What is Yoga? (யோகம்)

The Fourth Limb of Hindu Panchangam — All 27 Yogas Explained

Definition of Yoga

Yoga (யோகம்) is the fourth of the five limbs (Pancha Anga) of the Hindu almanac. The word Yoga here does not refer to physical exercise — it is an astronomical measure. A Panchanga Yoga is calculated by adding the absolute ecliptic longitudes of the Sun and Moon, then dividing the resulting sum into 27 equal segments of 13°20′ (800 arcminutes) each. Each segment is one Yoga.

Because both the Sun and Moon are always moving, Yoga changes continuously. A single Yoga lasts roughly 22 to 26 hours, meaning it does not always align with a solar day. There are 27 Yogas in total, cycling endlessly throughout the year.

Yoga is used in traditional Hindu muhurtham (auspicious time) selection. Certain Yogas are considered highly auspicious for new ventures, ceremonies, and travel, while nine are regarded as inauspicious and are avoided. The Yoga in effect at the start of an activity is what matters most.

How Yoga Differs from Nakshatra

Both Yoga and Nakshatra have 27 divisions, but they are calculated differently:

Nakshatra — based on the Moon's position alone (13°20′ segments of the ecliptic).
Yoga — based on the sum of the Sun's and Moon's longitudes divided into 13°20′ segments.

This means Nakshatra and Yoga will rarely coincide, and they change independently of each other.

All 27 Panchanga Yogas

#	Sanskrit Name	Tamil Name	Quality	Ruling Planet	Presiding Deity	Short Note
1	Vishkambha	விஷ்கம்பம்	Inauspicious	Saturn	Yama	Obstructions and obstacles; avoid for new ventures and auspicious ceremonies.
2	Priti	ப்ரீதி	Auspicious	Mercury	Vishnu	Love and affection; favourable for relationships, friendships, and celebrations.
3	Ayushman	ஆயுஷ்மான்	Auspicious	Venus	Rudra	Long life and health; good for medical treatments and health-related ceremonies.
4	Saubhagya	சௌபாக்கியம்	Auspicious	Jupiter	Brahma	Good fortune; widely sought for weddings and auspicious beginnings.
5	Shobhana	சோபனம்	Auspicious	Moon	Indra	Beauty and prosperity; auspicious for ceremonies and new ventures.
6	Atiganda	அதிகண்டம்	Inauspicious	Sun	Chandra	Great obstacles; avoid for all new auspicious activities.
7	Sukarman	சுகர்மம்	Auspicious	Mars	Kartikeya	Good deeds; favourable for charitable acts and pious work.
8	Dhriti	திருதி	Auspicious	Saturn	Varuna	Steadfastness; good for long-term commitments and permanent undertakings.
9	Shula	சூலம்	Inauspicious	Sun	Sarpa	Pain and difficulties; avoid for medical procedures and new starts.
10	Ganda	கண்டம்	Inauspicious	Jupiter	Agni	Trouble; avoid for auspicious ceremonies and important decisions.
11	Vriddhi	வ்ருத்தி	Highly Auspicious	Moon	Surya	Growth and increase; excellent for business launches and financial ventures.
12	Dhruva	த்ருவம்	Highly Auspicious	Mars	Bhumi	Fixed and stable; ideal for permanent undertakings, construction, and land dealings.
13	Vyaghata	வ்யாகாதம்	Inauspicious	Sun	Vayu	Violence and destruction; avoid for all new ventures and ceremonies.
14	Harshana	ஹர்ஷணம்	Auspicious	Moon	Bhaga	Joy and happiness; good for celebrations and auspicious functions.
15	Vajra	வஜ்ரம்	Inauspicious	Jupiter	Varuna	Thunderbolt; generally inauspicious; avoid for new auspicious work.
16	Siddhi	சித்தி	Highly Auspicious	Mercury	Ganesha	Success; one of the most sought-after Yogas for Muhurtham selection.
17	Vyatipata	வ்யதீபாதம்	Highly Inauspicious	Rahu	Rudra	Maha-dosha Yoga; the most inauspicious in the cycle — strictly avoided for all ceremonies.
18	Variyan	வரீயான்	Neutral	Venus	Kubera	Comfort and ease; moderately favourable; suitable for routine activities.
19	Parigha	பரிகம்	Inauspicious	Sun	Vishwakarma	Obstruction; avoid for new starts, travel, and important decisions.
20	Shiva	சிவம்	Highly Auspicious	Mercury	Shiva	Auspicious and divine; excellent for all ceremonies and new undertakings.
21	Siddha	சித்தம்	Highly Auspicious	Jupiter	Kartikeya	Achievement; excellent Yoga for Muhurtham — especially weddings and housewarmings.
22	Sadhya	சாத்தியம்	Auspicious	Venus	Sadhyas	Attainable goals; good for endeavours that require effort and perseverance.
23	Shubha	சுபம்	Highly Auspicious	Mercury	Lakshmi	Auspicious; one of the best Yogas — widely sought for all important ceremonies.
24	Shukla	சுக்லம்	Auspicious	Moon	Parvati	Purity and clarity; good for learning, religious study, and auspicious ceremonies.
25	Brahma	பிரம்மம்	Highly Auspicious	Sun	Brahma	Divine; among the most auspicious Yogas — excellent for all ceremonies.
26	Indra	இந்திரம்	Highly Auspicious	Jupiter	Indra	Victory; excellent for new ventures, leadership decisions, and all auspicious work.
27	Vaidhriti	வைத்ருதி	Highly Inauspicious	Saturn	Mitra	Maha-dosha Yoga; the second most inauspicious — strictly avoided alongside Vyatipata.

