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Rahu Kaal
11:54 – 13:35
Avoid this window when starting something new.
Local time · Varanasi
Budhavara · Adhik Jyeshtha · Shukla Paksha
बुधवार · ज्येष्ठ · शुक्ल पक्ष
Waxing Crescent
Sunrise 05:12 — Sunset 18:37 · day 13h 25m
≈ 14% 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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| Window | Start | End | Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rahu Kala | 11:54 | 13:35 | inauspicious |
| Yamaghanda Kala | 13:35 | 15:16 | inauspicious |
| Gulika Kala | 10:14 | 11:54 | inauspicious |
Brahma Muhurta
ब्रह्म मुहूर्त
03:36 – 04:24
Pratah Sandhya
प्रातः सन्ध्या
04:07 – 05:12
Vijaya Muhurta
विजय मुहूर्त
14:08 – 15:02
Godhuli Muhurta
गोधूलि मुहूर्त
18:25 – 18:49
Sayahna Sandhya
सायाह्न सन्ध्या
18:37 – 19:42
Nishita Muhurta
निशीथ मुहूर्त
23:30 – 24:18
Amrita Kalam
अमृत कालम्
02:36 – 04:03
Varjyam
वर्ज्यम्
16:13 – 17:39
The nakshatra-derived window the classics flag to avoid.
Dur Muhurtam 8
दुर्मुहूर्तम्
11:27 – 12:21
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 3 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
Westपश्चिम
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
Siddha सिद्ध
auspicious
Source: Auspicious Tamil yoga
Favourable Janma Rashis Today
Mesha, Mithuna, Simha, Kanya, Dhanu, Makara
Chandrashtama (avoid): Vrishchika
| # | Janma Nakshatra | Tara | Quality |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Ashwini | Sadhaka साधक | auspicious |
| 2 | Bharani | Pratyari प्रत्यरि | inauspicious |
| 3 | Krittika | Kshema |
Ritu (Vedic)
Grishmaग्रीष्म
Ritu (Drik)
Vasantaवसन्त
Ayana
Uttarayanaउत्तरायण
Dinamana
13h 25m
Ratrimana
10h 35m
Madhyahna
11:54
Source: Suryasiddhanta. Dinamana = sunrise→sunset minutes; Madhyahna = local solar noon.
| Kaliyuga Year | 5127 |
| Kali Ahargana | 1872715 |
| Julian Day | 2461180.5 |
| Modified Julian Day | 61180 |
| Rata Die | 739756 |
| National Civil (Saka) | Vaishakha 30, 1948 Shaka |
| National Nirayana (Saka) | Jyeshtha 6, 1948 Shaka |
| Lahiri Ayanamsha | 24.2256° |
Derived from the day’s Julian Day and the Lahiri ayanamsha.
On Wednesday, the 20th of May 2026, the Vedic calendar in Varanasi carries a day of particular rhythmic quality. Sunrise arrives at 5:12 AM and dipping below the horizon at 6:37 PM, bringing 13 hours 25 minutes of daylight. The tithi is Chaturthi of Shukla side of the lunar month, and the nakshatra of the day is Ardra. The day carries the Shula yoga, completing the core panchang signature for 2026-05-20. Brahma Muhurta, the pre-dawn meditation window, runs from 3:36 AM to 4:24 AM.
In Varanasi, Rahu Kala runs from 11:54 AM to 1:35 PM — the period to avoid for new endeavours. The inauspicious direction (Disha Shool) for Wednesday is North; new ventures toward the North are traditionally deferred. On the auspicious side, Labh choghadiya, running 5:12 AM to 6:52 AM, stands out as the best muhurta. Ardra nakshatra is under the lordship of Rahu, bringing the ancient panchang frame into direct contact with Varanasi's horizon.
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
Akashaआकाश
neutral
Source: Agni's dwelling for homa-suitability assessment
Shiva Vasa
Smashanaश्मशान
avoid
Source: Shiva's location for rudrabhisheka timing
Homahuti
Mercuryबुध
favourable
Source: Benefic planet: offering auspicious
Anandadi Yoga
Musalaमुसल
avoid
Source: Inauspicious day-yoga (Anandadi) -- avoid new ventures
| 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 | 3 | yes |
| 2 | Vrishabha | 2 | no |
| 3 | Mithuna | 1 | yes |
| 4 | Karka | 12 | no |
| 5 | Simha | 11 | yes |
| 6 | Kanya | 10 | yes |
| 7 | Tula | 9 | no |
| 8 | Vrishchika | 8 | no |
| 9 | Dhanu | 7 | yes |
| 10 | Makara | 6 | yes |
| 11 | Kumbha | 5 | no |
| 12 | Meena | 4 | no |
Source: Muhurta Chintamani; Brihat Samhita. Tarabala uses the 9-cycle from janma-nakshatra to today’s nakshatra.
| # | Rashi | Start | End |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2 | Vrishabha वृषभ | 05:12 | 06:57 |
| 3 | Mithuna मिथुन | 06:57 | 09:12 |
| 4 | Karka कर्क | 09:12 | 11:27 |
| 5 | Simha सिंह | 11:27 | 13:42 |
| 6 | Kanya कन्या | 13:42 | 15:57 |
| 7 | Tula तुला | 15:57 | 18:12 |
| 8 | Vrishchika वृश्चिक | 18:12 | 20:27 |
| 9 | Dhanu धनु | 20:27 | 22:32 |
| 10 | Makara मकर | 22:32 | 24:17 |
| 11 | Kumbha कुम्भ | 24:17 | 01:52 |
| 12 | Meena मीन | 01:52 | 03:17 |
| 1 | Mesha मेष | 03:17 | 04:57 |
| 2 | Vrishabha वृषभ | 04:57 | 05:12 |
| # | Label | Start | End | Quality |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Mrityu मृत्यु | 05:12 | 06:05 | inauspicious |
| 2 | Agni अग्नि | 06:05 | 06:59 | inauspicious |
| 3 | Raja राज | 06:59 | 07:53 | inauspicious |
| 4 | Chora चोर | 07:53 | 08:46 | inauspicious |
| 5 | Shubha शुभ | 08:46 | 09:40 | auspicious |
| 6 | Roga रोग | 09:40 | 10:34 | inauspicious |
| 7 | Mrityu मृत्यु | 10:34 | 11:27 | inauspicious |
| 8 | Agni अग्नि | 11:27 | 12:21 | inauspicious |
| 9 | Raja राज | 12:21 | 13:15 | inauspicious |
| 10 | Chora चोर | 13:15 | 14:08 | inauspicious |
| 11 | Shubha शुभ | 14:08 | 15:02 | auspicious |
| 12 | Roga रोग | 15:02 | 15:56 | inauspicious |
| 13 | Mrityu मृत्यु | 15:56 | 16:49 | inauspicious |
| 14 | Agni अग्नि | 16:49 | 17:43 | inauspicious |
| 15 | Raja राज | 17:43 | 18:37 | inauspicious |
Source: Muhurta Chintamani; Nirnaya Sindhu.
विष्टि (भद्रा) करण शान्ति
Muhurta Chintamani, Dharmasindhu
Vishti (Bhadra) Karana Upaya
विष्टि (भद्रा) करण उपाय
Muhurta Chintamani, Dharmasindhu
56/ 100 points