-seva as the supreme dharma; Ekadashi to Thursday (Vishnu/Guru) doubly auspicious for the vrata.
Sources (2)
Narada Purana — Purvabhaga, Ekadashi-vrata section, Ekadashi-vrata-mahatmya (sankshipta ed., text around lines 14901-14950)Detailed rules on dashami-viddha vs dvadashi-viddha Ekadashi, fasting and parana.
Brahma Vaivarta Purana — Krishna-janma-khanda, Ekadashi-vrata prescription, Ekadashi-upavasa section (sankshipta ed., text around lines 71651-71700)All Vaishnavas, yatis, widows, brahmacharis are to fast on every Ekadashi.
'Yadi dvitiya din dvadashi hai to pehle din ki dashami-viddha ekadashi bhi niṣiddha hi hai (isliye aisi paristhiti mein dvadashi ko vrata karna chahiye).'
Names all 11 karanas with their phala — Bava (chara, first) is the auspicious chara-karana for new beginnings; karanas grouped as 'phaladah svanama' (effects per their names).
BPHS — Panchanga-sadhana / Karana-prakarana, standard BPHS section on the 11 karanas (Bava-Balava-Kaulava ... Naga-Kimstughna)BPHS lists the chara-karanas (Bava through Vishti) as repeated 8 times across the 30 tithi-halves; Bava is the first and most auspicious.
Skanda Purana — Maheshwara Khanda (gopa-balaka pradosha narrative), around shloka cluster cited at p.~889 of Gita Press Sankshipt edition (shanivara-pradosha worship)
Brahma listed at position 25 of the Anandadi yogas; each yoga is said to give 'svanama-sadrsha phala', so Brahma yoga gives creative / spiritual / Brahma-loka phala.
Shiva Purana — Kotirudra-samhita, Tandi Sahasranama prelude, verses 47-48Tandi (a brahma-yogi) is named as the composer of the Shiva Sahasranama in brahma-yoga — establishes the spiritual-creative significance of the yoga.
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Muhurta Chintamani — Samskara-prakarana (Pradosha-lakshana), verse 55 (Pyarelal Mishra Hindi ed., lines 3616-3650) — 'अर्कतर्कत्रितिथिषु प्रदोषः स्यात्'Defines pradosha-kala as the half-prahar around sunset on Trayodashi, Chaturdashi, Pratipad and other listed tithis.
Skanda Purana — Pradosha-vrata-mahatmya (Chandrasena and Shrikara legend), section on Pradosha-shivapujana (Sankshipta ed., lines 88951-89000)Anjananandana Hanuman teaches the gopa Shrikara the discipline of Pradosha Shiva worship.
Muhurta Chintamani — Shubhashubha-prakaranam, verse 6 (Ardra-nakshatra-Yamghanta yoga noted; vivarjana for secular works, but the same Ardra-Chaturdashi window is the Rudra-aradhana window)MC marks Tuesday-Ardra as Yamghanta to avoid for mundane works; the Rudra-puja prescription on Ardra-Chaturdashi is from Shiva Purana.
Indra is named among the 27 nitya-yogas; classical muhurta treats Indra-yoga as auspicious for leadership and power karyas.
When purnima falls on Monday or has Rohini-nakshatra, panchagavya snana, japa of 'Apyayasva' 108 times, worship of Soma-Vishnu prescribed.
Skanda Purana — Prabhasa-khanda, Somanatha-mahatmya, Chandra-Shiva conjunction at Soma-tirtha (sankshipta ed., around lines 162951-163000)Chandradeva's worship of Shiva as Somanatha — Soma + Shiva nexus that grounds Soma Purnima observance.
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Narada Purana — Purvabhaga, Purnima-vrata-prakarana, opening section (masa-wise Purnima vratas)Sanatana-narada vada on Purnima vratas through the year.
