Karana: the half tithi
A karana is half a tithi. Eleven karanas fill the 60 half-tithis of a lunar month: seven that repeat and four that occur once. Vishti, also called Bhadra, is the one to watch.
What a karana is
Karana = half tithi. A tithi is the time the Moon gains 12 degrees on the Sun, so a karana is the time it gains 6 degrees. A lunar month has 30 tithis, which gives 60 karana periods. Each tithi has two karanas, one in the first half and one in the second.
The eleven karanas
There are only 11 names, because most of them repeat.
Seven movable (chara) karanas, in order: Bava, Balava, Kaulava, Taitila, Gara, Vanija, Vishti.
Four fixed (sthira) karanas: Shakuni, Chatushpada, Naga, Kimstughna.
How they are arranged
The month begins with the fixed karana Kimstughna in the first half of Shukla Pratipada. After that the seven movable karanas run in order, Bava through Vishti, and the sequence repeats eight times. That uses 56 periods. The last three periods of the month are the other fixed karanas:
- Shakuni, in the second half of Krishna Chaturdashi
- Chatushpada, in the first half of Amavasya
- Naga, in the second half of Amavasya
Then the cycle starts again at the next Shukla Pratipada. One total check: 1 + 56 + 3 = 60. Some old traditions do not use Shakuni and Naga in all regions, and a few sources place the fixed karanas slightly differently, so check against your own almanac if you follow a particular tradition.
Where Vishti falls
Because Vishti is the seventh of seven, it comes every seventh karana. In a normal lunar month it falls eight times:
| Paksha | Tithi | Half |
|---|---|---|
| Shukla | Chaturthi | Second half |
| Shukla | Ashtami | Second half |
| Shukla | Ekadashi | Second half |
| Shukla | Purnima | First half |
| Krishna | Tritiya | Second half |
| Krishna | Saptami | First half |
| Krishna | Dashami | Second half |
| Krishna | Chaturdashi | First half |
This table follows from the counting rule above. Each of these periods lasts about half a tithi, so roughly ten to thirteen hours.
Vishti (Bhadra) explained plainly
Vishti is also called Bhadra. Almanacs mark it as the one movable karana that is traditionally avoided for starting auspicious work such as a wedding, a housewarming or a major celebration. It is not a reason for alarm. If a Vishti period overlaps your planned time, the usual advice is to begin before it starts or after it ends.
Some sources say Vishti is suitable for tasks that call for effort and firmness, such as competitions, discipline or legal matters. Traditions differ in how strictly they apply it, so follow your priest's guidance.
Many Panchangs list the other fixed karanas, such as Shakuni, Chatushpada, Naga and Kimstughna, as less suitable for new beginnings too. Weight given to this varies a great deal. The four others are rarely a practical concern.
How the site shows it
The site lists each karana with its exact start and end time, for example "Balava until 4:10 p.m., then Kaulava". Since a karana lasts half a tithi, there are usually two or three karanas on a single day. The karana in effect when a ceremony begins is the one that counts.