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Yoga in Muhurtham Selection

When selecting an auspicious time (muhurtham) for a ceremony — such as a wedding, house-warming, or business launch — Panchangam astrologers consider all five limbs including Yoga. The nine inauspicious Yogas are typically avoided:

Vishkambha (1st) — obstructs progress
Atiganda (6th) — causes obstacles
Shula (9th) — sharp, can cause conflict
Ganda (10th) — knot, causes delays
Vyaghata (13th) — destructive
Vajra (15th) — thunderbolt, harsh
Vyatipata (17th) — calamitous, highly inauspicious
Parigha (19th) — barrier
Vaidhriti (27th) — separated, inauspicious

Among the auspicious Yogas, Siddhi, Brahma, Indra, and Shubha are particularly favoured for major ceremonies. Regional and family traditions may vary in their specific observances.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Yoga in Panchangam?

Yoga (யோகம்) is one of the five limbs (Pancha Anga) of the Hindu almanac. It is calculated by adding the absolute longitudes of the Sun and Moon and dividing the result into 27 equal segments of 13°20′ each. Each segment is one of the 27 Yogas.

How many Yogas are there?

There are 27 Panchanga Yogas. They cycle continuously and each lasts approximately 24 hours, though the actual duration varies from around 22 to 26 hours depending on the speeds of the Sun and Moon.

Which Yogas are auspicious?

Generally auspicious Yogas include Priti, Ayushman, Saubhagya, Shobhana, Sukarman, Dhriti, Vriddhi, Dhruva, Harshana, Siddhi, Variyan, Shiva, Siddha, Sadhya, Shubha, Shukla, Brahma, and Indra. These are preferred for ceremonies and new beginnings.

Which Yogas should be avoided for muhurtham?

Inauspicious Yogas to avoid include Vishkambha (1st), Atiganda (6th), Shula (9th), Ganda (10th), Vyaghata (13th), Vajra (15th), Vyatipata (17th), Parigha (19th), and Vaidhriti (27th). The exact observance varies by regional tradition.

Is Yoga the same as Nakshatra?

No. Both have 27 divisions, but Nakshatra is based solely on the Moon's position, while Yoga is derived from the sum of both the Sun's and Moon's longitudes. They are independent elements of the Pancha Anga.