Karanas (as part of Panchang)

A Karana is half of a Tithi (Moon Phase), so there are 60 Karanas in a lunar month. However, although there are 60 Karanas in a month, there are only 11 different kinds of Karanas. Unlike the Yogas of the Day, the Karanas do not rotate in an exact sequential pattern.

The Moon Phases are divided into two types: Waxing and Waning.

Waxing Moon (Shukla Paksha) runs from the 1st Waxing Moon until the Full Moon. During Waxing Moon phase, the Moon is “growing” and getting brighter with each phase.

Waning Moon (Krishna Paksha) runs from the 1st Waning Moon until the New Moon. During Waning Moon phase, the Moon is “shrinking” and getting darker with each phase.

The Karanas fall into two groups: moveable (chara) and fixed (sthira). There are 7 moveable Karanas, and they occur 8 times during a cycle starting from the second half of the 1st Tithi of the Waxing Moon (Shukla Paksha). They are known as “moveable” because they occur at different times through the cycle

There are 4 fixed Karanas, and they are always in the same place in the cycle, from the 2nd half of the 14th Waning Moon up to the 1st half of the 1st Waxing Moon.

The table below gives a list of the various Karanas and a keyword to suggest the energy of that Karana as well as the type of the Karana.

The table below gives a list of the various Karanas and their timing for when they occur, including during which Tithi (Moon Phase), which half of the Tithi, and which kind of Moon Phase (whether Waxing or Waning).