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Rahu Kaal
14:35 – 16:17
Avoid this window when starting something new.
Local time · Chicago
Guruvara · Shravana · Shukla Paksha
गुरुवार · श्रावण · शुक्ल पक्ष
Waxing Half-Moon
Sunrise 06:05 — Sunset 19:41 · day 13h 37m
≈ 53% 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.
Pick your birth star and Moon-sign once — we’ll read today’s Tarabala and Chandrabala for you. Saved on this device only; never sent to our servers.
Pick what you’re planning. We check today’s panchang against the classical muhurta rule and show you the verdict, the best window, and the source.
| Window | Start | End | Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rahu Kala | 14:35 | 16:17 | inauspicious |
| Yamaghanda Kala | 07:47 | 09:29 | inauspicious |
| Gulika Kala | 09:29 | 11:11 | inauspicious |
Brahma Muhurta
ब्रह्म मुहूर्त
04:29 – 05:17
Pratah Sandhya
प्रातः सन्ध्या
05:00 – 06:05
Vijaya Muhurta
विजय मुहूर्त
15:09 – 16:04
Godhuli Muhurta
गोधूलि मुहूर्त
19:29 – 19:53
Sayahna Sandhya
सायाह्न सन्ध्या
19:41 – 20:46
Nishita Muhurta
निशीथ मुहूर्त
24:29 – 01:17
Amrita Kalam
Varjyam
वर्ज्यम्
03:05 – 04:52
The nakshatra-derived window the classics flag to avoid.
Dur Muhurtam 9
दुर्मुहूर्तम्
13:20 – 14:15
Weekday-keyed inauspicious sub-muhurta.
Dur Muhurtam 13
दुर्मुहूर्तम्
16:58 – 17:52
Weekday-keyed inauspicious sub-muhurta.
Source: Muhurta Chintamani; Dharma Sindhu. Sub-window arithmetic from sunrise + nakshatra position.
Surya Rashi
Simha#5
Surya Nakshatra
Magha मघा
Pada 1 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 |
Disha Shool
South दक्षिण
avoid
Source: Avoid travel toward this direction today
Nakshatra Shool
North उत्तर
avoid
Source: Avoid travel toward this direction while today's nakshatra prevails
Chandra Vasa
North उत्तर
favourable
Source: Direction favored by today's moon position
Rahu Vasa
Tamil Yoga
Mushala मुसल
inauspicious
Source: Inauspicious Tamil yoga -- avoid new ventures
Favourable Janma Rashis Today
Vrishabha, Mithuna, Kanya, Vrishchika, Makara, Kumbha
Chandrashtama (avoid): Mesha
| # | Janma Nakshatra | Tara | Quality |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Ashwini | Mitra मित्र | auspicious |
| 2 | Bharani | Vadha वध | inauspicious |
| 3 | Krittika |
Ritu (Vedic)
Varshaवर्षा
Ritu (Drik)
Varshaवर्षा
Ayana
Dakshinayanaदक्षिणायन
Dinamana
13h 37m
Ratrimana
10h 23m
Madhyahna
12:53
Source: Suryasiddhanta. Dinamana = sunrise→sunset minutes; Madhyahna = local solar noon.
| Kaliyuga Year | 5127 |
| Kali Ahargana | 1872807 |
| Julian Day | 2461272.5 |
| Modified Julian Day | 61272 |
| Rata Die | 739848 |
| National Civil (Saka) | Shravana 29, 1948 Shaka |
| National Nirayana (Saka) | Bhadrapada 5, 1948 Shaka |
| Lahiri Ayanamsha |
On Thursday, the 20th of August 2026, the Vedic calendar in Chicago carries a day of particular rhythmic quality. Sunrise arrives at 6:05 AM and dipping below the horizon at 7:41 PM, bringing 13 hours 37 minutes of daylight. The tithi is Ashtami of Shukla Paksha, and the nakshatra of the day is Anuradha. The day carries the Indra yoga, completing the core panchang signature for 2026-08-20. Brahma Muhurta, the pre-dawn meditation window, runs from 4:29 AM to 5:17 AM.
In Chicago, Rahu Kala runs from 2:35 PM to 4:17 PM — the period to avoid for new endeavours. The inauspicious direction (Disha Shool) for Thursday is South; new ventures toward the South are traditionally deferred. On the auspicious side, Shubh choghadiya, running 6:05 AM to 7:47 AM, stands out as the best muhurta. Anuradha nakshatra is under the lordship of Saturn, bringing the ancient panchang frame into direct contact with Chicago's horizon.
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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).
| 12:26 |
| 13:20 |
| auspicious |
अमृत कालम्
07:33 – 09:20
Source: Muhurta Chintamani; Nirnaya Sindhu. Sub-window arithmetic from sunrise + Surya nakshatra position at the city’s coordinates.
Source: Nirnaya Sindhu; Suryasiddhanta. Samvatsara from the 60-year Brihaspati cycle.
