MUHURTHA IN VEDIC ASTROLOGY :

‘Muhurtha’ means a moment. We live our lives moment by moment. When we receive good planetary energies, that moment is called ‘auspicious moment’ and if the planets deliver bad energies, then it is called ‘bad moment’. In Astrology, we prepare the birth chart of an individual based on the moment of his/her birth. This birth chart indicates whether the individual becomes successful or not in his life depending upon the type of planetary energies at that moment. In the same way, when we start a new venture or business, we can construct a chart for that moment. This chart represents whether that new venture or business will be successful or not. This chart which is prepared to know the outcome of a venture or event is called ‘Muhurtha chart’.
Importance of Muhurtha :

If the Muhurtha chart shows good planetary energies, then that venture becomes a successful one. So it is better to select an auspicious moment (good Muhurtha) for starting any venture so that the chances of success will increase. This applies to all important events in life. For example, if a person gets married in a good Muhurtha, then his married life will be good.

Some Astrologers are of the opinion that a beggar can become a king by starting his works in good Muhurthas. This is wrong. It happens only if the beggar has the planetary position to become a king in his birth chart. By following good Muhurtha, the beggar can become a king in less time and with less effort. This is how Muhurtha helps. Let us take another example. In a native’s birth chart, there is an indication that he will not get children. But if a good Muhurtha is set for his marriage and nuptials, then the chances of getting children will increase and he may be blessed with children. Setting good Muhurthas for all important events of life in such a way that the person will become highly successful in all areas is called ‘Electional Astrology’.

Indian Astrologers have done considerable research on Electional Astrology and came up with books like ‘Muhurtha Chinthamani’, ‘Muhurtha Marthanda’, ‘Muhurtha Darpana’, ‘Kaalamritha’, and ‘Uttara Kaalamritha’, etc.

General rules for setting a good Muhurtha

Setting a favorable star (Taara bala):

Count from the birth star of a person to the star where Moon is located at the time of the Muhurtha and divide the number by 9, if divisible. The remainder represents the following:

1 – Janma – represents danger to body.
2 – Sampath – indicates wealth and prosperity.
3 – Vipath – dangers and losses and accidents.
4 – Kshema – prosperity.
5 – Pratyak – obstacles and enmity.
6 – Sadhana – realization of ambitions through effort.
7 – Naidhan – dangers and death.
8 – Mitra – friendly and good.
9 – Parama Mitra – Very favorable.

From the above list, the favorable numbers are 2, 4, 6, 8 and 9. For example, if a person’s birth star is Bharani. The person wants to join the new job on a day when the star is Visakha. Counting from Bharani to Visakha, we get the number 15. Divide this number by 9 and the remainder will be 6. This number represents ‘Sadhana’ which is favorable. Hence the person can join the new job on that day.
Setting a favorable sign (Chandra bala):

In the Muhurtha chart, the Moon should not occupy the 6th, 8th or 12th house from the person’s birth sign. For example, the person’s birth star is Bharani which falls in Aries sign. The person wants to start a new business on a day when the star is Visakha – 4th quarter. This part of the star falls in the sign Scorpio. Counting from the birth sign Aries to the Muhurtha sign Scorpio, we get 8th. This is inauspicious and hence that Muhurtha should be avoided by the person.
Eliminating five types of bad energies (Panchaka rahitha):

In general Muhurthas where the person wants to join a job or attending an interview or going on a short journey, setting good ‘Taara bala’ and ‘Chanra bala’ is sufficient. But for important ceremonies like thread ceremony, marriage, nuptials, entry into a new house, etc, we should eliminate bad energies from the Muhurtha which is called ‘Panchaka rahita’. Count the number of lunar day (thithi), the number of the week day (1st is Sunday), the number of the constellation (1st is Aswini) and the number of the Ascendant (1st is Aries) of the Muhurtha. Add them together and divide the total by 9. See what the remainder represents:
1 – Mrityu Panchka – danger to life.
2 – Agni Panchaka – risk from fire.
4 – Raja Panchaka – risk from Government.
6 – Chora Panchaka – threat from thieves.
8 – Roga Panchaka – diseases.

