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Rahu Kaal
16:55 – 18:35
Avoid this window when starting something new.
Local time · Varanasi
Ravivara · Adhik Jyeshtha · Shukla Paksha
रविवार · ज्येष्ठ · शुक्ल पक्ष
New Moon
Sunrise 05:13 — Sunset 18:35 · day 13h 22m
≈ 0% 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 | 16:55 | 18:35 | inauspicious |
| Yamaghanda Kala | 11:54 | 13:34 | inauspicious |
| Gulika Kala | 15:15 | 16:55 | inauspicious |
Brahma Muhurta
ब्रह्म मुहूर्त
03:37 – 04:25
Pratah Sandhya
प्रातः सन्ध्या
04:08 – 05:13
Vijaya Muhurta
विजय मुहूर्त
14:08 – 15:01
Godhuli Muhurta
गोधूलि मुहूर्त
18:23 – 18:47
Sayahna Sandhya
सायाह्न सन्ध्या
18:35 – 19:40
Nishita Muhurta
निशीथ मुहूर्त
23:30 – 24:18
Amrita Kalam
अमृत कालम्
04:01 – 05:25
Varjyam
वर्ज्यम्
04:01 – 05:25
The nakshatra-derived window the classics flag to avoid.
Dur Muhurtam 14
दुर्मुहूर्तम्
16:48 – 17:42
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
Westपश्चिम
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
Southदक्षिण
favourable
Source: Direction favored by today's moon position
Rahu Vasa
Southwestनैऋत्य
avoid
Tamil Yoga
Mushala मुसल
inauspicious
Source: Inauspicious Tamil yoga -- avoid new ventures
Favourable Janma Rashis Today
Vrishabha, Karka, Simha, Vrishchika, Dhanu, Meena
Chandrashtama (avoid): Tula
| # | Janma Nakshatra | Tara | Quality |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Ashwini | Vipat विपत् | inauspicious |
| 2 | Bharani | Sampat सम्पत् | auspicious |
| 3 | Krittika | Janma |
Ritu (Vedic)
Grishmaग्रीष्म
Ritu (Drik)
Vasantaवसन्त
Ayana
Uttarayanaउत्तरायण
Dinamana
13h 22m
Ratrimana
10h 38m
Madhyahna
11:54
Source: Suryasiddhanta. Dinamana = sunrise→sunset minutes; Madhyahna = local solar noon.
| Kaliyuga Year | 5127 |
| Kali Ahargana | 1872712 |
| Julian Day | 2461177.5 |
| Modified Julian Day | 61177 |
| Rata Die | 739753 |
| National Civil (Saka) | Vaishakha 27, 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 Sunday, the 17th of May 2026, the Vedic calendar for those in Varanasi carries a day of particular rhythmic quality. The morning light begins at 5:13 AM and dipping below the horizon at 6:35 PM, bringing 13 hours 22 minutes of daylight. The tithi is Pratipada of Shukla Paksha, and the nakshatra of the day is Krittika. Yoga for the day is Shobhana, completing the core panchang signature for 2026-05-17. Pre-dawn, from 3:37 AM to 4:25 AM, is Brahma Muhurta: the period the Vedic tradition reserves for prayer, meditation, and study.
For those in Varanasi, From 4:55 PM to 6:35 PM Rahu Kala is in force — the period to avoid for new endeavours. On Sunday the Disha Shool (directional affliction) is West; the classical recommendation is to delay West-facing departures. On the auspicious side, Labh (8:34 AM–10:14 AM) is the top-quality choghadiya of the day. Krittika nakshatra is governed by Sun, 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)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).
