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The Panchang & The Mechanics of Tithi

The Essence

While the Rashi (Sign) shows the 'Body' of destiny, and the Nakshatra shows the 'Mind', the Tithi shows the 'Relationship'. Tithi is the angular relationship between the Sun (Soul) and the Moon (Mind). It reveals how the soul and mind are dancing together on any given day. It is the basis of the Vedic Calendar (Panchang) and determines the 'suitability' of time for any action.

Classical Verse

"Panchangam tatra vigneyam tithi vara nakshatram | Yoga karana samyuktam kala dosha vivarjitam ||"

Modern Translation

The Panchang consists of five limbs: 1. Vara (Solar Day), 2. Tithi (Lunar Day), 3. Nakshatra (Star), 4. Yoga (Union), 5. Karana (Half-Tithi). Of these, the Tithi is the most critical for relationship and timing.

#NameMeaningDeityNature
1PratipadaRise / BeginningAgni / BrahmaNanda (Joy)
2DvitiyaExpansionBrahma / VidhatrBhadra (Good)
3TritiyaPower / ForceGauri / KuberaJaya (Victory)
4ChaturthiObstacleGanesha / YamaRikta (Empty)
5PanchamiHealingNagas (Serpents)Purna (Full)
6ShashthiStrategyKartikeyaNanda (Joy)
7SaptamiHealth / SpiritSurya (Sun)Bhadra (Good)
8AshtamiConflictRudra / MatrikasJaya (Victory)
9NavamiAggressionDurgaRikta (Empty)
10DashamiVirtue / StatusDharma / YamaPurna (Full)
11EkadashiDevotionVishnu / RudraNanda (Joy)
12DvadashiInspirationVishnu / AdityasBhadra (Good)
13TrayodashiDesireKamadevaJaya (Victory)
14ChaturdashiDissolutionKali / ShivaRikta (Empty)
15PurnimaFullnessChandra (Moon)Purna (Full)
30AmavasyaThe VoidPitris (Ancestors)Purna (Full)
Technically, a Tithi is formed when the Moon moves 12 degrees away from the Sun. There are 30 Tithis in a lunar month: 15 in the Shukla Paksha (Waxing/Bright half) and 15 in the Krishna Paksha (Waning/Dark half). The Tithi reveals the 'mood' of the day and the specific elemental energy available for use.

Practical Insight

The 'Birthday Tithi' Secret. In Vedic culture, your true birthday is not the solar date (e.g., June 5th), but your 'Janma Tithi' (e.g., Shukla Panchami). The Sun returns to the same degree once a year, but the Sun-Moon relationship (Tithi) repeats every lunar month. Celebrating your birthday on your Tithi aligns you with the cosmic rhythm of your emotional self. The remedy for a difficult year is to fast or perform charity on your Janma Tithi every month.

Go Deeper

Calculate your Birth Tithi. Are you born in the Bright Half (Shukla) or the Dark Half (Krishna)? This fundamental distinction determines whether your life path is about 'Projection' (Shukla) or 'Introspection' (Krishna).

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