Matsya Purana — Parva-sandhi and Purnima-tithi prakarana, section on pakshanta-sandhi and pournamasika
Narada Purana — Purvabhaga, Jyotish-prakarana (ninda-yoga enumeration), ninda-yoga section (Sankshipta ed., lines 41901-41950) — 'वैधृति और व्यतीपात ये दोनों महापात हैं, इन दोनोंको शुभ कार्योमें सदा त्याग देना चाहिये'Classes vaidhriti+vyatipata as the two great mahapatas; recommends pitru-karma instead during these.
Names all 11 karanas with their phala — Bava (chara, first) is the auspicious chara-karana for new beginnings; karanas grouped as 'phaladah svanama' (effects per their names).
BPHS — Panchanga-sadhana / Karana-prakarana, standard BPHS section on the 11 karanas (Bava-Balava-Kaulava ... Naga-Kimstughna)BPHS lists the chara-karanas (Bava through Vishti) as repeated 8 times across the 30 tithi-halves; Bava is the first and most auspicious.
, verses 212-3, 213-4 (Sankshipta ed., lines 41901-41950) — Vishkambha listed as first of 27 yogas; later ninda-yoga group enumerates vishkambha among tyajya-portions
Vishkambha is the 1st nitya-yoga (svami: Yama); first 3 ghatikas to be avoided in all auspicious work.
Verses 28-29 enumerate the full vara-nakshatra table (Sun: Hasta/Mula/Uttaraphalguni/Uttarashadha/Uttarabhadrapada/Pushya/Ashvini; Moon: Shravana/Rohini/Mrigashira/Pushya/Anuradha; Mars: Ashvini/Uttarabhadrapada/Krittika/Ashlesha; etc.) -- matches our table exactly.
Matsya Purana — Surya-vamsha-varnana (origin of Vishti/Bhadra), Vishti as Chhaya's daughter (Gita Press ed., around lines 5851-5900)Vishti (Bhadra) — bhayankara-rupavali tritiya kanya — is established as kala-karana-svarupa, the personification of the inauspicious karana.
Phaladeepika — Santanachinta-prakarana (use of Vishti-karana in muhurta), verse 15 (Hindi-Alt ed., around lines 9801-9850)Phaladeepika explicitly names Vishti-karana as varjya for shubha-karya and for santana-prashna; classical avoidance rule.
Narada Purana — Purvabhaga, Karana-jnana-vidhi (11 karanas including Vishti), around verses 124-125 (sankshipta ed., around lines 34051-34100)Lists the 7 chara + 4 sthira karanas including Vishti (#7) — formula to determine karana from tithi-number.
Narada Purana — Purvabhaga, Chaturthi-vrata section, Sankashta-vrata description (Sankshipta ed., lines 66301-66400) — 'माघ कृष्णा चतुर्थीको संकष्टव्रत बतलाया जाता है'Names Magha-krishna Chaturthi 'Sankashta-vrata'; prescribes upavasa, moonrise arghya to Ganesha/Chandra, gives the arghya mantra and phala.
Skanda Purana — Ganesha-Chaturthi-vrata-mahatmya, Chaturthi-vrata enumeration (Sankshipta ed., Sankashta-chaturthi reference) — moonrise-worship prescriptionAligns with the krishna-paksha chaturthi observance for relief from sankata (calamity).
Bhavishya Purana — Uttara-parva, Chaturthi-vrata-kalpa (Angaraka-chaturthi-vrata-varnana), Chaturthi-vrata chapter (DLI Hindi ed., around lines 70101-70150)Krishna-Yudhishthira samvada on Chaturthi vrata including Angaraka Chaturthi.
Manasa-pancami (Naga-panchami) enjoined for monthly or festival worship — establishes Panchami-Naga link.
Matsya Purana — Surya-vamsha-varnana (origin of Vishti/Bhadra), Vishti as Chhaya's daughter (Gita Press ed., around lines 5851-5900)Vishti (Bhadra) — bhayankara-rupavali tritiya kanya — is established as kala-karana-svarupa, the personification of the inauspicious karana.
