Benefits from use of PanchangamThithyeshcha Shreeyamapnothi
Vaaraath AayushyavardhanamNakshathraath Harathepaapam Yogaath
RoganivaranamKaranaath Karyasiddhishchaath Panchangam
dashamephalamKnowledge of Thithi bestows Wealth, Knowledge of Vaara
increasesLongevity, Knowledge of Nakshatra erases Sins, Knowledge
of Yoga curesDiseases and Knowledge of Karana ensures Success in
workPanchangamAll instances of time have five characteristics viz.
Vaara, Thithi, Nakshatra,Yoga and Karana. These five
characteristics are detailed for all the days ofthe year in an
almanac which is called Panchangam. (Pancha + anga).
Thesecharacteristics are derived from the positions of Sun and
Moon. Panchangamis used for knowing these five basic
characteristics of time for sankalpa,locating dates of vratas,
locating dates of shraddhas and for finding suitabledates for
auspicious functions.Positions Sun, Moon and other planets are also
given in thePanchangams. These are used for fixing Muhurthas and
preparation of horoscopesand predictions by Astrologers.Planets
(Grahas)Panchangams consider 7 planets and 2 shadowy planets.They
are:Sl. Planets / Shadowy Planets Antharyami Roopa1. Surya or Ravi
Sun Rama2. Soma or Chandra - Moon Krishna3. Kuja or Mangala - Mars
Narasimha4. Budha or Soumya Mercury Bouddha5. Guru or Brihaspati -
Jupiter Vamana6. Shukra or Bhargava Venus Parashurama7. Shani or
Manda -Saturn Kurma1. Shadowy Planet: Rahu or Thama - Dragons head
Varaha2. Shadowy Planet: Kethu or Sikhi - Dragons Tail.
MathsyaThus, from Sun to Saturn are planets and Rahu and Kethu are
imaginary plan-ets. They are actually the nodes (points) of
intersection of the imaginary paths ofSun and Moon (as visualised
by an observer on Earth), located at diametricallyopposite points.
Rahu and Kethu (Dragons head and tail) are also known as
shadowyplanets.In the Indian system of Astronomy, Sun is considered
a planet eventhough it isthe source of light and heat unlike in the
western system, where by definition, planetsare not the source of
light and heat.