South दक्षिण
avoid
Source: Direction occupied by Rahu; avoid offerings facing here
Agnivasa
Akasha आकाश
neutral
Source: Agni's dwelling for homa-suitability assessment
Shiva Vasa
Kailasha कैलाश
favourable
Source: Shiva's location for rudrabhisheka timing
Homahuti
Venus शुक्र
favourable
Source: Benefic planet: offering auspicious
Anandadi Yoga
Vardhamana वर्धमान
favourable
Source: Auspicious day-yoga (Anandadi)
| Sadhaka साधक |
| auspicious |
| 4 | Rohini | Pratyari प्रत्यरि | inauspicious |
| 5 | Mrigashira | Kshema क्षेम | auspicious |
| 6 | Ardra | Vipat विपत् | inauspicious |
| 7 | Punarvasu | Sampat सम्पत् | auspicious |
| 8 | Pushya | Janma जन्म | inauspicious |
| 9 | Ashlesha | Ati-Mitra अतिमित्र | auspicious |
| 10 | Magha | Mitra मित्र | auspicious |
| 11 | Purva Phalguni | Vadha वध | inauspicious |
| 12 | Uttara Phalguni | Sadhaka साधक | auspicious |
| 13 | Hasta | Pratyari प्रत्यरि | inauspicious |
| 14 | Chitra | Kshema क्षेम | auspicious |
| 15 | Swati | Vipat विपत् | inauspicious |
| 16 | Vishakha | Sampat सम्पत् | auspicious |
| 17 | Anuradha | Janma जन्म | inauspicious |
| 18 | Jyeshtha | Ati-Mitra अतिमित्र | auspicious |
| 19 | Mula | Mitra मित्र | auspicious |
| 20 | Purva Ashadha | Vadha वध | inauspicious |
| 21 | Uttara Ashadha | Sadhaka साधक | auspicious |
| 22 | Shravana | Pratyari प्रत्यरि | inauspicious |
| 23 | Dhanishtha | Kshema क्षेम | auspicious |
| 24 | Shatabhisha | Vipat विपत् | inauspicious |
| 25 | Purva Bhadrapada | Sampat सम्पत् | auspicious |
| 26 | Uttara Bhadrapada | Janma जन्म | inauspicious |
| 27 | Revati | Ati-Mitra अतिमित्र | auspicious |
| # | Janma Rashi | House from Janma | Favourable |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Mesha | 8 | no |
| 2 | Vrishabha | 7 | yes |
| 3 | Mithuna | 6 | yes |
| 4 | Karka | 5 | no |
| 5 | Simha | 4 | no |
| 6 | Kanya | 3 | yes |
| 7 | Tula | 2 | no |
| 8 | Vrishchika | 1 | yes |
| 9 | Dhanu | 12 | no |
| 10 | Makara | 11 | yes |
| 11 | Kumbha | 10 | yes |
| 12 | Meena | 9 | no |
Source: Muhurta Chintamani; Brihat Samhita. Tarabala uses the 9-cycle from janma-nakshatra to today’s nakshatra.
| # | Rashi | Start | End |
|---|---|---|---|
| 5 | Simha सिंह | 06:05 | 08:30 |
| 6 | Kanya कन्या | 08:30 | 11:00 |
| 7 | Tula तुला | 11:00 | 13:35 |
| 8 | Vrishchika वृश्चिक | 13:35 | 16:00 |
| 9 | Dhanu धनु | 16:00 | 18:00 |
| 10 | Makara मकर | 18:00 | 19:30 |
| 11 | Kumbha कुम्भ | 19:30 | 20:40 |
| 12 | Meena मीन | 20:40 | 21:50 |
| 1 | Mesha मेष | 21:50 | 23:10 |
| 2 | Vrishabha वृषभ | 23:10 | 01:00 |
| 3 | Mithuna मिथुन | 01:00 | 03:15 |
| 4 | Karka कर्क | 03:15 | 05:50 |
| 5 | Simha सिंह | 05:50 | 06:05 |
| # | Label | Start | End | Quality |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Shubha शुभ | 06:05 | 06:59 | auspicious |
| 2 | Roga रोग | 06:59 | 07:54 | inauspicious |
| 3 | Mrityu मृत्यु | 07:54 | 08:48 | inauspicious |
| 4 | Agni अग्नि | 08:48 | 09:42 | inauspicious |
| 5 | Raja राज | 09:42 | 10:37 | inauspicious |
| 6 | Chora चोर | 10:37 | 11:31 | inauspicious |
| 7 | Shubha शुभ | 11:31 | 12:26 | auspicious |
| 8 | Roga रोग | 12:26 | 13:20 | inauspicious |
| 9 | Mrityu मृत्यु | 13:20 | 14:15 | inauspicious |
| 10 | Agni अग्नि | 14:15 | 15:09 | inauspicious |
| 11 | Raja राज | 15:09 | 16:04 | inauspicious |
| 12 | Chora चोर | 16:04 | 16:58 | inauspicious |
| 13 | Shubha शुभ | 16:58 | 17:52 | auspicious |
| 14 | Roga रोग | 17:52 | 18:47 | inauspicious |
| 15 | Mrityu मृत्यु | 18:47 | 19:41 | inauspicious |
Source: Muhurta Chintamani; Nirnaya Sindhu.
| 24.2291° |
Derived from the day’s Julian Day and the Lahiri ayanamsha.