Karana (करण) is the fifth and final limb of the
Vedic Panchang, complementing
Tithi (lunar day),
Vara (weekday),
Nitya Yoga (Sun-Moon combination), and
Nakshatra (lunar mansion).
While a Tithi spans 12 degrees of the Moon's elongation from the Sun, a Karana occupies exactly half that arc — 6 degrees.
This fine division allows astrologers to pinpoint auspicious and inauspicious windows with greater precision when selecting
Muhurat for important life events.
Each Karana is associated with a sacred animal totem and presiding deity whose qualities shape the nature of that period.
The six auspicious Chara Karanas — Bava (Lion/Indra), Balava (Leopard/Brahma), Kaulava (Boar/Mitra), Taitila (Horse/Aryaman),
Garaja (Elephant/Vayu), and Vanija (Cow/Lakshmi) — are favorable for activities aligned with their ruling
Grahas and deities.
Vishti (Bhadra), the seventh Chara Karana ruled by Yama and symbolized by the dog, is uniquely inauspicious and is avoided for all
Samskaras and auspicious ceremonies.
The four Sthira Karanas occupy the transitional Tithis around Amavasya (new moon), marking the boundary between the waning
and waxing lunar cycles. Shakuni, Chatushpada, and Naga are considered inauspicious, reflecting the challenging energies of this
lunar junction. Kimstughna, the graceful Swan ruled by the healing
Ashvini Kumaras, is the sole auspicious Sthira Karana
and opens each new lunar month with a note of benevolence. Understanding these patterns helps practitioners of
Jyotish select optimal moments
aligned with the rhythms of nature and the zodiacal framework.
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