what is thithi-Meaning, Types, Calculation and Importance in Vedic Astrology

Tithi in Panchangam: Meaning, Types, Calculation and Importance in Vedic Astrology

Tithi is one of the five essential elements of Panchangam. It represents the lunar day and is determined by the relationship between the Sun and Moon. From choosing auspicious activities to understanding religious observances and birth astrology, Tithi has an important place in traditional Indian astrology.

But what exactly is a Tithi? How is it calculated? Why does the Tithi sometimes change during the day? Which Tithis are considered auspicious? And what does your birth Tithi tell you?

Let us understand Tithi step by step.

What is Tithi?

Tithi is a lunar day used in the Hindu calendar and Panchangam.

Unlike the modern calendar date, which changes at midnight, a Tithi is determined by the changing angular distance between the Sun and Moon.

For every 12 degrees of angular separation between the Sun and Moon, one Tithi is completed.

There are 30 Tithis in one lunar month, divided into two Pakshas:

• Shukla Paksha - the waxing phase of the Moon
• Krishna Paksha - the waning phase of the Moon

This is why a Tithi does not necessarily begin at midnight. It can begin or end at any time of the day.

Why is Tithi important?

Tithi is not simply a way of naming a day.

In traditional Panchangam, Tithi is considered while deciding the suitability of different activities. It is also associated with religious observances, fasting, festivals, Muhurta and certain aspects of birth-chart interpretation.

For example, different Tithis are traditionally associated with activities such as:

• Marriage
• Travel
• Starting a new business or work
• Construction
• Religious ceremonies
• Education
• Vehicle-related activities
• Fasting
• Temple worship
• Pitru rituals

Therefore, knowing the Tithi can provide much more information than simply knowing the calendar date.

The 30 Tithis in a lunar month

Tithi	Shukla Paksha	Krishna Paksha
1	Pratipada	Pratipada
2	Dwitiya	Dwitiya
3	Tritiya	Tritiya
4	Chaturthi	Chaturthi
5	Panchami	Panchami
6	Shashthi	Shashthi
7	Saptami	Saptami
8	Ashtami	Ashtami
9	Navami	Navami
10	Dashami	Dashami
11	Ekadashi	Ekadashi
12	Dwadashi	Dwadashi
13	Trayodashi	Trayodashi
14	Chaturdashi	Chaturdashi
15	Purnima	Amavasya

The first fourteen Tithis occur in both Pakshas. The fifteenth Tithi becomes Purnima during the waxing fortnight and Amavasya during the waning fortnight.

Shukla Paksha and Krishna Paksha

Shukla Paksha

Shukla Paksha begins after Amavasya and continues towards Purnima. During this period, the visible illumination of the Moon increases.

Several Tithis during Shukla Paksha are traditionally considered particularly suitable for auspicious activities.

Krishna Paksha

Krishna Paksha begins after Purnima and continues towards Amavasya. During this period, the visible illumination of the Moon decreases.

The nature of an activity and the particular Tithi are considered together when selecting an appropriate time.

How is Tithi calculated?

Tithi is calculated from the angular distance between the Moon and Sun.

When the difference reaches:

12° → 1 Tithi

24° → 2 Tithis

36° → 3 Tithis

and so on, until the complete 360° cycle is reached.

This gives the 30 Tithis of a lunar month.

Because the Sun and Moon are continuously moving, the exact duration of a Tithi is not fixed at 24 hours.

A Tithi may therefore:

• begin before sunrise
• begin after sunrise
• end before sunset
• continue past midnight
• sometimes span portions of two calendar dates

This is one reason why Panchangam calculations require the date, time and location of an event.

Five major types of Tithi

Tithis are traditionally grouped according to their nature.

Nanda Tithi

Nanda Tithis are associated with happiness, enjoyment and pleasant experiences.

Bhadra Tithi

Bhadra Tithis are traditionally associated with beginning new activities and stable undertakings.

Jaya Tithi

Jaya means victory. These Tithis are associated with activities involving overcoming opposition or enemies.

Rikta Tithi

Rikta means empty. These Tithis are traditionally avoided for certain important auspicious activities.

Poorna Tithi

Poorna means complete or full. These Tithis are associated with completion and accomplishment.

