30 Tithis — Lunar Days of the Vedic Panchang
The Tithi is the cornerstone of the Vedic Panchang, measuring the angular dance between Sun and Moon. Each of the 30 lunar days spans 12° of separation, governing the rhythm of auspicious timing, festivals, and daily spiritual practice across the two fortnights of every lunar month.
Lunar Cycle
Shukla Paksha शुक्ल पक्ष
Bright Fortnight — Waxing Moon — Pratipada to Purnima
Krishna Paksha कृष्ण पक्ष
Dark Fortnight — Waning Moon — Pratipada to Amavasya
Five Tithi Groups पंच वर्ग
Each tithi belongs to one of five groups based on its nature and planetary ruler
Best for celebrations, festivals, initiating joyful activities, and creative endeavors.
Ideal for all-round auspicious work including marriage, business, and travel.
Suited for competitive activities, courage, property matters, and overcoming rivals.
Avoid starting new ventures. Suited for destruction of negativity, tantra, and removal.
Most auspicious group. Excellent for education, victory, spiritual practices, and completion.
Understanding Tithis in the Vedic Panchang
The Tithi system forms the backbone of the Vedic Panchang — the five-limbed Hindu calendar that also includes Vara (weekday), Nakshatra (lunar mansion), Yoga, and Karana. While a solar day is defined by the Sun's transit, a Tithi is determined purely by the Moon's angular distance from the Sun — each 12° increment marking a new lunar day. Because the Moon's speed varies, Tithis can range from 19 to 26 hours in duration, meaning a solar day may contain parts of two or even three Tithis.
The classification of Tithis into five Varga groups — Nanda, Bhadra, Jaya, Rikta, and Purna — provides the foundation for Muhurat (auspicious timing) selection. Each group is ruled by a Graha and carries distinct energetic qualities. When selecting a Muhurat for important activities like marriage, house entry, or business inauguration, astrologers combine the Tithi group with the ruling Nakshatra, Vara, and the position of planets in the twelve houses to determine the most favorable moment. Certain Tithis like Ekadashi hold special spiritual significance and are observed across all Hindu traditions.
Beyond Muhurat selection, Tithis play a crucial role in festival timing — nearly every major Hindu festival is determined by its Tithi rather than a fixed solar date. Diwali falls on Krishna Chaturdashi-Amavasya of Kartik, Holi on Shukla Purnima of Phalguna, and Navaratri spans Pratipada to Navami of Shukla Ashwin. Understanding the Tithi system also deepens interpretation of birth charts — the Tithi at birth connects to the Dasha timing system and reveals innate emotional and spiritual tendencies linked to the Moon-Sun relationship. Combined with Yoga analysis and remedial measures, Tithi awareness empowers practitioners to live in harmony with lunar rhythms and make well-timed decisions.