Chandrashtamam is the time when the Moon is in the 8th sign from your rasi. Count your own rasi as the first sign. The Moon stays about two and a quarter days in each sign. It goes round all twelve signs in about 27 days. So chandrashtamam comes about once a month, about 13 times a year. Tradition suggests not starting important new things then. Daily work goes on as usual.
☕ A short break that comes back often
'Chandra' means the Moon. 'Ashtama' means eighth. Count your rasi as 1. Then count forward to 8. That 8th sign is your chandrashtama rasi. For someone with rasi Mesha (Aries), it is Vrischika (Scorpio). For rasi Kataka (Cancer), it is Kumbha (Aquarius).
The Moon is the fastest body in the panchangam. It stays about two and a quarter days in each sign. Sometimes it is a little under two days, sometimes up to two and a half. So your chandrashtamam is short. It comes back every 27 or 28 days.
It comes often, so tradition treats it as a simple rule. If you can choose the day, start important new things on another day. For example, a long trip, an agreement or a ceremony. Everything else can go on as usual. Everyone with your rasi has the same chandrashtamam.
It is counted by rasi, not by star. People of other stars in your rasi have the same chandrashtamam as you.
Your chandrashtama rasi
- Mesha → Vrischika · Vrishabha → Dhanu · Mithuna → Makara
- Kataka → Kumbha · Simha → Meena · Kanya → Mesha
- Tula → Vrishabha · Vrischika → Mithuna · Dhanu → Kataka
- Makara → Simha · Kumbha → Kanya · Meena → Tula
- Daily work, study and routine go on as usual.
- A long trip that can start on another day.
- An important agreement that can wait two days.
- A ceremony or function, if another date is free.
- There is no need to worry. This is a rule for choosing a day. It does not say something will go wrong.
Frequently asked questions
How long does chandrashtamam last?
About two and a quarter days. This is the time the Moon takes to cross one sign. When the Moon moves fast, it can be a little under two days. When the Moon moves slowly, it can be about two and a half days.
How often does it come?
Once every 27 or 28 days. This is the time the Moon takes to come back to the same sign. That is about 13 times a year.
Is chandrashtamam by rasi or by star?
By rasi. It is the Moon in the 8th sign from your rasi. If you know only your star, first find which rasi it is in. Some stars are in two rasis. Then the pada decides.
Are some chandrashtamams better than others?
Some old books, like Kalaprakasika, divide it into kinds. They call a few kinds good. Common practice treats every chandrashtamam the same. So does the Nava app. If you sign in with your birth details, the app lowers your day score at that time. It tells you on the day.
Deep dive: finding your own days
How to count it. Where the dates are listed.
🌙 How to count it
Number the rasis from Mesha = 1 to Meena = 12. Then:
Chandrashtamam starts when the Moon enters that sign. It ends when the Moon leaves it. A daily panchangam prints these times as the Moon's sign changes. So the times can differ a little between panchangams.
📅 This month's days
See Chandrashtamam dates for today's rasi and every rasi's next days. See good days this month for days that suit your rasi. If you are not sure of your rasi, read lagna, rasi and birth star.