Phaladeepika — Santanachinta-prakarana (use of Vishti-karana in muhurta), verse 15 (Hindi-Alt ed., around lines 9801-9850)Phaladeepika explicitly names Vishti-karana as varjya for shubha-karya and for santana-prashna; classical avoidance rule.
Narada Purana — Purvabhaga, Karana-jnana-vidhi (11 karanas including Vishti), around verses 124-125 (sankshipta ed., around lines 34051-34100)Lists the 7 chara + 4 sthira karanas including Vishti (#7) — formula to determine karana from tithi-number.
Narada Purana
— Purvabhaga (vara-nakshatra siddhi prakarana)
, verses ~242 (vara-nakshatra siddhi enumeration -- Chitra-Mangala-vara as Mars-amplification on Mars-ruled nakshatra)
Sources (2)
Muhurta Chintamani — Shubhashubha-prakarana, shantika-paushtika muhurta, verses 33-34Tuesday and Ashtami excluded from shantika muhurtas — the combination is reserved for ugra-devata worship.
Devi Bhagavata — Tantra-khanda, vrata enumeration, verses 37-40 (Bhaumavara + Pradosha vrata set)Devi explicitly names Bhaumavara-vrata in her vrata list.
Narada Purana
— Purvabhaga, Ashtami-vrata enumeration
, Month-wise Ashtami vratas (sankshipta ed., around lines 67901-67950)
Devi Bhagavata — Skandha 3, Navaratri-vidhi (importance of Ashtami), Ashtami pujan prescription (Vol. 1 Gita Press ed., around lines 45751-45800)If unable to do full nine-day Navaratri, Ashtami tithi must be observed; references Daksha-yajna context.
Narada Purana's vara-nakshatra siddhi-yoga table assigns Pushya to Guru-vara as siddhi; Vishakha (Jupiter-ruled in the Brihat-Samhita lordship scheme) on Guru-vara is treated under the same nakshatra-vara svami-mela principle.
Brihat Samhita — Adhyaya 98 (Nakshatra-devatadhyaya), Vishakha sectionVishakha presided by Indra-Agni; classed as mishra/determined-action nakshatra.
Specifies the first 9 ghatikas of Ganda yoga as completely avoidable.
Verses 28-29 enumerate the full vara-nakshatra table (Sun: Hasta/Mula/Uttaraphalguni/Uttarashadha/Uttarabhadrapada/Pushya/Ashvini; Moon: Shravana/Rohini/Mrigashira/Pushya/Anuradha; Mars: Ashvini/Uttarabhadrapada/Krittika/Ashlesha; etc.) -- matches our table exactly.
Matsya Purana — Surya-vamsha-varnana (origin of Vishti/Bhadra), Vishti as Chhaya's daughter (Gita Press ed., around lines 5851-5900)Vishti (Bhadra) — bhayankara-rupavali tritiya kanya — is established as kala-karana-svarupa, the personification of the inauspicious karana.
Phaladeepika — Santanachinta-prakarana (use of Vishti-karana in muhurta), verse 15 (Hindi-Alt ed., around lines 9801-9850)Phaladeepika explicitly names Vishti-karana as varjya for shubha-karya and for santana-prashna; classical avoidance rule.
Narada Purana — Purvabhaga, Karana-jnana-vidhi (11 karanas including Vishti), around verses 124-125 (sankshipta ed., around lines 34051-34100)Lists the 7 chara + 4 sthira karanas including Vishti (#7) — formula to determine karana from tithi-number.
Sources (2)
Narada Purana — Purvabhaga, Ekadashi-vrata section, Ekadashi-vrata-mahatmya (sankshipta ed., text around lines 14901-14950)Detailed rules on dashami-viddha vs dvadashi-viddha Ekadashi, fasting and parana.
Brahma Vaivarta Purana — Krishna-janma-khanda, Ekadashi-vrata prescription, Ekadashi-upavasa section (sankshipta ed., text around lines 71651-71700)All Vaishnavas, yatis, widows, brahmacharis are to fast on every Ekadashi.
