What is Karana? (கரணம்)
Half a Tithi — One of the Five Limbs of Hindu Panchangam
Definition of Karana
A Karana (கரணம்) is half of a Tithi (lunar day). Since a Tithi spans 12° of the Moon's elongation from the Sun, a Karana spans 6°. Each solar day has approximately two Karanas — one for the first half of the Tithi and one for the second half. (If a Tithi begins after sunrise, a day can have up to three Karanas.)
There are 60 Karanas in a complete lunar month (30 Tithis × 2 halves), but only 11 distinct types exist. The 11 types are divided into two groups:
- 7 Movable (Chara) Karanas — repeat 8 times each through the lunar month.
- 4 Fixed (Sthira) Karanas — appear once each at specific positions near the end of the lunar month.
Karana is the fifth and final element of the Pancha Anga (five limbs) of the Hindu almanac, alongside Tithi, Vara (weekday), Nakshatra, and Yoga.
7 Movable (Chara) Karanas
| Name | Tamil | Lord | Nature |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bava | பவ | Surya (Sun) | ✓ Auspicious |
| Balava | பாலவ | Chandra (Moon) | ✓ Auspicious |
| Kaulava | கௌலவ | Mangala (Mars) | ✓ Auspicious |
| Taitila | தைதில | Brihaspati (Jupiter) | ✓ Auspicious |
| Gara | கர | Shukra (Venus) | ✓ Auspicious |
| Vanija | வணிஜ | Shani (Saturn) | ✓ Auspicious |
| Vishti | விஷ்டி | Rahu | ✗ Inauspicious |
4 Fixed (Sthira) Karanas
| Name | Tamil | Position in Month | Nature |
|---|---|---|---|
| Shakuni | சகுனி | Fixed — second half of Krishna Chaturdashi (29th Tithi) | Inauspicious |
| Chatushpada | சதுஷ்பத | Fixed — first half of Krishna Amavasai (30th Tithi) | Inauspicious |
| Naga | நாக | Fixed — second half of Krishna Amavasai (30th Tithi) | Inauspicious |
| Kimstughna | கிம்ஸ்துக்ன | Fixed — first half of Shukla Prathama (1st Tithi) | Neutral |
Vishti Karana (Bhadra) — The Most Inauspicious
Vishti Karana (also called Bhadra) is the seventh of the movable Karanas and is universally regarded as the most inauspicious. It appears 8 times per lunar month — once in each repetition of the 7-Karana cycle. Vishti is presided over by Rahu and is associated with obstacles, misfortune, and harm.
Vishti Karana is strictly avoided for all auspicious activities: weddings, engagements, house-warmings, starting a business, travel, and sacred thread ceremonies. Even for routine tasks, many families observe caution during Vishti.
In the traditional Thirukanitham (Drik Ganita) system used in Tamil Nadu, Vishti Karana timings are calculated precisely and listed in the daily Panchangam so that people can plan around it.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Karana in Panchangam?
A Karana (கரணம்) is half of a Tithi (lunar day). Since a Tithi spans 12° of the Moon's elongation from the Sun, a Karana spans 6°. Each day has approximately two Karanas. There are 60 Karanas in a complete lunar month, made up of 11 types.
How many types of Karana are there?
There are 11 types of Karanas — 7 movable (Chara) and 4 fixed (Sthira). The 7 movable Karanas are Bava, Balava, Kaulava, Taitila, Gara, Vanija, and Vishti. They repeat 8 times each through the lunar month. The 4 fixed Karanas are Shakuni, Chatushpada, Naga, and Kimstughna, each appearing once at a fixed position in the month.
Which Karana is most inauspicious?
Vishti Karana (also called Bhadra) is considered the most inauspicious Karana. It appears 8 times in a lunar month and is strictly avoided for all auspicious activities — marriages, travel, business openings, and ceremonies.
How is Karana related to Tithi?
A Karana is exactly half of a Tithi. The first half of each Tithi is one Karana; the second half is another. Since there are 30 Tithis in a lunar month, there are 60 Karanas in total, though only 11 distinct types exist.
Is Karana used in muhurtham selection?
Yes. Karana is one of the five elements (Pancha Anga) considered when selecting an auspicious muhurtham. Vishti Karana is strictly avoided. Auspicious Karanas such as Bava, Balava, Kaulava, and Taitila are preferred for ceremonies.