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Rahu Kaal
12:04 – 13:25
Avoid this window when starting something new.
Local time · Chicago
Budhavara · Phalguna · Shukla Paksha
बुधवार · फाल्गुन · शुक्ल पक्ष
New Moon
Sunrise 06:43 — Sunset 17:26 · day 10h 43m
≈ 1% illuminated · increasing
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.
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 | 12:04 | 13:25 | inauspicious |
| Yamaghanda Kala | 13:25 | 14:45 | inauspicious |
| Gulika Kala | 10:44 | 12:04 | inauspicious |
Brahma Muhurta
ब्रह्म मुहूर्त
05:07 – 05:55
Pratah Sandhya
प्रातः सन्ध्या
05:38 – 06:43
Vijaya Muhurta
विजय मुहूर्त
13:51 – 14:34
Godhuli Muhurta
गोधूलि मुहूर्त
17:14 – 17:38
Sayahna Sandhya
सायाह्न सन्ध्या
17:26 – 18:31
Nishita Muhurta
निशीथ मुहूर्त
23:40 – 24:28
Amrita Kalam
अमृत कालम्
15:22 – 16:58
Panchak active: Raja Panchak (onset-weekday flavour)
Varjyam
वर्ज्यम्
16:58 – 18:34
The nakshatra-derived window the classics flag to avoid.
Dur Muhurtam 8
दुर्मुहूर्तम्
11:43 – 12:26
Weekday-keyed inauspicious sub-muhurta.
Source: Muhurta Chintamani; Dharma Sindhu. Sub-window arithmetic from sunrise + nakshatra position.
Surya Rashi
Kumbha#11
Surya Nakshatra
Dhanishtha धनिष्ठा
Pada 4 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
Northउत्तर
avoid
Source: Avoid travel toward this direction today
Nakshatra Shool
Southदक्षिण
avoid
Source: Avoid travel toward this direction while today's nakshatra prevails
Chandra Vasa
Westपश्चिम
favourable
Source: Direction favored by today's moon position
Rahu Vasa
Southeastआग्नेय
avoid
Tamil Yoga
Mushala मुसल
inauspicious
Source: Inauspicious Tamil yoga -- avoid new ventures
Favourable Janma Rashis Today
Mesha, Vrishabha, Simha, Kanya, Dhanu, Kumbha
Chandrashtama (avoid): Karka
| # | Janma Nakshatra | Tara | Quality |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Ashwini | Sadhaka साधक | auspicious |
| 2 | Bharani | Pratyari प्रत्यरि | inauspicious |
| 3 | Krittika | Kshema |
Ritu (Vedic)
Shishiraशिशिर
Ritu (Drik)
Shishiraशिशिर
Ayana
Uttarayanaउत्तरायण
Dinamana
10h 43m
Ratrimana
13h 17m
Madhyahna
12:04
Source: Suryasiddhanta. Dinamana = sunrise→sunset minutes; Madhyahna = local solar noon.
| Kaliyuga Year | 5127 |
| Kali Ahargana | 1872624 |
| Julian Day | 2461089.5 |
| Modified Julian Day | 61089 |
| Rata Die | 739665 |
| National Civil (Saka) | Magha 29, 1947 Shaka |
| National Nirayana (Saka) | Phalguna 7, 1947 Shaka |
| Lahiri Ayanamsha | 24.2221° |
Derived from the day’s Julian Day and the Lahiri ayanamsha.
On Wednesday, 18 February 2026, the Vedic calendar across Chicago carries a day of particular rhythmic quality. Dawn breaks at 6:43 AM in Chicago and dipping below the horizon at 5:26 PM, bringing 10 hours 43 minutes of daylight. The tithi is Dwitiya of Shukla side of the lunar month, and the nakshatra of the day is Shatabhisha. The reigning yoga is Shiva, completing the core panchang signature for 2026-02-18. The Brahma Muhurta window for Chicago spans 5:07 AM to 5:55 AM — the hour the classics name as most favourable for study and sadhana.
Across Chicago, The Rahu Kala window falls between 12:04 PM and 1:25 PM — the period to avoid for new endeavours. Disha Shool today points North — the direction to avoid for new travel on Wednesday per classical muhurta convention. On the auspicious side, the first favourable choghadiya is Labh (6:43 AM–8:03 AM). Shatabhisha nakshatra is with Rahu as its ruling planet, making this a day shaped by both celestial timing and local geography.
