Muhurta

Muhurta (Sanskrit: मुहूर्त) is a Hindu unit of measurement for time in the Hindu calendar . A Muhurta equals 2 Ghadiyas or approximately 48 minutes. It is stated in Manu Samhita that eighteen nimeshas (twinklings of the eye, are one kashtha), thirty kashthas one kala, thirty kalas one muhurta, and as many (muhurtas) one day and night.

Muhurtas

The following muhurtas are calculated assuming sunrise at 05:44 am.

No.	Time	Name	Muhurta	Quality
1	05:44 - 06:32	Rudra	रुद्र	bad
2	06:32 - 07:20	Āhi	आहि	bad
3	07:20 - 08:08	Mitra	मित्र	good
4	08:08 - 08:56	Pitṛ	पितॄ	bad
5	08:56 - 09:44	Vasu	वसु	Good
6	09:44 - 10:32	Vārāh	वाराह	good
7	10:32 - 11:20	Viśvadevā	विश्वेदेवा	good
8	11:20 - 12:08	Vidhi	विधि	good - except Mondays and Fridays
9	12:08 - 12:56	Satamukhi	सतमुखी	good
10	12:56 - 13:44	Puruhūta	पुरुहूत	bad
11	13:44 - 14:32	Vāhini	वाहिनी	bad
12	14:32 - 15:20	Naktanakarā	नक्तनकरा	bad
13	15:20 - 16:08	Varuṇa	वरुण	good
14	16:08 - 16:56	Aryamā	अर्यमा	good - except Sundays
15	16:56 - 17:44	Bhaga	भग	bad
16	17:44 - 18:32	Giriśa	गिरीश	bad
17	18:32 - 19:20	Ajapāda	अजपाद	bad
18	19:20 - 20:08	Ahira Budhnya	अहिर बुध्न्य	good
19	20:08 - 20:56	Puṣa	पुष्य	good
20	20:56 - 21:44	Aśvinī	अश्विनी	good
21	21:44 - 22:32	Yama	यम	bad
22	22:32 - 23:20	Agni	अग्नि	good
23	23:20 - 00:08	Vidhātṛ	विधातॄ	good
24	00:08 - 00:56	Kaṇḍa	क्ण्ड	good
25	00:56 - 01:44	Aditi	अदिति	good
26	01:44 - 02:32	Jiva	जीव	good
27	02:32 - 03:20	Viṣṇu	विष्णु	good
28	03:20 - 04:08	Yumigadyuti	युमिगद्युति	good
29	04:08 - 04:56	Brahma	ब्रह्म	very good[1]
30	04:56 - 05:44	Samudrama	समुद्रम	good

Significance

Traditionally, it is common practice amongst Hindus to start or avoid starting significant tasks like religious ceremonies, etc on the basis of the quality of a particular Muhurta. The Vedic scriptures also generally recommend one or more Muhurtas to perform rituals and practices. Some examples are as follows

• Brahma muhurta, approximately one and a half hours before sunrise, is recommended in all practices of yoga is considered most apt for meditation.^[1]

See also

• Rahukaalam
• Gudhi Padwa
• Chaughadia Muhurata
• Jyotiṣa

References

1. ^ ^{a b} "Major Religions of the World Ranked by Number of Adherents". nitaaiveda.com. http://nitaaiveda.com/NITAAI_Yoga_Forums/Swami%27s_Writings_and_Articles/Brahma-Muhurta_-_The_48_mins_from_1_hr_36_min_to_48_min_before_Sunrise.htm. Retrieved 2009-05-03. 

Further reading

• Dictionary of Hindu Lore and Legend (ISBN 0-500-51088-1) by Anna Dallapiccola

External links

• Free Muhurta/Muhurtham for your cermonies from Samputi.com (In Telugu)
• Free Muhurta/Muhurtham for your cermonies from Samputi.com (In English)
• Muhurta in Vedic Astrology
• Article on Importance of Muhurta by Shyamasundara Dasa