The panchang is a traditional Hindu calendar that provides information on the five elements (tithi, vara, nakshatra, yoga and karana) of any given day. The panchang is based on the movement of the Sun and the Moon and varies according to the location and time zone. The basic panchang details at the time of sunrise are important for determining the auspiciousness of the day and planning various activities such as rituals, festivals, weddings, etc.
The basic panchang details at the time of sunrise can be calculated by using the following formulae:
- Tithi: The lunar day that starts from one new moon and ends at the next new moon. There are 30 tithis in a lunar month. The tithi at the time of sunrise is determined by the difference between the longitude of the Sun and the Moon divided by 12 degrees.
- Vara: The solar day that starts from one sunrise and ends at the next sunrise. There are seven varas in a week, named after the seven planets. The vara at the time of sunrise is determined by the weekday of the Gregorian calendar.
- Nakshatra: The lunar mansion that is one of the 27 divisions of the ecliptic. Each nakshatra has a span of 13 degrees and 20 minutes. The nakshatra at the time of sunrise is determined by the longitude of the Moon divided by 13 degrees and 20 minutes.
- Yoga: The angular relationship between the Sun and the Moon. There are 27 yogas in a lunar month, each with a span of 13 degrees and 20 minutes. The yoga at the time of sunrise is determined by adding the longitude of the Sun and the Moon and dividing by 13 degrees and 20 minutes.
- Karana: The half of a tithi that is one of the 60 divisions of a lunar month. Each karana has a span of 6 degrees. The karana at the time of sunrise is determined by dividing the difference between the longitude of the Sun and the Moon by 6 degrees and taking the remainder.
The basic panchang details at the time of sunrise can be used to find out various aspects such as rahu kala, gulika kala, yama ganda, abhijit muhurta, etc. that influence the quality and outcome of any activity undertaken on that day.