Muhurta is a time that is perfect for a particular activity. By taking into various factors like the movement of the planets and the stars, the suitability, and unsuitability of the moment is determined. The technique of muhurta selection is simply creating a positive link between the cosmic energies of the moment (electional chart) to the birth chart. Therefore, every moment may not be suitable for everyone. The energies operating at the time of the event should positively influence the birth chart.

If one wants to quickly select a suitable timing for any auspicious action, one has to follow these steps. These are common for all the muhurtas. These are the things to know on the surface level. However, these are not complete by themselves. One has to go deeper and consider many other very important factors.

Read more on Muhurta

Tarabala or Strength of Nakshatra

The position of the Moon on the sign or Rasi at the time of the birth is Janma Rasi or Birth Moon and the position of Moon on the particular nakshatra is one’s Janma Nakshatra or birth star. The nakshatra running at the time of the event or election is the Nakshatra of the day. Count from the birth star to the one ruling on a particular day and divide the number by 9. The remainder will give the Tara on that particular day.

There are nine numbers of Taras in total. The Taras and corresponding nature are given below:

• 1. Janma - Indicates danger to the body
  2. Sampat - Wealth and Prosperity
  3. Vipat - Dangers, losses, and accidents
  4. Kshema - Prosperity
  5. Pratyak - Obstacles
  6. Sadhak - Realisation of ambitions
  7. Vadha - Dangers
  8. Maitra - Friendly
  9. Parama Maitra - Very favourable

For example, a person born in the star of Ashwini and wants to perform an auspicious event in the nakshatra of Purvaphalguni. By counting the number from the janma nakshatra to the nakshatra of the day, it comes out to be 11. Dividing this by 9 gives the remainder 2, which is Kshema tara, which is auspicious.

So, if a person is born in the Ashwini constellation the taras for this nakshatra are given in this table.

In the 1st cycle or paryaya (within the first 9 stars), Vipat, Pratyak, and Vadha are fully malefic. In the 2nd cycle or paryaya (10th to 18th nakshatras), starting 1/3rd portion of Vipat, ending 1/3rd portion of Pratyak and the middle 1/3rd portion of Vadha tara are malefic. In the 3rd cycle or paryaya (19th to 27th nakshatras), the evil is said to be negligible. So, even Vipat, Pratyak, and Vadha tara in the third cycle become fully benefic.

So, Vipat, Pratyak, and Vadha taras are particularly malefic in the first cycle. Janma Nakshatra is benefic for some elections like upanayana (thread ceremony), first feeding, first learning, coronation, agriculture, the marriage of a boy & a girl born from the second conception, buying lands, sacrifices. But Janma nakshatra should be avoided for the journey, conception, marriage of a boy & girl from the first conception, war, and taking medical treatment.

In unavoidable circumstances, one can carry out the work in malefic tara by giving the following donations.

• For Janma Tara - Donate Vegetables

  Vipat Tara - Donate Jaggery

  Pratyak Tara - Donate Salt

  Vadha Tara - Donate Gold

Chandra Bala or Lunar Strength

The position of Moon in any election chart is of utmost importance. Moon should be positioned in the best place to get maximum benefit in muhurta. Moon should not occupy 6th, 8th or 12th place counted from the janma rasi of the concerned person. So, even if there is good tara bala but that happens to be 6th, 8th, or 12th house, then it should be avoided.

For example, a person born in Hasta Nakshatra and desires to perform an auspicious event when Moon is in Kumbha Rasi. If the Moon is in Dhanista star, there is tarabala (Sampat tara) but there is no chandra bala (6th house) and in Shatabhisha nakshatra (Vipat tara), there is neither tarabala nor chandrabala. Therefore, these days are not suitable.

Panchaka or Five-Source Energy

Panchaka calculation involves planetary, stellar and zodiacal energies like a lunar day, weekday, constellation, and the ascendant. Take the number of the tithi or lunar day (from the 1st to 30th of the month), number of the weekday (Sunday (1) to Saturday(7)), number of the constellation (from Ashwini to Revati, being 1-27), and number of lagna (Aries to Pisces).

Add these together and divide the total by 9. If the remainder is 0, 3,5,7, then it is good. If the remainder is 1, it is mrityu panchakam and indicate danger; if it is 2, it is agni panchakam and indicate risk from fire; if it is 4, which means raja panchakam and indicate bad results; if 6, it is chora panchakam and it indicates evil happenings and finally if it is 8, it is roga panchakam and indicate disease.

We will see an example. If someone wants to perform some event on a particular day which has tara bala, chandra bala, and other factors of muhurta. Now panchaka calculation is as below:

• Number of tithi or lunar day (Saptami) - 7

  Nakshatra of the day (Pushya) - 8

  Number of the weekday (Wednesday) - 4

  Number of Lagna (Libra) - 7

The total is 26. If we divide by 9, the remainder will be 8. 8 means roga panchakam and indicates disease, which is inauspicious time.

Therefore, all three factors should be considered while calculating the auspicious time.

Read: Components of Muhurta

Other General Parameters

• Guru Bala or Strength of Jupiter

  Gurubala is one of the important factors in selecting muhurta. As Jupiter is a highly benefic planet, its positive influence on the chart is essential. When Jupiter is in 2nd, 5th, 7th, 9th, 11th places from the janma rasi, it is said to be having gurubala.

• Nakshatra

  Bharani, Krittika, and Ashlesha are generally considered malefic, so has to be avoided in important elections. But other nakshatras can be selected based on the event.

• Vaara or Lunar Day

  Generally, Tuesday and Saturday are considered malefic and avoided for auspicious elections. Other days can be considered for good actions.

• Tithi

  Generally, Krishna Paksha Ashtami, Chaturdashi, and Amavasya are avoided in all auspicious elections. And also Chaturthi, Ashtami also can be avoided. But each tithi has its own significance, so one has to take that into consideration.

• Yoga and Karana

  The malefic yogas are: Vishkumbha, Atiganda, Shoola, Ganda, Vyaghata, Vajra, Vyatipata,   Parigha and Vaidhriti. The malefic karanas are: Shakuni, Chatushpada, Naga, and Kintughna. These yoga and karanas should be avoided in auspicious elections.

• Ascendant

  Ascendant should be very strong in the muhurta chart. It plays a very important role while selecting auspicious muhurta. Ascendant and its lord should be strengthened in selecting muhurta. It is stated in classical texts that a strong ascendant can remove many doshas or malefic defects present in the muhurta horoscope. And the 8th house should be vacant in muhurta chart.

• Adhika Masa and Kshaya Masa

  Adhika masa is a lunar month during which there is no solar ingress (Surya Sankramana) between two new moon days. Kshaya masa happens when there are two solar ingresses (sankrantis) between two new moons.

  Kshaya and Adhika masas are generally avoided in the samskaras like construction activities, entering a house, annaprashan (first feeding), journey etc. However, some events like a holy bath, samskaras related to pregnancy, shraddha, and other routine matters can be performed.