Topic 4

Lunar Day Tithi

 Meaning and Importance of Tithi in Muhurta

 How to Calculate Tithi
 Names of 30 Tithis with their deities
 Concept of Shukla and Krishna Paksha
 Classification of Tithis and their qualities
 Inauspicious Tithis

Tithi is the Angular relationship between Sun and Moon on any given Vara. There are 30 Tithis in a
Lunar months. If we consider One full cycle, we see a total angular distance of 360 Degrees is
covered by Moon with respect to Sun every Month. If we calculate the average daily motion per tithi
it comes to be 12 Degrees.

Duration of One Tithi is the time it takes for moon to move 12 Degrees with respect to Sun.
Sometimes it can extend between two Solar Days and gives rise to duplicate tithi or Adhika Tithi.
There are also instances where tithi finishes before next sunrise making the tithi Vanish or Kshaya
Tithi.

There are two Pakshas or Fortnights in each Month. The Tithi cycle is based on the phases of moon
as visible from earth. The next table provides details of the Tithis and Pakshas

Degrees Day Tithi Paksha

0-12 1 Pratipada Shukla
12-24 2 Dwitya Shukla
24-36 3 Tritiya Shukla
36-48 4 Chaturthi Shukla
48-60 5 Panchami Shukla
60-72 6 Shashti Shukla
72-84 7 Saptami Shukla
84-96 8 Ashtami Shukla
96-108 9 Navami Shukla
108-120 10 Dashami Shukla
120-132 11 Ekadashi Shukla
132-144 12 Dwadashi Shukla
144-156 13 Trayodashi Shukla
156-168 14 Chaturdashi Shukla
168-180 15 Pournami Shukla
180-192 16 Pratipada Krishna
192-204 17 Dwitya Krishna
204-216 18 Tritiya Krishna
216-228 19 Chaturthi Krishna
228-240 20 Panchami Krishna
252 21 Shashti Krishna
 264 22 Saptami Krishna
276 23 Ashtami Krishna
288 24 Navami Krishna
300 25 Dashami Krishna
312 26 Ekadashi Krishna
324 27 Dwadashi Krishna
336 28 Trayodashi Krishna
348 29 Chaturdashi Krishna
360 30 Amavasya Krishna

Meaning and Importance of Tithi in Muhurta

The Tithi is important in that it determines how the performer of an activity relates to the activity.
Largely from the Tithi will come the performer’s feeling of happiness and their attitude.

If the Tithi is appropriate and unblemished, the performer will relate to the favourable aspects of the
event and have an attitude that supports the best possible result.

If the Tithi is inappropriate or blemished, the performer will relate to the negative aspects of the
event, lack enthusiasm, and fulfil their responsibilities within the event only because they have no
other choice.

Names of 30 Tithis with their deities

Planetary Rulers of Tithis

Planet Tithi Tithi

Sun 1 9
Moon 2 10
Mars 3 11
Mercur
y 4 12
Jupiter 5 13
Venus 6 14
Saturn 7 15
Rahu 8 0

How to Calculate Tithi

The lunar month begins at the new Moon. Each 12 degrees of the Moon’s separation from its
conjunction with the Sun is one Tithi.

Calculating a Tithi is rather simple:

(Longitude of the Moon – Longitude of the Sun)/12

(Round off remainders up to the next whole number.)

For example, if the longitude of the Moon is 20º Capricorn and the longitude of the Sun is 5º Aries,
we have 290 – 5 = 285, 285/12 = 23.75, thus it is the 24th Tithi which is the 9th (24 – 15) Tithi of
Krishna Paksha.

Classification of Tithis and their qualities

A Tithi is most favorable for those events that have some qualities relevant to the type of Tithi. The
Tithis are grouped into five groups: Nanda (happiness); Bhadra (fortunate); Jaya (triumph); Rikta
(empty); and Purna (full).

Nanda Tithi: The 1st, 6th and 11th Tithis are Nanda. Nanda Tithis are favorable for events designed
towards gaining happiness, such as parties, releasing movies, entertainment, etc.

Bhadra Tithi: The 2nd, 7th and 12th Tithis are Bhadra. Bhadra Tithis are favorable for events
designed to bring favor, success and wealth, such as beginning a job, starting a business, meeting an
important person, etc.

Jaya Tithi: The 3rd, 8th and 13th Tithis are Jaya. Jaya Tithis are favorable for events designed to
overcome obstacles or for those aimed at some high point of success, such as competitions,
examinations, litigations or record-breaking efforts.

Rikta Tithi: The 4th, 9th and 14th Tithis are Rikta. Rikta Tithis are favourable for undesirable
activities and any events that the performer would want to feel the relief of being rid of something
such as purging, surgery, destroying an enemy, waste disposal, paying debts, etc.

Purna Tithi: The 5th, 10th and 15th Tithis are Purna. Purna Tithis are favourable for anything
designed to create a full measure or abundance, such as education, harvesting crops, minting money,
etc.
Inauspicious Tithis
The 4th, 6th, 8th, 9th, 12th, 14th and 15th Tithis are unfavorable for most good works and should be
avoided unless specified elsewhere.

PAKSHA CHIDRA/Randra TITHIS: Of the unfavorable Tithis mentioned above, the 4th, 6th,
8th, 9th, 12th and 14th Tithis are known as Paksha Chidra “partially infirm.” Chidra literally means a
rent, hole or piercing and infers weakness or infirmity as a result of the hole. Beginning actions under
a Paksha Chidra Tithi indicates an unsure attitude and inherent weaknesses that are a source of ill
feelings and unhappiness.

Exception: The first 8 Ghatis of the 4th Tithi; the first 9 of the 6th Tithi; the first 14 of the 8th Tithi;
the first 25 of the 9th Tithi; the first 10 of the 12th Tithi; and the first 5 Ghatis of the 14th Tithi are
wholly unfavorable and should be avoided. The remaining portions of these Tithis can be used if no
better Muhurta is available.

Tithi Kshaya: Tithi Kshaya means a particular tithi which was not prevailing at the time of sunrise. If
a tithi starts after sunrise and ends before next Sunrise, it is called loss of the tithi or Tithi Kshaya and
that is to be avoided at all good election or Muhurta.

Tithi Vriddhi: If it starts before one sunrise and ends after sunrise on the next day it is called Tithi
Vriddhi this to be avoided in good election.

Tithi Ghandanta (Junction): The ending one ghati of Purna tithi (5th, 10th, 15th) and starting one
ghati of Nanda tithi (1, 6, and 11) are called Tithi Ghandanta (Junction). To be avoided.

Gala Graha Tithi: The 4th tithi of dark half and 1,8,9,13,14,15 of both dark and bright half are called
Gala Graha Tithi, are specifically avoided in Upanayana and educational rituals/ Muhurta.