What is Panchang? The Five Limbs of the Hindu Calendar Explained

The Panchang (पंचांग) is the traditional Hindu almanac that maps the rhythm of time using five elements (panch = five, anga = limb).

The Five Limbs

• Tithi — the lunar day, based on the angular distance between the Moon and the Sun.
• Vaara — the weekday.
• Nakshatra — the lunar mansion the Moon occupies.
• Yoga — derived from the combined longitudes of the Sun and Moon.
• Karana — half of a tithi.

Together these determine auspicious timings (muhurat), festivals and rituals. Ramagya computes each one using real astronomical positions with the Lahiri ayanamsa.