SELECTION OF LUNAR DAY – TITHI – IN VEDIC ELECTIONAL ASTROLOGY

Hindu ephemeris has five fundamental components / elements viz, Lunar day (Tithi), weekday, Constellation, Half Lunar day (Karan) & Yogas (combination of weekday & constellation). No election (Muhurtha) is thought possible without their considerations, especially suitability of Tithi. Suitability of each of these elements are prescribed separately for specific elections, in addition to suitability of host of astrological factors like ascendant, favorable transit, current progression periods, omens, natural malefic / prohibited periods, age-place-religion-social considerations of the aspirant, nature of the activity etc. etc. The matter below is extracted from the book titled “ Hindu Electional Astrology ” . Readers may log on to the related web site http://www.besttime-election.com for over view of the book .
Lunar day (Tithi) is a fundamentally important component of electional astrology. It has an intimate bearing on the fixing /selecting of auspicious time. No election is fixed without considering suitability of a Lunar day (Tithi). Majority of Hindu festivals have reference to Lunar day (Tithi) . There is a custom to celebrate birth anniversary on the Tithi of birth, as in Hindu astrology birth day signifies Tithi of birth. Lunar day (Tithi) represents lunar energy, and lunar energy represents mental energy & status of the mind. Other two components of the Hindu Panchang (ephemeris) viz. Yoga (luni- solar day) and Karan (half a lunar day) are derived from Lunar day (Tithi). Therefore, to understand Hindu electional astrology readers will have to be familiar with Tithi.

Samhita Pradeep (a treatise on Hindu elections) opines that Tithi personifies body, the Moon – mind; ascendant – soul (Atama); & other signs – members of body (Avayava). Only when a body is healthy & pure, other said components can be thought of. Therefore purification of Tithi gains significance & is one of the most important electional element. In the presence of sullied Tithi, strength of the Moon, ascendant, constellation are baseless.

The election is generally fixed primarily considering constellation, weekday, ascendant & Tithi, and other components are given lesser importance. Even though “Gunas” (mathematical strength) allocated to Tithi is less; but exponents have not dilated on any election without reference to the Tithis. Tithi indirectly refers to the strength of the Moon, which lays foundation of strength of all the planets, & electional Yogas. Like the New Moon Tithi destroys cluster of all the benefic Yogas; & presence of an Amrit Siddha (Yoga) Tithi annihilates all the malefic Yogas. Even a malefic Tithi when forms a Muhurt Yoga, gets sanctified & augurs beneficence & fruition of the desires, therefore, special emphasis is required of selection of Tithi in elections.

HOW TO FIND TITHI FROM EPHEMERIS
The length of time during which the difference of increment between longitudes of the Sun and the Moon amounts to the multiple of 12° is called a Tithi. From the exact New Moon, first Tithi starts and ends when difference between the Sun and the Moon is 12°. Thereafter up to the next 12° difference, second Tithi prevails. Thus there are 15 Tithis upto the Full Moon when luminaries are 180° apart.

As during this time the Moon shall be increasing / waxing these 15 Tithis belong to the Bright Half ( B.H. - Shukla Paksha). Similarly there are 15 Tithis from the Full Moon to the New Moon when the Moon is decreasing / waning which belong to the Dark Half (D.H. - Krishna Paksha). There are in all 30 Tithis, from the New Moon to the next New Moon (a lunar month). Mean duration of a Tithi is 23h 37m 28.096s. It is different from astronomical lunar day which is reckoned from the Moonrise to the next Moonrise which has a mean duration of 24h 48m 45.838s. Tithi just before the exact Full Moon is shown as 15th Tithi, while the Tithi just before the exact New Moon is shown as 30th in the ephemeredes. Indian ephemeredes following Sidereal System give starting or ending moments of each Tithi and also refer to prevailing D.H. or B.H.
To find number of the Lunar day (Tithi) current at a particular time, divide difference between longitude of the Sun from that of the Moon by 12. By adding 1 to the quotient, Tithi prevailing at the time is obtained. If the longitude of the Moon is less than that of the Sun, add 360° to the longitude of the Moon.

