A Karana is exactly half of a Tithi. Because a full Tithi spans 12 degrees of angular distance between the Moon and Sun, one Karana spans exactly 6 degrees. A complete lunar month of 30 Tithis contains 60 Karanas, represented by 11 distinct names: 4 fixed (Sthira) karanas that occur only once a month, and 7 movable (Chara) karanas that cycle repeatedly 8 times.
☕ Think of it like splitting a workday into morning and afternoon sprints
If a Tithi represents a full working day, a Karana is like dividing that day into two distinct focus sprints: a morning strategic block and an afternoon execution window.
Because a Tithi lasts between 19 and 26 hours, a single Karana typically spans roughly 9.5 to 13 hours. This gives decision-makers a much sharper, high-frequency tool for scheduling immediate activities than the broader day-long Tithi.
Historically, Indian farmers, merchants, and planners used the prevailing Karana as an operational guide: Bava for enterprise and expansion, Balava for study and arts, Kaulava for alliances, and Vanija for commerce.
Karana Facts vs. Superstitions (The Truth About Bhadra)
- Exact 6° half-tithi: precisely half of the 12° lunar-solar elongation angle
- 60 Karanas per month: two karanas for every one of the 30 lunar days
- 11 Classical Names: 4 fixed (Shakuni, Chatushpada, Naga, Kimstughna) and 7 repeating (Bava, Balava, Kaulava, Taitila, Garija, Vanija, Vishti)
- Tactical time-blocking: ancient guidance matching short tasks to natural diurnal rhythms
- Universal mathematical verification: computed directly from geocentric lunar-solar longitudes
- Vishti (Bhadra) is not a demon to fear: classical texts advise against starting auspicious work in it, and tradition associates it with forceful tasks such as demolition and weeding
- Not an independent day: a Karana is always the first or second half of its parent Tithi
- Fixed karanas are not missing: the 4 fixed karanas always occur consecutively around Amavasya (Krishna Chaturdashi 2nd half through Shukla Prathama 1st half)
- Not superstitious taboo: serves as a functional framework for rhythm and cognitive pacing
- Not tied to clock hours: transitions dynamically whenever the Sun-Moon angular distance crosses multiples of 6°
Frequently Asked Questions About Karana
How is a Karana calculated mathematically?
A Karana is calculated by dividing the angular separation between the Moon and Sun by 6 degrees: Karana Index = floor((Moon_Longitude - Sun_Longitude) / 6°) + 1. The result yields an integer from 1 to 60.
What are the 4 fixed (Sthira) and 7 movable (Chara) Karanas?
The 7 movable karanas are Bava, Balava, Kaulava, Taitila, Garija, Vanija, and Vishti (Bhadra), which repeat 8 times (56 karanas). The 4 fixed karanas are Shakuni, Chatushpada, Naga, and Kimstughna, which appear only once each month around Amavasya.
What is Vishti Karana (also called Bhadra)?
Vishti is the 7th of the repeating karanas. In classical lore, it is also known as Bhadra. Classical muhurtha texts, Kalaprakasika among them, list Vishti with the fixed karanas as a karana to avoid when starting auspicious work, and Nava's day score treats it as unfavourable. Tradition associates its forceful character with tasks of removal, such as demolition and clearing obstacles.
How long does a single Karana last?
Because a full Tithi lasts between 19 and 26 hours depending on lunar orbital speed, a Karana lasts between approximately 9.5 hours and 13 hours.
Why does each Tithi have two Karanas?
By definition, a Tithi covers 12° of lunar-solar elongation. The first 6° constitutes the first Karana (Purvardha), and the second 6° constitutes the second Karana (Uttarardha).
Deep Dives: The 60-Karana Cycle and Mathematical Grid
Explore how 11 names systematically cover all 60 half-tithis of the lunar month.
🔢 The 60-Karana Sequence Architecture
The arrangement of the 60 Karanas in a synodic month follows an exact recurring algorithm:
- Karana 1 (Shukla Prathama, 1st half): Kimstughna (Fixed Karana 1)
- Karanas 2 to 57 (56 Half-Tithis): The 7 movable karanas (Bava, Balava, Kaulava, Taitila, Garija, Vanija, Vishti) cycle continuously exactly 8 times (7 x 8 = 56).
- Karana 58 (Krishna Chaturdashi, 2nd half): Shakuni (Fixed Karana 2)
- Karana 59 (Amavasya, 1st half): Chatushpada (Fixed Karana 3)
- Karana 60 (Amavasya, 2nd half): Naga (Fixed Karana 4)
🛡️ Vishti (Bhadra) in the Classical Texts
Classical muhurtha works such as Kalaprakasika repeatedly tell the reader to avoid Vishti when starting auspicious work:
- Avoided for: Beginning auspicious ceremonies such as weddings and house-warmings.
- Traditionally associated with: Forceful tasks of removal, such as demolishing old structures and clearing obstacles (a traditional view; Nava's day score still treats Vishti as unfavourable).
📐 Exact 6-Degree Computation Formula
To find the current Karana from solar and lunar coordinates:
Because the Moon moves ~0.51° per hour faster than the Sun on average, a 6° slice takes approximately 11.8 hours to complete.