Verses 28-29 enumerate the full vara-nakshatra table (Sun: Hasta/Mula/Uttaraphalguni/Uttarashadha/Uttarabhadrapada/Pushya/Ashvini; Moon: Shravana/Rohini/Mrigashira/Pushya/Anuradha; Mars: Ashvini/Uttarabhadrapada/Krittika/Ashlesha; etc.) -- matches our table exactly.
'Yadi dvitiya din dvadashi hai to pehle din ki dashami-viddha ekadashi bhi niṣiddha hi hai (isliye aisi paristhiti mein dvadashi ko vrata karna chahiye).'
Skanda Purana — Pradosha-vrata-mahatmya, closing section (Dharmagupta and Simantini katha)Pradosha-vrata for Girijapati worship; phalashruti promises sata-janma freedom from poverty.
Devi Bhagavata — Tantra-khanda, Devi's vrata catalogue to Himavan, verses 37-42Devi names Pradosha-vrata and Somavara-vrata together as 'atyadhika santushti-karaka' for her worshippers.
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Muhurta Chintamani — Samskara-prakarana (Pradosha-lakshana), verse 55 (Pyarelal Mishra Hindi ed., lines 3616-3650) — 'अर्कतर्कत्रितिथिषु प्रदोषः स्यात्'Defines pradosha-kala as the half-prahar around sunset on Trayodashi, Chaturdashi, Pratipad and other listed tithis.
Skanda Purana — Pradosha-vrata-mahatmya (Chandrasena and Shrikara legend), section on Pradosha-shivapujana (Sankshipta ed., lines 88951-89000)Anjananandana Hanuman teaches the gopa Shrikara the discipline of Pradosha Shiva worship.
Verses 28-29 enumerate the full vara-nakshatra table (Sun: Hasta/Mula/Uttaraphalguni/Uttarashadha/Uttarabhadrapada/Pushya/Ashvini; Moon: Shravana/Rohini/Mrigashira/Pushya/Anuradha; Mars: Ashvini/Uttarabhadrapada/Krittika/Ashlesha; etc.) -- matches our table exactly.
Sources (2)
Hindupedia — Festivals/Bhaumavati Amavasya, opening sectionTuesday Amavasya (Bhauma + Amavasya) prescribed for Tantric Kali and Bhuvaneshwari sadhana; classical Sanskrit corpus has only oblique mentions.
Devi Bhagavata — Tantra Khanda, Kali-sahasranama section, verses 32-35Kali names that include Kuhu (Amavasya) and Mangala associations; establishes the deity-tithi-vara link.
Hindupedia — Festivals/Angaraki Chaturdashi, Tuesday + Krishna/Shukla Chaturdashi modern observanceTuesday-Chaturdashi observance for Hanuman and Rudra; classical corpus treats Angaraka primarily on Chaturthi (Bhavishya Purana Uttara-parva).
Bhavishya Purana — Uttara-parva, Chaturthi-vrata-kalpa (Angaraka-vrata-varnana), Angaraka-vrata chapter (DLI Hindi ed., around lines 70101-70150)Classical Angaraka-vrata is attached to Tuesday + Chaturthi, not Chaturdashi; cited as the closest scriptural precedent for the Mars+tithi pattern.
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Skanda Purana — Pitri-kalpa / Tithi-pravachana, amavasya definition section'Yogon mein vyatipata, nakshatron mein shravana, tithiyon mein amavasya aur purnima tatha sankranti-kala -- ye sab dana-karma mein pavitra mane gaye hain.' Amavasya named first among agnishvattadi pitarana priya tithis.
Muhurta Chintamani — Samvatsara-prakarana, Sun-avastha on Sankranti, verse 13Sun in Kimstughna karana described as 'urdhva' (upright, sama) — 'sama: shreshtha ihardhavarshane', i.e. neutral-to-mildly auspicious.
