Muhurtas: How to Find the Best Moments in Your Day for Success and Prosperity

‘Muhurta’ is a Sanskrit word that means 'specific moment in time’. In Hinduism, there is a belief that some moments are very auspicious for starting new ventures or performing major actions. To determine a good Muhurta, one studies the placements of the stars and planets and the cosmic alignment at a particular time. It is believed that auspicious muhurtas can spell success for a particular endeavor and also bring good fortune and prosperity.

Hindus perform important ceremonies like weddings, Grihapravesh (housewarming), or launching new businesses only during a good muhurta. They may also perform everyday activities that need a favorable alignment of the stars during auspicious muhurtas. Routine activities like writing important letters/emails, buying things, traveling, starting a medication, etc., will benefit if one chooses an auspicious muhurta. Muhurta is especially useful for those who have no birth chart or who suffer from Doshas. Such people can meet with success in their tasks if they perform them during auspicious muhurtas.

Your horoscope is created based on the date and time of your birth. The horoscope reveals your destiny and major life events. Time is like a seed. A farmer has to sow the seeds at the right time if he wants to get a good harvest. Similarly, doing the right action/karma at the right time is very important.

Our life is determined by the time of our birth. If the time is good, we can expect a smooth life. If not, we may have a difficult life. Though you can’t choose your birth time, you can choose the right muhurta for the important events in your life so that you achieve success. Muhurat is very important in marriage as it can ensure maximum compatibility and a good life for the couple.

The activities performed at a particular time will have the characteristics of that time. So, when it comes to major events like marriage, one should always choose an auspicious muhurta. For instance, if a marriage occurs in a fixed Nakshatra like Uttarphalguni, it can be stable.

Five things are considered when selecting a muhurta:

• Tithi,
• Nakshatra
•  Yoga
• Karana
•  Vara

Choosing a Good Muhurta

Given below are a few tips to find a good muhurta for your activities.

Days with Good Vara, Nakshatra, and Tithi Yogas

A day may have good or bad yogas. Some combinations of Vara (solar day), Nakshatra (lunar mansion), and Tithi(lunar day) are auspicious, but others are not. For instance, yogas like Sarvartha Siddhi Yoga, Sri Yoga, and Subha Yoga are very favorable. But Visha Yoga, Dagdha Yoga, and Asubha Yoga are unfavorable.

Role of the Transit Ascendant

As per astrology, the Ascendant is the point on the eastern horizon at any given moment. The ascendant sign changes around every two hours as the Earth rotates.

When choosing muhurtas, make sure that the Ascendant sign is favorable. This prevents benefic planets from occupying the 6th, 8th, or 12th houses. This is good if you are traveling.

When Jupiter is in the Ascendant, the time is favorable for auspicious activities as this placement is very powerful and auspicious. You can find the appropriate time by looking at the zodiac sign in which Jupiter is located.

If you are doing work related to communication, Mercury in the Ascendant or your 3rd house lord is good. For travel-related activities, Venus (the natural significator of travel) or your 7th house lord in the Ascendant is beneficial.

Also, ensure that the Moon is well placed from the Ascendant.

Day and Hora of your Lagna Lord

If the day is ruled by your Lagna (Ascendant) lord, it is auspicious for health-related activity. The day on which your lagna lord is exalted is also beneficial. By leveraging the hora of these planets, you can achieve favorable health outcomes.

For example, if your Ascendant sign is Cancer, Monday and Moon’s hora are favorable. Also, the Moon’s exaltation is in Taurus, which is governed by Venus. So, Friday and Venus hora can benefit you.

Abhijit Muhurta

For those in a hurry, Abhijit Muhurta is ideal. This is one among the most auspicious times in Vedic astrology. During Abhijit Muhurta, the negative effects of malefic planets are less, and the benefic planets are also at their most powerful. So, this is an excellent time for major events. It brings positive energy and good luck.

Panchak Rahita

If your important activities are to be successful, you need to avoid the five blemishes, called Panchaka Rahita, when choosing the right time. Nish is the most powerful and auspicious time for all activities. The five blemishes are:

1. Agni – moments of intense anger and frustration.

2. Roga – moments of lethargy and tiredness.

3. Mrtyu – inauspicious time; avoid it for important activities.

4. Raja – prone to misunderstandings and conflicts with superiors or associates.

5. Chora – negativity and negative thoughts, which lead to unpleasant experiences or loss of items.

Chowgadiya

Chowgadiya, or Chogadia, is an ancient Vedic system of splitting the day into favorable and unfavorable periods for performing important activities. ‘Chowgadiya’ comes from the Sanskrit words ‘Chau’ meaning ‘four’ and ‘Ghadi’ denoting ‘period of time’. As per the system, the day has eight-time slots of approximately 1.5 hours each.

It can be very useful in selecting muhurtas for any activity, whether it’s launching a new venture, signing a contract, buying a property, or traveling.

Precautions Related to Muhurtas

• To get maximum benefits from a muhurta, you need to follow some special precautions. They are given below.
• Do not take up any new business work in Rikta tithi or on the 4th, 9th, and 14th days of the lunar month.
• New moon days are also inauspicious for good works.
• Do not enter into any agreements on Sundays, Tuesdays, and Saturdays. Don’t begin new projects in the Nanda tithi and during Pratipada, 6th and 11th days of a lunar day.
• Do not finalize new business plans during the 3 days before and after a planet is combust and rising.
• Do not execute personal or professional projects when the lord of the birth sign and birth nakshatra combusts, is debilitated or falls between enemy planets.
• Avoid khshay tithi.
• Do not start a new task in the 4th, 8th, and 12th sign of a Moon from your birth sign, as it can cause failure.
• Do not admit your child in school during the Devshayan (when the Gods are asleep) period.
• Do not lend money on Wednesdays or borrow money on Tuesdays.
• When buying a new vehicle, the Moon should not occupy the Ghaat sign from your birth sign.