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Rahu Kaal
15:15 – 16:52
Avoid this window when starting something new.
Local time · Varanasi
Mangalavara · Shravana · Shukla Paksha
मङ्गलवार · श्रावण · शुक्ल पक्ष
Waxing Crescent
Sunrise 05:33 — Sunset 18:29 · day 12h 56m
≈ 30% 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 | 15:15 | 16:52 | inauspicious |
| Yamaghanda Kala | 08:47 | 10:24 | inauspicious |
| Gulika Kala | 12:01 | 13:38 | inauspicious |
Brahma Muhurta
ब्रह्म मुहूर्त
03:57 – 04:45
Pratah Sandhya
प्रातः सन्ध्या
04:28 – 05:33
Vijaya Muhurta
विजय मुहूर्त
14:11 – 15:02
Godhuli Muhurta
गोधूलि मुहूर्त
18:17 – 18:41
Sayahna Sandhya
सायाह्न सन्ध्या
18:29 – 19:34
Nishita Muhurta
निशीथ मुहूर्त
23:37 – 24:25
Amrita Kalam
Varjyam
वर्ज्यम्
11:00 – 12:43
The nakshatra-derived window the classics flag to avoid.
Dur Muhurtam 4
दुर्मुहूर्तम्
08:09 – 09:00
Weekday-keyed inauspicious sub-muhurta.
Dur Muhurtam 9
दुर्मुहूर्तम्
12:27 – 13:19
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
North उत्तर
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
West पश्चिम
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
Mesha, Vrishabha, Simha, Tula, Dhanu, Makara
Chandrashtama (avoid): Meena
| # | Janma Nakshatra | Tara | Quality |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Ashwini | Sadhaka साधक | auspicious |
| 2 | Bharani | Pratyari प्रत्यरि | inauspicious |
| 3 | Krittika |
Ritu (Vedic)
Varshaवर्षा
Ritu (Drik)
Varshaवर्षा
Ayana
Dakshinayanaदक्षिणायन
Dinamana
12h 56m
Ratrimana
11h 4m
Madhyahna
12:01
Source: Suryasiddhanta. Dinamana = sunrise→sunset minutes; Madhyahna = local solar noon.
| Kaliyuga Year | 5127 |
| Kali Ahargana | 1872805 |
| Julian Day | 2461270.5 |
| Modified Julian Day | 61270 |
| Rata Die | 739846 |
| National Civil (Saka) | Shravana 27, 1948 Shaka |
| National Nirayana (Saka) | Bhadrapada 2, 1948 Shaka |
| Lahiri Ayanamsha |
On Tuesday, the 18th of August 2026, the Vedic calendar for those in Varanasi carries a day of particular rhythmic quality. The morning light begins at 5:33 AM and dipping below the horizon at 6:29 PM, bringing 12 hours 56 minutes of daylight. The tithi is Shashthi of the Shukla fortnight, and the nakshatra of the day is Swati. Yoga for the day is Shukla, completing the core panchang signature for 2026-08-18. Pre-dawn, from 3:57 AM to 4:45 AM, is Brahma Muhurta: the period the Vedic tradition reserves for prayer, meditation, and study.
For those in Varanasi, From 3:15 PM to 4:52 PM Rahu Kala is in force — the period to avoid for new endeavours. On Tuesday the Disha Shool (directional affliction) is North; the classical recommendation is to delay North-facing departures. On the auspicious side, Labh (10:24 AM–12:01 PM) is the top-quality choghadiya of the day. Swati nakshatra is governed by Rahu, grounding the cosmic calendar in the rhythms of this specific place and time.
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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).
| Abhijit Muhurta |
| 11:35 |
| 12:27 |
| auspicious |
अमृत कालम्
13:35 – 15:18
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.
