Muhurat · good times
Shubh muhurat: how a good day and time is chosen
How a shubh muhurat is found from the panchang: the stars, weekdays and tithis Muhurta Chintamani names for griha pravesh, a vehicle, gold, an agreement, travel, new work and marriage, and the rules every muhurat shares.
In short
A shubh muhurat is a day and time chosen as good for beginning something. The classical method, from Muhurta Chintamani, checks the panchang: a nakshatra and weekday that suit the activity, no Rikta tithi or Amavasya, no Bhadra and no Vyatipata or Vaidhriti yoga, a time outside Rahu Kalam, Yamaganda, Gulika and Dur Muhurtam, and a day that is good for your own birth star (Tara bala) and Moon sign (no Chandrashtama).
The rules every muhurat shares
- Tithi No Rikta tithi (the 4th, 9th or 14th of either half) and no Amavasya
- Yoga No Vyatipata or Vaidhriti
- Karana No Bhadra (Vishti karana)
- Time of day Outside Rahu Kalam, Yamaganda, Gulika, Dur Muhurtam and Varjyam
- Tara bala The Tara from your birth star is not Vipat, Pratyak or Naidhana
- Chandra bala Not Chandrashtama (the Moon in the 8th sign from your birth Moon)
Within a good day, the best hours are the good choghadiyas (Amrit, Shubh, Labh), Abhijit around noon (not on Wednesday), Amrit Kalam and Vijaya muhurta. See the panchang for how each window is worked out.
Muhurat by activity
| Activity | Nakshatras | Weekdays | Also | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Start new work or business | Ashwini, Rohini, Mrigashira, Pushya, Uttara Phalguni, Hasta, Chitra, Anuradha, Uttara Ashadha, Shravana, Uttara Bhadrapada, Revati | Monday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday | — | Muhurta Chintamani ch. 2 |
| Property, griha pravesh | Rohini, Mrigashira, Uttara Phalguni, Chitra, Anuradha, Uttara Ashadha, Uttara Bhadrapada, Revati | Monday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday | Waxing half (Shukla paksha) only | Muhurta Chintamani ch. 13 |
| Buy a vehicle | Ashwini, Mrigashira, Punarvasu, Pushya, Hasta, Chitra, Swati, Anuradha, Shravana, Dhanishta, Shatabhisha, Revati | Monday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday | — | Muhurta Chintamani ch. 2 |
| Gold, jewellery | Ashwini, Rohini, Pushya, Uttara Phalguni, Hasta, Chitra, Swati, Vishakha, Anuradha, Uttara Ashadha, Dhanishta, Uttara Bhadrapada, Revati | Sunday, Monday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday | — | Muhurta Chintamani ch. 2 |
| Sign an agreement | Ashwini, Rohini, Mrigashira, Punarvasu, Pushya, Uttara Phalguni, Hasta, Chitra, Swati, Anuradha, Uttara Ashadha, Shravana, Dhanishta, Uttara Bhadrapada, Revati | Monday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday | — | Muhurta Chintamani ch. 2 |
| Travel | Ashwini, Mrigashira, Punarvasu, Pushya, Hasta, Anuradha, Shravana, Dhanishta, Revati | Any weekday | Not towards the day's Disha shool | Muhurta Chintamani ch. 11 |
| Marriage | Rohini, Mrigashira, Magha, Uttara Phalguni, Hasta, Swati, Anuradha, Moola, Uttara Ashadha, Uttara Bhadrapada, Revati | Monday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday | Not in Kharmas (Sun in Sagittarius or Pisces); Jupiter and Venus not combust; Needs both charts | Muhurta Chintamani ch. 6 |
These are the lists Astrojar's Muhurat finder uses. For griha pravesh the month (solar and lunar) also matters, and a marriage date needs both charts and family custom: confirm either with an astrologer.
The seven classes of nakshatra
Muhurta Chintamani (ch. 2) sorts the 27 stars into seven classes by the kind of work each suits. Abhijit, the short extra star, is not used here.
