Panchakपञ्चक
Five-day inauspicious lunar window when Moon transits Dhanishta to Revati nakshatras; avoid southward journeys and roof-laying.
Best for
- ✓Mantra japa and Vishnu Sahasranama recitation
- ✓Charitable donations (anna-daan, vastra-daan)
- ✓Spiritual study (svadhyaya) and scripture reading
- ✓Pitra tarpana and ancestor remembrance
- ✓Internal sadhana and meditation retreats
Avoid
- ✗Travel toward the south direction
- ✗Roof-laying (chhat dhalna) or terrace construction
- ✗Cremation without Panchak shanti puja
- ✗Cutting grass, wood, or fuel storage
- ✗Bed-making or new cot construction
- ✗Marriage ceremonies and griha pravesh
- ✗Major financial transactions and property registration
Spiritual Significance
Panchak represents the final quarter of the lunar month where the Moon traverses watery and transformational nakshatras governed by deities of dissolution — Vasu, Varuna, Aja Ekapada, Ahirbudhnya, and Pushan. Classical texts including Muhurta Chintamani warn that karmic vibrations multiply fivefold during this window, hence any death-related rite requires five effigies of kusha grass. The period symbolizes pralaya energy where new initiations dissolve back into the void, demanding restraint and inward contemplation rather than external manifestation.
How to Calculate
Identify when Moon enters Dhanishta nakshatra at 23°20' Capricorn; Panchak runs through Shatabhisha (Aquarius), Purva Bhadrapada, Uttara Bhadrapada, and concludes at 16°40' Pisces (end of Revati). Use Drik Panchang ayanamsa (Lahiri) and note exact ghati-pal timing. Subdivided into Roga, Raja, Agni, Mrityu, and Chor Panchak based on starting weekday.
Modern Application
Real estate firms avoid pouring slab concrete during Panchak; logistics companies reschedule southbound freight; hospitals defer elective surgeries. Modern devotees use Panchak windows for online Bhagavad Gita study circles, digital detox retreats, and SIP-pause notifications. Wedding planners cross-check Panchak dates against Drikpanchang before finalizing mandap booking.
Today's Panchak in your local time
Live panchang shows today's exact timing for your city.