A wedding muhurtham is an auspicious date and time chosen from the Hindu calendar (panchangam). Astrologers look for favourable nakshatras such as Rohini, Magha, Uttara Phalguni, Hasta, Swati, Anuradha and Revati, avoid certain lunar days, months and planetary periods, and then match the couple’s horoscopes. Our finder lists candidate dates to discuss with your astrologer.
What is a panchangam?
The panchangam is the Hindu almanac. For every day it records five elements: 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 these together.
Which nakshatras are favoured for weddings?
Traditional texts most often list eleven: Rohini, Mrigashira, Magha, Uttara Phalguni, Hasta, Swati, Anuradha, Mula, Uttara Ashadha, Uttara Bhadrapada and Revati. In Malayalam these include 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 the months when the Sun is in Sagittarius or Pisces (kharmas) and the four months of chaturmas, 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 daily window of about ninety minutes avoided for starting ceremonies.
Why do two calendars give different dates?
Traditions differ. Kerala follows a solar calendar and reads the nakshatra at the ceremony time, while many North Indian calendars follow lunar months. The couple’s horoscopes then narrow the list to dates that suit them personally.
How our muhurtham finder works
We compute the tithi, nakshatra and yoga at sunrise for every day of the year, astronomically, and apply the traditional rules above to list candidate dates for Kerala and North Indian traditions. It is 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, the last month of the Malayalam calendar, falls in the monsoon and is traditionally 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. Always confirm the date and time with your family astrologer, who will consider your horoscopes.
