About SpiritualMarg Tithi
SpiritualMarg Tithi is the panchang companion to SpiritualMarg.com. Our goal is simple: show the correct tithi for wherever you are, with the exact minute it begins and ends, and explain what it means.
How the calculations work
- Sun and Moon positions come from the open-source Astronomy Engine library, which implements VSOP87 and a lunar theory derived from ELP, accurate to a few arc-seconds over 1900–2100.
- Tithi is the apparent angle between the Moon and the Sun divided into 12° steps. Each transition is solved numerically to the second.
- Nakshatra and yoga use sidereal longitudes with the Lahiri (Chitrapaksha) ayanamsa, the standard adopted by the Indian government's Calendar Reform Committee.
- Sunrise and sunset are the moments the upper limb of the Sun touches the horizon, corrected for atmospheric refraction, at the city's coordinates.
- Lunar months are named by the sidereal sign the Sun occupies at the new moon (amanta), with adhika (leap) months detected when no solar ingress happens between two new moons. Purnimanta names are shown alongside.
- Rahu Kaal, Yamaganda and Gulika divide the daytime into eight equal parts; Abhijit is the eighth of fifteen daytime muhurtas.
Observance rules
A vrat is not always on the day its tithi prevails at sunrise. We apply the classical rules: Pradosh at sunset, Sankashti Chaturthi at moonrise, Masik Shivaratri at Nishita (midnight) and Vinayaka Chaturthi at midday. For Ekadashi we follow the Smarta sunrise rule and flag days when Vaishnava communities fast the next day.
Accuracy
We regularly compare our results with established panchangs. Tithi and nakshatra transitions typically agree within a minute. Regional traditions sometimes choose a different day for a festival, so always follow the guidance of your family priest or sampradaya for important rituals.
Contact
Spotted a discrepancy or want your city added? Write to us through SpiritualMarg.com. You can also embed today's tithi on your own site with our free widget.