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)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).
| 11:43 |
| 12:26 |
| 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
Akashaआकाश
neutral
Source: Agni's dwelling for homa-suitability assessment
Shiva Vasa
Vrishabhaवृषभ
favourable
Source: Shiva's location for rudrabhisheka timing
Homahuti
Sunसूर्य
favourable
Source: Benefic planet: offering auspicious
Anandadi Yoga
Manasaमानस
favourable
Source: Auspicious day-yoga (Anandadi)
| auspicious |
| 4 | Rohini | Vipat विपत् | inauspicious |
| 5 | Mrigashira | Sampat सम्पत् | auspicious |
| 6 | Ardra | Janma जन्म | inauspicious |
| 7 | Punarvasu | Ati-Mitra अतिमित्र | auspicious |
| 8 | Pushya | Mitra मित्र | auspicious |
| 9 | Ashlesha | Vadha वध | inauspicious |
| 10 | Magha | Sadhaka साधक | auspicious |
| 11 | Purva Phalguni | Pratyari प्रत्यरि | inauspicious |
| 12 | Uttara Phalguni | Kshema क्षेम | auspicious |
| 13 | Hasta | Vipat विपत् | inauspicious |
| 14 | Chitra | Sampat सम्पत् | auspicious |
| 15 | Swati | Janma जन्म | inauspicious |
| 16 | Vishakha | Ati-Mitra अतिमित्र | auspicious |
| 17 | Anuradha | Mitra मित्र | auspicious |
| 18 | Jyeshtha | Vadha वध | inauspicious |
| 19 | Mula | Sadhaka साधक | auspicious |
| 20 | Purva Ashadha | Pratyari प्रत्यरि | inauspicious |
| 21 | Uttara Ashadha | Kshema क्षेम | auspicious |
| 22 | Shravana | Vipat विपत् | inauspicious |
| 23 | Dhanishtha | Sampat सम्पत् | auspicious |
| 24 | Shatabhisha | Janma जन्म | inauspicious |
| 25 | Purva Bhadrapada | Ati-Mitra अतिमित्र | auspicious |
| 26 | Uttara Bhadrapada | Mitra मित्र | auspicious |
| 27 | Revati | Vadha वध | inauspicious |
| # | Janma Rashi | House from Janma | Favourable |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Mesha | 11 | yes |
| 2 | Vrishabha | 10 | yes |
| 3 | Mithuna | 9 | no |
| 4 | Karka | 8 | no |
| 5 | Simha | 7 | yes |
| 6 | Kanya | 6 | yes |
| 7 | Tula | 5 | no |
| 8 | Vrishchika | 4 | no |
| 9 | Dhanu | 3 | yes |
| 10 | Makara | 2 | no |
| 11 | Kumbha | 1 | yes |
| 12 | Meena | 12 | no |
Source: Muhurta Chintamani; Brihat Samhita. Tarabala uses the 9-cycle from janma-nakshatra to today’s nakshatra.
| # | Rashi | Start | End |
|---|---|---|---|
| 11 | Kumbha कुम्भ | 06:43 | 07:48 |
| 12 | Meena मीन | 07:48 | 08:53 |
| 1 | Mesha मेष | 08:53 | 10:13 |
| 2 | Vrishabha वृषभ | 10:13 | 12:03 |
| 3 | Mithuna मिथुन | 12:03 | 14:18 |
| 4 | Karka कर्क | 14:18 | 16:53 |
| 5 | Simha सिंह | 16:53 | 19:28 |
| 6 | Kanya कन्या | 19:28 | 21:58 |
| 7 | Tula तुला | 21:58 | 24:33 |
| 8 | Vrishchika वृश्चिक | 24:33 | 03:03 |
| 9 | Dhanu धनु | 03:03 | 05:03 |
| 10 | Makara मकर | 05:03 | 06:33 |
| 11 | Kumbha कुम्भ | 06:33 | 06:43 |
| # | Label | Start | End | Quality |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Shubha शुभ | 06:43 | 07:25 | auspicious |
| 2 | Roga रोग | 07:25 | 08:08 | inauspicious |
| 3 | Mrityu मृत्यु | 08:08 | 08:51 | inauspicious |
| 4 | Agni अग्नि | 08:51 | 09:34 | inauspicious |
| 5 | Raja राज | 09:34 | 10:17 | inauspicious |
| 6 | Chora चोर | 10:17 | 11:00 | inauspicious |
| 7 | Shubha शुभ | 11:00 | 11:43 | auspicious |
| 8 | Roga रोग | 11:43 | 12:26 | inauspicious |
| 9 | Mrityu मृत्यु | 12:26 | 13:08 | inauspicious |
| 10 | Agni अग्नि | 13:08 | 13:51 | inauspicious |
| 11 | Raja राज | 13:51 | 14:34 | inauspicious |
| 12 | Chora चोर | 14:34 | 15:17 | inauspicious |
| 13 | Shubha शुभ | 15:17 | 16:00 | auspicious |
| 14 | Roga रोग | 16:00 | 16:43 | inauspicious |
| 15 | Mrityu मृत्यु | 16:43 | 17:26 | inauspicious |
Source: Muhurta Chintamani; Nirnaya Sindhu.