Karana explained — the 11 halves of tithi
The 11 karanas (Bava, Balav, Kaulav, Taitila, Garaja, Vanija, Vishti, Shakuni, Chatushpada, Naga, Kimstughna) and how they determine auspicious-work timing
What a karana is
A karana (करण) is half a tithi — each karana covers 6 degrees of moon-sun angular difference. There are 11 named karanas: the 7 'movable' karanas (Bava, Balav, Kaulav, Taitila, Garaja, Vanija, Vishti) and the 4 'fixed' karanas (Shakuni, Chatushpada, Naga, Kimstughna). Each lunar day typically has two karanas—the first half-tithi belongs to one karana, the second half-tithi to another. Of the 11 karanas, only Vishti (also called Bhadra) is considered inauspicious, and that one is the one to avoid for auspicious work.
Why Vishti (Bhadra) is the only inauspicious karana
Vishti is associated with the Vishnu-Bhadra element in the classical texts—it's the one karana that classical Jyotish-marking panchang-makers consistently warn against. For marriage-muhurat, business-launch, griha-pravesh, vehicle-purchase, and other auspicious work, Vishti is avoided. For penance, fasting, study, and self-discipline, Vishti is actually recommended (paradoxical but classical).
Practical rules for karana in muhurat decisions
Live Panchang shows the karana in effect at sunrise, alongside the karana-in-effect-at-sunset. The morning karana is the one to avoid; the evening karana is the one to use. So if your panchang says 'karana = Bava at sunrise, Vishti at noon-to-sunset'—your auspicious window is the morning hours before noon. Conversely, if your panchang says 'karana = Vishti at sunrise, Bava at noon-to-sunset'—your auspicious window is the afternoon. This is a classic panchang nuance.
Frequently asked questions
Q: Why are there 11 karanas but 30 tithis? A: Because there are 30 tithis but each tithi has 2 karanas (each is half a tithi), so 60 karanas total in a lunar month, with the 11 distinct named ones. The 8 movable ones repeat 8 times, plus Shakuni + Chatushpada + Naga + Kimstughna appear only on specific named days. Q: Which karana is best for a new job? A: Avoid Vishti; any of the other 10 is acceptable. Q: My panchang says 'Shakuni karana' today—what does that mean? A: Shakuni is one of the 4 fixed karanas, appearing once per lunar month on a named day; classical Jyotish is mixed on it. Most south-Indian almanacs treat it like the auspicious movable karanas; most north-Indian treat it as mildly inauspicious. Check with your local pandit if Shakuni is critical for a wedding date.
Editorial process
Reviewed by Vaid-Pandit Kashmiri Lal Sharma (BVB Varanasi Shastri). Drafted against the Surya Siddhanta and Brihat Parashara Hora Shastra.
Spoke pages — deep dives
Editorial + reviewer
Drafted by Sahil (livepanchang.in), reviewed by Vaid-Pandit Kashmiri Lal Sharma on 5 September 2026.