A karana is exactly half of a tithi, so there are 60 karanas in a lunar month (30 tithis × 2). Of the 11 named karanas, 7 are 'movable' and repeat 8 times through the month (Bava, Balava, Kaulava, Taitila, Garija, Vanija, Vishti), while 4 are 'fixed' and each occur exactly once, clustered right around the new moon and full moon (Shakuni, Chatushpada, Naga, and Kimstughna).
Today's karana
Bava
Shown for India (IST). Your own region may look slightly different.
Why it matters
Karana is traditionally used for finer-grained muhurta (timing) decisions than tithi alone allows — some karanas, like Vishti (also called Bhadra), are traditionally considered unfavorable for starting new ventures.
How it's calculated
We measure the same Moon-minus-Sun angle used for tithi, but divide it by 6° instead of 12° — giving twice as many, finer slices across the same lunar month.
11 karanas · 60 per month
All 11, in order
Movable (repeat 8 times through the month)
- 1Bava
- 2Balava
- 3Kaulava
- 4Taitila
- 5Garija
- 6Vanija
- 7Vishti
Fixed (occur once, near new/full moon)
- 1Shakuni
- 2Chatushpada
- 3Naga
- 4Kimstughna