So, the above numbers should be eliminated. If the remainder is 0, 3, 5 or 7 then it is good. For example, if a person wants to start a new business on a day and time when the lunar day is 13th (Triyodasi), the constellation is Pubba, the rising sign is Leo, and the weekday is Monday. Calculating Panchaka, we get:

Number of lunar day: 13
Number of constellation: 11
Number of week day: 2
Number of Ascendant: 5
Total: 31

Now dividing this number 31 by 9, we get 4 as remainder. This number 4 represents Raja Panchakam and hence the person will face a lot of troubles from the Government, Police, Taxes and Legal departments. Hence that Muhurtha is not auspicious for the person.

Other important yogas to be considered
Panchanga Suddhi:

Panchanga represents the five parts namely thithi (the lunar day), vaara (the week day), nakshatra (the constellation), yoga (the combination of Sun and Moon), karana (half of lunar day). These five parts should be good for any auspicious Muhurtha. This is called ‘Panchanga Suddhi’. In regard to lunar days, the 4th, 6th, 8th, 12th and 14th and full moon day and new moon day should be avoided. In regard to week days, Thursday and Friday are good for all works. It is better to avoid Tuesday and Saturday in most of the Muhurtas. In regard to the constellation, Bharani, Krittika and Aslesha should be avoided for all works. Auspicious constellations for any work are: Aswini, Rohini, Mrigasira, Pushyami (except for marriage), Makha, Uttara, Hasta, Chitta, Swathi, Anuradha, Moola, Uttarashadha, Dhanishta, Sravanam, Uttarabhadra and Revathi. Coming to yogas, out of 27 yogas the following should be avoided: Vishkambha, Vyaghatha, Parigha, Vyathipatha, Vydhriti, Ganda, Atiganda and Soola. In the available 11 karanas, we should avoid Bhadra and Nagavam.

Surya sankramana:

Once in a month, the Sun changes his sign and enters a new sign. A period of 6 hours and 24 minutes should be avoided before and after Sun’s entry into a new sign.
Karthari dosha:

The Ascendant in the Muhurtha chart should not be hemmed between malefic planets.

Shashtashta Riphagatha Chandra dosha:

In the Muhurtha chart, the Moon’s position from the Ascendant should not be at 6th, 8th and 12th houses.

Udayasta Suddhi:

The Ascendant and the seventh should be strong. For example, the Ascendant should be occupied by the lord of the Ascendant or the lord of the Ascendant should be exalted. In the same way, the seventh house should also be strong. It is very good if the Ascendant is occupied by Jupiter, Venus and Mercury.
Ashtama Lagna dosha:

The Ascendant in the Muhurtha chart should not be 8th from the Ascendants of both the bride and bridegroom. For example, the bride and bridegroom’s Ascendants are Aries and Leo, the Muhurtha Ascendant should not be Scorpio or Pisces.
Grahanotpatha dosha:

The constellations in which the eclipses appear should be avoided in muhurtas.

Ashtama suddhi:

No planet should be located in the 8th house from the Ascendant of Muhurtha chart.

Consideration of appropriate houses:

For all Muhurthas, the Ascendant and its lord should be good. To set a good Muhurtha for construction of a house or for house warming ceremony, we should see that the 4th house and its lord should be good. There should not be any malefics in 4th house and its lord should be with benefics or in his own house or exaltation. Similarly, to set a good Muhurtha for marriage, the 7th house and its lord should be good. To set a good Muhurtha for starting a new business, the 7th house and 11th houses and corresponding planets should be good.

According to Sage Bharadwaja, a fully flawless Muhurtha cannot be seen for years together. We should wait for such a Muhurtha for years together and hence it is advised to fix up a Muhurtha with less doshas (bad) and more gunas (good).