Rahu Kalam and Yamagandam are inauspicious periods found by dividing the daytime from sunrise to sunset into eight equal parts and assigning one part to each weekday – each lasts about an hour and a half. Durmuhurtham is an inauspicious muhurtham of about 48 minutes, and Varjyam is a period to be avoided that depends on the day's nakshatra. Telugu families avoid starting new auspicious work during these times, while Amrita Kalam and Abhijit Muhurtham are seen as auspicious windows.
What is Rahu Kalam?
Rahu is one of the navagrahas, a shadow planet. Each day, one portion of daylight is considered to be under Rahu's influence – this is Rahu Kalam. Tradition advises against starting marriage talks, gruhapravesham, a new business, buying a new vehicle or beginning an important journey in this period.
How is Rahu Kalam calculated?
- Take the sunrise and sunset times for your town on that day.
- Divide the daylight period into 8 equal parts.
- The weekday decides which part is Rahu Kalam: Monday the 2nd, Saturday the 3rd, Friday the 4th, Wednesday the 5th, Thursday the 6th, Tuesday the 7th and Sunday the 8th.
If sunrise is at 6 AM and sunset at 6 PM, each part is 90 minutes. The table below uses that example to give approximate timings. Actual times shift with your town and the season, so always check a local panchangam.
| Day | Rahu Kalam | Yamagandam | Gulika Kalam |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sunday | 4:30 – 6:00 PM | 12:00 – 1:30 PM | 3:00 – 4:30 PM |
| Monday | 7:30 – 9:00 AM | 10:30 AM – 12:00 PM | 1:30 – 3:00 PM |
| Tuesday | 3:00 – 4:30 PM | 9:00 – 10:30 AM | 12:00 – 1:30 PM |
| Wednesday | 12:00 – 1:30 PM | 7:30 – 9:00 AM | 10:30 AM – 12:00 PM |
| Thursday | 1:30 – 3:00 PM | 6:00 – 7:30 AM | 9:00 – 10:30 AM |
| Friday | 10:30 AM – 12:00 PM | 3:00 – 4:30 PM | 7:30 – 9:00 AM |
| Saturday | 9:00 – 10:30 AM | 1:30 – 3:00 PM | 6:00 – 7:30 AM |
Yamagandam and Gulika Kalam
Yamagandam is also one-eighth of the daytime, but it falls in a different part for each weekday. It is considered unsuitable for journeys and new beginnings. Gulika Kalam is associated with Gulika, described as the son of Shani. A common belief is that whatever is done in Gulika tends to repeat – so it is avoided for funeral rites, while some consider it good for buying property. Opinions differ, so ask your elders.
What is Durmuhurtham?
Traditionally the daytime is divided into 15 muhurthams of about 48 minutes each (the length varies with the length of the day). Depending on the weekday, one or two of these are treated as durmuhurthams. Auspicious events, important signings and new beginnings are best avoided then. Because the timing changes daily, Telugu panchangams list Durmuhurtham separately for every day.
Varjyam and Amrita Kalam
Varjyam
Varjyam (also called thyajyam) means a time to be left out. Unlike Rahu Kalam, it depends on the day's nakshatra, not the weekday. Within each nakshatra, a period of about 4 ghatikas (around an hour and a half, adjusted to the nakshatra's length) starting at a fixed point is Varjyam. It may fall by day or night, and on some days it may not occur at all. Telugu panchangams give Varjyam great weight when fixing muhurthams.
Amrita Kalam
Amrita Kalam (amrita ghadiyalu) is also a period of about 4 ghatikas based on the nakshatra – but it is auspicious. It is considered a good time for puja, japam and beginning auspicious work.
Abhijit Muhurtham – the midday auspicious window
Of the 15 daytime muhurthams, the eighth is Abhijit Muhurtham, about 48 minutes around local midday. Tradition holds it to be a powerful auspicious time that can offset other flaws, so it is chosen when work must begin urgently and no other good muhurtham is available. Some traditions do not use Abhijit on Wednesdays; follow your purohit's guidance.
What to avoid and what is fine
Usually avoided
- Starting marriages, engagements, gruhapravesham, upanayanam and similar events.
- Opening a new business or shop, or joining a new job.
- Buying a new vehicle, gold or property.
- Setting out on an important journey.
Perfectly fine
- Daily puja, japam and remembering God – no time is a barrier for these.
- Routine work, office and studies that are already underway.
- In some regions special worship of Durga and Rahu is done during Rahu Kalam itself; Rahu Kala Durga puja on Tuesdays and Fridays is well known.
These periods are a guide for choosing good starting times, not something to fear. Never delay hospital visits or emergencies for a muhurtham.
Key points
- Rahu Kalam, Yamagandam and Gulika are each one-eighth of daytime and vary by weekday.
- Durmuhurtham is about 48 minutes, once or twice a day.
- Varjyam and Amrita Kalam depend on the nakshatra and last about 4 ghatikas.
- Abhijit Muhurtham is the auspicious window around midday.
- Timings vary by town; check a local panchangam.
- Puja and japam can be done anytime; do not wait for a muhurtham in emergencies.