Muhūrta (Sanskrit: मुहूर्त) is a Hindu unit of measurement for time in the Hindu calendar . A Muhurta equals approximately 48 minutes or two Ghaḍiyas or Ghaṭīkā.
It is stated in Manusmṛti that 18 nimeṣas (twinklings of the eye) are 1 Kāṣṭhā, 30 Kāṣṭhās are 1 Kāla, 30 Kālas are one Muhūrta, and 30(Muhūrtas) are one day and night.
Muhūrta -s [edit]
The Muhūrtas are traditionally calculated by assuming sunrise at 06:00 am on the Vernal Equinox, which is the Vedic New Year. Not all of the constellations cross the zenith, so that it is not in every case clear which constellation presides over the Muhūrta. Yet it is clear that one or more prominent features of the correlate constellations, from which the Muhūrtas draw their respective names, falls within the Celestial Longitude of the same, drawn from the Polar Axis.
| No. |
Correlate Time of Day |
Muhūrta (मुहूर्त) |
Correlate Constellation (Greek) |
Quality, or Guṇa (गुण) |
| 1 |
06:00 - 06:48 (sunrise) |
Rudra (रुद्र) |
Unknown |
Inauspicious |
| 2 |
06:48 - 07:36 |
Āhi (आहि) |
Lacerta |
Inauspicious |
| 3 |
07:36 - 08:24 |
Mitra (मित्र) |
Unknown |
Auspicious |
| 4 |
08:24 - 09:12 |
Pitṝ (पितॄ) |
Cepheus & Casseiopeia |
Inauspicious |
| 5 |
09:12 - 10:00 |
Vasu (वसु) |
Unknown |
Auspicious |
| 6 |
10:00 - 10:48 |
Vārāha (वाराह) |
Unknown |
Auspicious |
| 7 |
10:48 - 11:36 |
Viśvedevā (विश्वेदेवा) |
Unknown |
Auspicious |
| 8 |
11:36 - 12:24 |
Vidhi (विधि) |
Unknown |
Auspicious - except Mondays and Fridays |
| 9 |
12:24 - 13:12 |
Sutamukhī (सतमुखी) |
Auriga |
Auspicious |
| 10 |
13:12 - 14:00 |
Puruhūta (पुरुहूत) |
Unknown (either Taurus or Orion) |
Inauspicious |
| 11 |
14:00 - 14:48 |
Vāhinī (वाहिनी) |
Unknown |
Inauspicious |
| 12 |
14:48 - 15:36 |
Naktanakarā (नक्तनकरा) |
Unknown |
Inauspicious |
| 13 |
15:36 - 16:24 |
Varuṇa (वरुण) |
Unknown |
Auspicious |
| 14 |
16:24 - 17:12 |
Aryaman (अर्यमन्) |
Unknown |
Auspicious - except Sundays |
| 15 |
17:12 - 18:00 |
Bhaga (भग) |
Unknown |
Inauspicious |
| 16 |
18:00 - 18:48 (sunset) |
Girīśa (गिरीश) |
Unknown |
Inauspicious |
| 17 |
18:48 - 19:36 |
Ajapāda (अजपाद) |
Unknown |
Inauspicious |
| 18 |
19:36 - 20:24 |
Ahir-Budhnya (अहिर्बुध्न्य) |
Hydra |
Auspicious |
| 19 |
20:24 - 21:12 |
Puṣya (पुष्य) |
Unknown |
Auspicious |
| 20 |
21:12 - 22:00 |
Aśvinī (अश्विनी) |
Unknown |
Auspicious |
| 21 |
22:00 - 22:48 |
Yama (यम) |
Boötes |
Inauspicious |
| 22 |
22:48 - 23:36 |
Agni (अग्नि) |
Ara |
Auspicious |
| 23 |
23:36 - 24:24 |
Vidhātṛ विधातृ) |
Unknown |
Auspicious |
| 24 |
24:24 - 01:12 |
Kaṇḍa (क्ण्ड) |
Corona Borealis |
Auspicious |
| 25 |
01:12 - 02:00 |
Aditi (अदिति) |
Unknown |
Auspicious |
| 26 |
02:00 - 02:48 |
Jīva/Amṛta (जीव/अमृत) |
Unknown |
Very Auspicious |
| 27 |
02:48 - 03:36 |
Viṣṇu (विष्णु) |
Hercules |
Auspicious |
| 28 |
03:36 - 04:24 |
Dyumadgadyuti (द्युमद्गद्युति) |
Lyra |
Auspicious |
| 29 |
04:24 - 05:12 |
Brahma (ब्रह्म) |
Cygnus |
Very Auspicious[1] |
| 30 |
05:12 - 06:00 |
Samudram (समुद्रम) |
Deluge |
Auspicious |
Significance [edit]
Traditionally, it is common practice amongst Hindus to start or avoid starting significant tasks like religious ceremonies, etc. on the basis of the quality of a particular Muhūrta. The Vedic scriptures also generally recommend one or more Muhūrtas to perform rituals and practices. The most widely known example of this practice:
- Brahma Muhūrta, approximately one and a half hours before sunrise or more precisely is 1Hr 36 Mins. i.e. 96 Minutes = 2 Muhūrta or 4 Ghaṭīkā, is recommended in all practices of yoga is traditionally considered most apt for meditation.[1] However, it is clear from the associations of the names with specific constellations that the present Brahma-Muhūrta starts just before 8:00AM during the Vernal Equinox. At present, Jīva-Amṛta and Viṣṇu comprise the two twilight muhūrtas prior to sunrise.
See also [edit]
References [edit]
Further reading [edit]
External links [edit]
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