| Abhijit Muhurta |
| 11:27 |
| 12:21 |
| 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
Prithviपृथ्वी
favourable
Source: Agni's dwelling for homa-suitability assessment
Shiva Vasa
Kailashaकैलाश
favourable
Source: Shiva's location for rudrabhisheka timing
Homahuti
Sunसूर्य
favourable
Source: Benefic planet: offering auspicious
Anandadi Yoga
Kaladandaकालदण्ड
avoid
Source: Inauspicious day-yoga (Anandadi) -- avoid new ventures
| inauspicious |
| 4 | Rohini | Ati-Mitra अतिमित्र | auspicious |
| 5 | Mrigashira | Mitra मित्र | auspicious |
| 6 | Ardra | Vadha वध | inauspicious |
| 7 | Punarvasu | Sadhaka साधक | auspicious |
| 8 | Pushya | Pratyari प्रत्यरि | inauspicious |
| 9 | Ashlesha | Kshema क्षेम | auspicious |
| 10 | Magha | Vipat विपत् | inauspicious |
| 11 | Purva Phalguni | Sampat सम्पत् | auspicious |
| 12 | Uttara Phalguni | Janma जन्म | inauspicious |
| 13 | Hasta | Ati-Mitra अतिमित्र | auspicious |
| 14 | Chitra | Mitra मित्र | auspicious |
| 15 | Swati | Vadha वध | inauspicious |
| 16 | Vishakha | Sadhaka साधक | auspicious |
| 17 | Anuradha | Pratyari प्रत्यरि | inauspicious |
| 18 | Jyeshtha | Kshema क्षेम | auspicious |
| 19 | Mula | Vipat विपत् | inauspicious |
| 20 | Purva Ashadha | Sampat सम्पत् | auspicious |
| 21 | Uttara Ashadha | Janma जन्म | inauspicious |
| 22 | Shravana | Ati-Mitra अतिमित्र | auspicious |
| 23 | Dhanishtha | Mitra मित्र | auspicious |
| 24 | Shatabhisha | Vadha वध | inauspicious |
| 25 | Purva Bhadrapada | Sadhaka साधक | auspicious |
| 26 | Uttara Bhadrapada | Pratyari प्रत्यरि | inauspicious |
| 27 | Revati | Kshema क्षेम | auspicious |
| # | Janma Rashi | House from Janma | Favourable |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Mesha | 2 | no |
| 2 | Vrishabha | 1 | yes |
| 3 | Mithuna | 12 | no |
| 4 | Karka | 11 | yes |
| 5 | Simha | 10 | yes |
| 6 | Kanya | 9 | no |
| 7 | Tula | 8 | no |
| 8 | Vrishchika | 7 | yes |
| 9 | Dhanu | 6 | yes |
| 10 | Makara | 5 | no |
| 11 | Kumbha | 4 | no |
| 12 | Meena | 3 | yes |
Source: Muhurta Chintamani; Brihat Samhita. Tarabala uses the 9-cycle from janma-nakshatra to today’s nakshatra.
| # | Rashi | Start | End |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2 | Vrishabha वृषभ | 05:13 | 07:08 |
| 3 | Mithuna मिथुन | 07:08 | 09:23 |
| 4 | Karka कर्क | 09:23 | 11:38 |
| 5 | Simha सिंह | 11:38 | 13:53 |
| 6 | Kanya कन्या | 13:53 | 16:08 |
| 7 | Tula तुला | 16:08 | 18:23 |
| 8 | Vrishchika वृश्चिक | 18:23 | 20:43 |
| 9 | Dhanu धनु | 20:43 | 22:43 |
| 10 | Makara मकर | 22:43 | 24:28 |
| 11 | Kumbha कुम्भ | 24:28 | 02:03 |
| 12 | Meena मीन | 02:03 | 03:28 |
| 1 | Mesha मेष | 03:28 | 05:08 |
| 2 | Vrishabha वृषभ | 05:08 | 05:13 |
| # | Label | Start | End | Quality |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Chora चोर | 05:13 | 06:06 | inauspicious |
| 2 | Shubha शुभ | 06:06 | 07:00 | auspicious |
| 3 | Roga रोग | 07:00 | 07:53 | inauspicious |
| 4 | Mrityu मृत्यु | 07:53 | 08:47 | inauspicious |
| 5 | Agni अग्नि | 08:47 | 09:40 | inauspicious |
| 6 | Raja राज | 09:40 | 10:34 | inauspicious |
| 7 | Chora चोर | 10:34 | 11:27 | inauspicious |
| 8 | Shubha शुभ | 11:27 | 12:21 | auspicious |
| 9 | Roga रोग | 12:21 | 13:14 | inauspicious |
| 10 | Mrityu मृत्यु | 13:14 | 14:08 | inauspicious |
| 11 | Agni अग्नि | 14:08 | 15:01 | inauspicious |
| 12 | Raja राज | 15:01 | 15:55 | inauspicious |
| 13 | Chora चोर | 15:55 | 16:48 | inauspicious |
| 14 | Shubha शुभ | 16:48 | 17:42 | auspicious |
| 15 | Roga रोग | 17:42 | 18:35 | inauspicious |
Source: Muhurta Chintamani; Nirnaya Sindhu.