How the Hindu calendar works
Eight short lessons, each built on live values from this site's Panchang engine for your place.
TithiPanchami59.7°
NakshatraUttara Ashadha267.8°
Ayanamsa24°14'19"
- 1. Tithi: the lunar dayThe Moon gains 12° on the Sun in one tithi — see today's angle.
- 2. Nakshatra: the Moon's star27 equal parts of 13°20′ — see where the Moon is now.
- 3. Paksha: the bright and dark halvesShukla (waxing) and Krishna (waning) fortnights and today's phase.
- 4. Amanta and Purnimanta monthsTwo ways of naming the same lunar month.
- 5. Adhik Maas: the extra monthA lunar month without a Sankranti — see the last and the next.
- 6. Kshaya and Vriddhi tithisWhy a tithi is sometimes skipped or counted twice.
- 7. The day begins at sunriseVara, tithi and nakshatra are counted from sunrise.
- 8. Ayanamsa: tropical and siderealWhy Indian signs differ from Western ones by about 24°.
Live values for the selected place, calculated when this page was loaded.