A wedding muhurtham is an auspicious date and time chosen from the Hindu calendar, the panchangam. Astrologers look for favourable nakshatras (lunar mansions) such as Rohini, Magha, Uttara Phalguni, Hasta, Swati, Anuradha and Revati. They avoid certain lunar days, months and planetary periods, then match the couple’s horoscopes. Our finder lists dates you can take to your astrologer.
What is a panchangam?
The panchangam is the Hindu almanac. For every day it records five elements. They are the tithi (lunar day), the vara (weekday), the nakshatra (the Moon’s position among 27 lunar mansions), the yoga and the karana. A muhurtham is chosen by reading them together.
Which nakshatras are favoured for weddings?
Traditional texts most often list eleven. They are Rohini, Mrigashira, Magha, Uttara Phalguni, Hasta, Swati, Anuradha, Mula, Uttara Ashadha, Uttara Bhadrapada and Revati. In Malayalam they are known as Rohini, Makayiram, Makam, Uthram, Atham, Chothi, Anizham, Moolam, Uthradam, Uthrattathi and Revathi.
What is usually avoided?
- Certain tithis, especially the rikta tithis (the fourth, ninth and fourteenth lunar days) and the new moon.
- Inauspicious yogas, such as Vyatipata and Vaidhriti.
- Months: in Kerala, many families avoid Karkidakam (mid-July to mid-August). In North India, families avoid kharmas, the months when the Sun is in Sagittarius or Pisces. They also avoid chaturmas, the four months from Devshayani to Prabodhini Ekadashi.
- Combust planets: periods when Venus or Jupiter is too close to the Sun to be seen, called moudhyam in Kerala.
- Rahu kalam: a window of about ninety minutes each day when families avoid starting a ceremony.
Why do two calendars give different dates?
Because the traditions differ. Kerala follows a solar calendar and reads the nakshatra at the time of the ceremony, while many North Indian calendars follow lunar months. Then the couple’s horoscopes narrow the list to the dates that suit them personally.
How our muhurtham finder works
For every day of the year, we calculate the tithi, nakshatra and yoga at sunrise from the positions of the Sun and Moon. Then we apply the traditional rules above to list possible dates for the Kerala and North Indian traditions. Take it as a starting point for a conversation with your family astrologer or priest, who will confirm the exact time.
Questions couples ask
Who decides the wedding muhurtham?
Usually the family astrologer or priest, using the panchangam and the couple’s horoscopes.
Why are weddings avoided in Karkidakam?
Karkidakam is the last month of the Malayalam calendar, and it falls in the monsoon. Traditionally it’s a month for prayer and rest, so Kerala Hindu families avoid it for weddings.
Can we use an online muhurtham list?
As a starting point, yes. Then confirm the date and time with your family astrologer, who will look at your horoscopes.