Current Tithi No. = [Moon’s longitude – Sun’s longitude] ÷ 12 + 1

The Tithi number shall be the same in both Sidereal System and Tropical System.

SELECTION OF TITHIS FOR ELECTIONS

Election of different components of Hindu ephemeris(Panchang) is an holistic approach. Tithi inculcates its nature of increasing / expanding of work done in an election consistent to the increasing rays of the Moon in B.H., and the vice versa. For benefits of the electional astrologers, criteria of selection of Tithi for elections are given below:

1. Selection of B.H./ D.H.: If the Moon is favourable to a native in transit on 1st Tithi of B.H. then, full B.H. becomes favourable to him. If it is unfavourable in transit on 1st Tithi of D.H. then, complete D.H. becomes favourable. Vice versa of the both are also considered. For progressive works B.H. is better than D.H. See chapter 10 on transits.

2. Natural beneficence: From the prescribed Tithis for the election (Muhurt), select Tithi which is in the auspicious / benefic triad. Rikta Tithis ( 4th, 9th & 14th Tithis) are least effective for auspicious works.

3. Yoga: A malefic Tithi becomes benefic or highly benefic when concurrent with specific weekday or constellation, and vice versa. Select a suitable Yoga with a suitable Tithi consistent with nature of work.

4. Allocation: Works which especially fructify in specific Tithis have been prescribed, and also those to be avoided. Favourable /suitable Tithis for specific Muhurt have been specifically prescribed by the Sages & Acharyas.

5. Name of the doer: Based on first consonant of the name of the doer (Maatra Swar), certain group of Tithis (Nanda, Bhadra etc.) are Baal (infant), Kumar (Young), Yuva (adult), Vridth (old) & Mrityu (dead). Order of their increasing beneficence is dead, old, infant, young & adult. See chapter 14 for the selection of Yuva Avastha of the corresponding auspicious Tithi.

6. Moon birth sign (Janma Rashi) of the doer: Based on sign occupied by the Moon in radix of the doer, favourable group (Nanda, Bhadra, etc....) for the native may preferably be selected & may avoid Ghaata Tithis, Ghaata Maas etc.

7.Tutelary Lords: When tutelary lords of a Tithi is the same as that of constellation / weekday / Yoga then, works prescribed in the said constellation / weekday / Yoga can be conducted in the said Tithi.

8. Malefic Tithis: Tithis like Chidra, Maas- Shunya, Galgraha, etc. should be shunned or avoided depending on their malefic nature & type of the work.

9. Transit: When the Moon is benefic in transit in respect of sign, constellation, navamsha, Astakvargas etc. for a native, then coinciding Tithi becomes favourable in election.

10. Sarvatobhadra Chakra: This unique system gives when a particular Tithi is afflicted (Vedha) by transit of benefic or malefic planet(s) making a particular Tithi auspicious or unfit for election.

11. Unfavourable durations: Aspirants must shun Vish Ghatis, prohibited periods, Gandanta, Pradosha etc. of the selected Tithi.

12. Kshana Tithi: Suitable selection of a favourable Sub- Tithi on the guidelines strengthens the election.

13. Emergency requirement: Provision has been made to use certain malefic Tithis ignoring their poisonous / prohibited portions in emergent situations, which should be chosen provided antidotes exist & election chart is fortified.

14. After finally selecting a Tithi ensure that the election ascendant is not Ghaat Lagna for that selected Tithi.

15. It is certainly beneficial to use Amrit Ghatis ( auspicious parts of Tithis) of the Tithi.

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V K Shridhar is author of compendium on Vedic Muhurt astrology title “Hindu Electional Astrology”. E-mail : besttime.astrology@gmail.com

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