There are also special classifications such as Dagdha Tithi, Visha Tithi and Hutashan Tithi, which are considered separately when evaluating the suitability of a time.

Which Tithis are good for auspicious activities?

There is no single answer that applies to every activity.

A Tithi that is suitable for one purpose may not necessarily be the best choice for another.

For example, traditional Panchangam associates different Tithis with different activities:

• Pratipada - Vastu, marriage and religious activities
• Dwitiya - marriage, government work and foundation-related activities
• Tritiya - education, Seemantham and auspicious activities
• Panchami - auspicious activities and certain traditional remedies
• Shashthi - vehicles, Vastu and new responsibilities
• Saptami - travel, vehicles and relocation
• Ekadashi - fasting and spiritual observances
• Trayodashi - Shiva worship, travel and religious activities
• Amavasya - Pitru worship, charity and spiritual observances

The suitability of a Tithi should therefore be considered together with the Nakshatra, Yoga, Karana and other Panchang elements.

Tithi and birth astrology

Tithi also becomes interesting when it is connected with the time of birth.

The birth Tithi can be studied along with the horoscope to understand traditional interpretations associated with the lunar day.

This is where Tithi-based astrology goes beyond the daily Panchang.

Traditional Tithi analysis can include:

• Birth Tithi
• Shukla or Krishna Paksha
• Tithi classification
• Tithi Shunya
• Tithi-related Rashis
• Kalapurusha Bhava associations
• Tithi-based planetary influences

These advanced concepts deserve separate explanations because they involve a deeper level of Vedic astrology.

What is Tithi Shunya?

Tithi Shunya is an important concept in certain traditional systems of astrology.

Specific Tithis are associated with particular Rashis. These Rashis are then examined along with their planetary lords and their relationship with the birth chart.

For example, Pratipada is associated with Tula (Libra) and Makara (Capricorn) in this system.

The corresponding planetary lords are:

• Tula - Venus
• Makara - Saturn

This creates a separate layer of analysis beyond simply identifying the birth Tithi.

We will explore this in detail in a dedicated article:

Tithi Shunya in Astrology: Meaning, Calculation, Rashis and Effects

Tithi and Muhurta

One of the most practical uses of Tithi is Muhurta.

When selecting a suitable time for an important activity, astrologers traditionally consider several Panchang elements together:

Tithi + Vara + Nakshatra + Yoga + Karana

This is why looking at Tithi alone is usually not enough to determine whether a particular moment is suitable.

A good Muhurta is selected by considering the complete Panchang and the purpose of the activity.

Tithi in your daily Panchangam

When you open a daily Panchangam and see something like:

Shukla Panchami

it tells you two things immediately:

• The Moon is in the waxing half of the lunar cycle.
• The current lunar day is Panchami.

The remaining Panchang elements - Nakshatra, Yoga, Karana and Vara - provide additional information about the quality and suitability of that time.

This is why learning Tithi is one of the best ways to begin understanding Panchangam.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Tithi the same as the date?

No. A calendar date changes at midnight, while a Tithi is based on the angular relationship between the Sun and Moon and can change at any time.

How many Tithis are there?

There are 30 Tithis in a lunar month - 15 in Shukla Paksha and 15 in Krishna Paksha.

What is the difference between Purnima and Amavasya?

Purnima is the fifteenth Tithi of Shukla Paksha, while Amavasya is the fifteenth Tithi of Krishna Paksha.

Can Tithi change during the day?

Yes. The duration of a Tithi is determined by the movement of the Sun and Moon and is not fixed to a calendar day.

Is Tithi important for Muhurta?

Yes. Tithi is one of the five Panchang elements considered when selecting an auspicious time.

Is birth Tithi important in astrology?

Yes. Traditional astrology gives importance to the Tithi prevailing at birth and, in some systems, uses additional Tithi-based calculations such as Tithi Shunya.

Tithi is much more than a lunar date.

It is one of the fundamental building blocks of Panchangam and connects the movements of the Sun and Moon with daily life, religious observances, Muhurta and traditional astrology.

Once you understand Tithi, the next step is to understand the other four limbs of Panchangam:

Vara, Nakshatra, Yoga and Karana.

Together, these five elements form the foundation of Panchangam.

Explore Astrogle's Panchangam to find today's Tithi, Nakshatra, Yoga, Karana and Vara for your location.

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