| Class | Nakshatras | Good for |
|---|---|---|
| Dhruva (fixed) | Rohini, Uttara Phalguni, Uttara Ashadha, Uttara Bhadrapada | Starting things meant to last: foundations, planting, long commitments |
| Chara (moving) | Punarvasu, Swati, Shravana, Dhanishta, Shatabhisha | Travel, vehicles and outings |
| Ugra (bold) | Bharani, Magha, Poorva Phalguni, Poorva Ashadha, Poorva Bhadrapada | Hard or pending work that needs courage |
| Mishra (mixed) | Krittika, Vishakha | Routine work and everyday business |
| Kshipra (quick) | Ashwini, Pushya, Hasta | Quick tasks: trade, learning, medicine and short trips |
| Mridu (gentle) | Mrigashira, Chitra, Anuradha, Revati | Friendship, arts and music, new clothes and jewellery, celebrations |
| Tikshna (sharp) | Ardra, Ashlesha, Jyeshtha, Moola | Ending what no longer serves: clearing old debts and bad habits |
Tithi groups and weekdays
The 15 tithis of each half fall into five groups (Muhurta Chintamani ch. 1). Rikta tithis, the 4th, 9th and 14th, and Amavasya are avoided for starting anything important.
| Group | Tithis |
|---|---|
| Nanda | 1st, 6th, 11th |
| Bhadra | 2nd, 7th, 12th |
| Jaya | 3rd, 8th, 13th |
| Rikta | 4th, 9th, 14th (avoided for new starts) |
| Purna | 5th, 10th, 15th |
Each weekday is ruled by a graha and suits its kind of work:
| Weekday | Ruled by | Good for |
|---|---|---|
| Sunday | Sun | Official and government work, health routines, leadership |
| Monday | Moon | Meeting people, trade and caring for home and family |
| Tuesday | Mars | Property matters, sport and physical work |
| Wednesday | Mercury | Learning, writing, accounts and business deals |
| Thursday | Jupiter | Study, prayer, money matters and starting important work |
| Friday | Venus | Arts, beauty, buying clothes or jewellery, celebrations |
| Saturday | Saturn | Repairs, cleaning and long-pending routine jobs |
Questions about muhurat
What is a shubh muhurat?
A shubh muhurat is a good day and time to begin something: the weekday, tithi, nakshatra and yoga suit the activity, the time is outside Rahu Kalam and the other windows to avoid, and the day is good for your own birth star and Moon sign.
What does muhurat mean?
A muhurta is a unit of time, a fifteenth of the day or the night (48 minutes when each is 12 hours). In everyday use, muhurat means a time chosen as good for an event.
How is a griha pravesh muhurat chosen?
Muhurta Chintamani (ch. 13) names the fixed and gentle stars: Rohini, Mrigashira, Uttara Phalguni, Chitra, Anuradha, Uttara Ashadha, Uttara Bhadrapada and Revati, on a Monday, Wednesday, Thursday or Friday in the waxing half. The month also matters, so confirm the date with an astrologer.
Which nakshatras are good for marriage?
Muhurta Chintamani (ch. 6) names eleven: Rohini, Mrigashira, Magha, Uttara Phalguni, Hasta, Swati, Anuradha, Moola, Uttara Ashadha, Uttara Bhadrapada and Revati. Kharmas (the Sun in Sagittarius or Pisces) is avoided, and Jupiter and Venus should not be combust. A marriage date needs both charts.
What is a good muhurat for buying a vehicle?
The moving, quick and gentle stars (such as Ashwini, Pushya, Hasta, Swati, Shravana and Revati) on a Monday, Wednesday, Thursday or Friday, with the rules every muhurat shares; Muhurta Chintamani ch. 2.
Can I find a muhurat without my birth details?
Partly. The weekday, tithi, nakshatra, yoga and the windows to avoid are the same for everyone in a place. Tara bala, Chandra bala and Chandrashtama need your birth star and Moon sign, so Astrojar's Muhurat finder works from your chart.
Keep learning
- Panchang Tithi, nakshatra, Rahu Kalam and choghadiya explained.
- The 27 nakshatras Each star's lord, padas and muhurat class.
- Star matching for marriage Ashtakoota and Mangal Dosha for two charts.
- Rashi by date of birth Your Moon sign, used for Chandrashtama.
- Hindu festivals 2026 and 2027 Festival dates and the tithi rule behind each.
Sources
- Muhurta Chintamani (Daivajna Rama): ch. 1 Shubhashubha (tithi groups, weekdays, avoided yogas), ch. 2 Nakshatra (the seven classes and the stars for each activity), ch. 6 Vivaha (marriage), ch. 11 Yatra (travel), ch. 13 Griha pravesha.
- The windows to avoid, the good windows and the choghadiya: as computed by Astrojar's Panchang engine.
- Tara bala and Chandra bala: as Astrojar's Panchang engine and Planner use them.
This is the traditional reading of the classical texts, given for learning and reflection. It is not a prediction for you, and not medical, legal or financial advice.
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