muhurta

Muhurta, from Sanskrit meaning moment or auspicious time, is a unit of time used in Hindu astrology to designate an auspicious window to begin an activity. In Jyotisha, the selection of a muhurta is part of determining an auspicious moment for a ceremony, starting a new venture, or performing a ritual. The preferred muhurta is determined by combinations of astronomical factors including tithi (lunar day), nakshatra (lunar mansion), yoga (a composite of sun and moon longitudes), and karana (half-day), as computed in the local panchanga or muhurta chart. A day is traditionally divided into a fixed number of muhurtas; each muhurta corresponds to a specific interval of time, and the day contains several such windows allowing for auspicious start times.

Commonly cited auspicious muhurta include the abhijit muhurta, roughly in the middle of the day and often considered highly auspicious, and other named muhurtas that are linked to particular planetary configurations. Although the concept is widespread in Hindu communities, the exact rules for calculating and selecting muhurtas vary between regions and traditions, and many people consult trained astrologers or panchanga calendars.

In practice, muhurtas are used to time a wide range of beginnings, such as weddings, housewarmings (ganapati tilak in some regions), starting a business, naming ceremonies, and yajnas. They reflect a belief that alignment with favorable cosmic timings can influence outcomes. The term muhurta is also used more generally to denote a favorable or opportune moment.