North उत्तर
avoid
Source: Direction occupied by Rahu; avoid offerings facing here
Agnivasa
Swarga स्वर्ग
favourable
Source: Agni's dwelling for homa-suitability assessment
Shiva Vasa
Sabha सभा
favourable
Source: Shiva's location for rudrabhisheka timing
Homahuti
Mercury बुध
favourable
Source: Benefic planet: offering auspicious
Anandadi Yoga
Dhwaja ध्वज
favourable
Source: Auspicious day-yoga (Anandadi)
| Kshema क्षेम |
| 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 | 7 | yes |
| 2 | Vrishabha | 6 | yes |
| 3 | Mithuna | 5 | no |
| 4 | Karka | 4 | no |
| 5 | Simha | 3 | yes |
| 6 | Kanya | 2 | no |
| 7 | Tula | 1 | yes |
| 8 | Vrishchika | 12 | no |
| 9 | Dhanu | 11 | yes |
| 10 | Makara | 10 | yes |
| 11 | Kumbha | 9 | no |
| 12 | Meena | 8 | no |
Source: Muhurta Chintamani; Brihat Samhita. Tarabala uses the 9-cycle from janma-nakshatra to today’s nakshatra.
| # | Rashi | Start | End |
|---|---|---|---|
| 5 | Simha सिंह | 05:33 | 07:48 |
| 6 | Kanya कन्या | 07:48 | 10:03 |
| 7 | Tula तुला | 10:03 | 12:18 |
| 8 | Vrishchika वृश्चिक | 12:18 | 14:33 |
| 9 | Dhanu धनु | 14:33 | 16:38 |
| 10 | Makara मकर | 16:38 | 18:23 |
| 11 | Kumbha कुम्भ | 18:23 | 19:53 |
| 12 | Meena मीन | 19:53 | 21:23 |
| 1 | Mesha मेष | 21:23 | 23:03 |
| 2 | Vrishabha वृषभ | 23:03 | 24:58 |
| 3 | Mithuna मिथुन | 24:58 | 03:13 |
| 4 | Karka कर्क | 03:13 | 05:28 |
| 5 | Simha सिंह | 05:28 | 05:33 |
| # | Label | Start | End | Quality |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Shubha शुभ | 05:33 | 06:25 | auspicious |
| 2 | Roga रोग | 06:25 | 07:17 | inauspicious |
| 3 | Mrityu मृत्यु | 07:17 | 08:09 | inauspicious |
| 4 | Agni अग्नि | 08:09 | 09:00 | inauspicious |
| 5 | Raja राज | 09:00 | 09:52 | inauspicious |
| 6 | Chora चोर | 09:52 | 10:44 | inauspicious |
| 7 | Shubha शुभ | 10:44 | 11:35 | auspicious |
| 8 | Roga रोग | 11:35 | 12:27 | inauspicious |
| 9 | Mrityu मृत्यु | 12:27 | 13:19 | inauspicious |
| 10 | Agni अग्नि | 13:19 | 14:11 | inauspicious |
| 11 | Raja राज | 14:11 | 15:02 | inauspicious |
| 12 | Chora चोर | 15:02 | 15:54 | inauspicious |
| 13 | Shubha शुभ | 15:54 | 16:46 | auspicious |
| 14 | Roga रोग | 16:46 | 17:38 | inauspicious |
| 15 | Mrityu मृत्यु | 17:38 | 18:29 | inauspicious |
Source: Muhurta Chintamani; Nirnaya Sindhu.
| 24.2291° |
Derived from the day’s Julian Day and the Lahiri ayanamsha.
- Dharmasindhu, Nirnaya Sindhu
Karka Sankranti Dakshinayana Sadhana
कर्क संक्रान्ति दक्षिणायन साधना
- Dharmasindhu
Skanda Shashthi Puja
स्कन्द षष्ठी पूजा
- Skanda Purana, Kumara Tantra
Siddha Yoga Maha Sadhana
सिद्ध योग महासाधना
- Muhurta Chintamani, Dharmasindhu
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