Tithi is one of the five fundamental elements (Panchangas) of the Hindu calendar system, and it plays a central role in determining the auspiciousness of any given day. Understanding tithis is essential for anyone who wants to use the Panchang for decision-making — whether for marriage, property purchase, travel, or business ventures.
What Exactly Is a Tithi?
A Tithi is a lunar day, defined by the angular distance between the Sun and Moon. Each Tithi covers exactly 12 degrees of the Moon's movement relative to the Sun. Since the Moon moves approximately 12-13 degrees per day relative to the Sun, one Tithi lasts roughly 19 to 26 hours — which is why a Tithi does not align perfectly with a solar day. A Tithi can start at any time during a solar day, and occasionally a solar day will see two Tithis (called Tithi Kshaya) or a Tithi may span two solar days (called Tithi Vriddhi).
The 30 Tithis of a Lunar Month
A complete lunar month consists of 30 Tithis divided into two Pakshas (fortnights):
Shukla Paksha (Waxing Moon — Tithis 1-15): Starting from Amavasya (new moon) and progressing towards Purnima (full moon), the Shukla Paksha represents growth, expansion, and increasing energy. These tithis are generally favourable for new beginnings, acquisitions, and celebrations.
Krishna Paksha (Waning Moon — Tithis 16-30): Starting from Purnima and progressing towards the next Amavasya, the Krishna Paksha represents consolidation, introspection, and release. While not inherently inauspicious, these tithis are less preferred for initiating new ventures.
Each Tithi within these Pakshas has a specific name: 1. Pratipada (1st) — New beginnings 2. Dwitiya (2nd) — Travel, partnerships 3. Tritiya (3rd) — Growth, expansion 4. Chaturthi (4th) — Rikta, generally avoided for new work 5. Panchami (5th) — Learning, arts 6. Shashthi (6th) — Overcoming obstacles 7. Saptami (7th) — Success, achievements 8. Ashtami (8th) — Spiritual activities 9. Navami (9th) — Rikta, challenging for material activities 10. Dashami (10th) — Power, governance 11. Ekadashi (11th) — Spiritual merit, fasting 12. Dwadashi (12th) — Completion 13. Trayodashi (13th) — Prosperity 14. Chaturdashi (14th) — Rikta, avoided for auspicious work 15. Purnima/Amavasya (15th) — Full/New moon
Rikta Tithis — The Days to Avoid
Chaturthi (4th), Navami (9th), and Chaturdashi (14th) are classified as "Rikta" (empty) Tithis. These are generally avoided for auspicious activities like marriages, property purchases, and business openings. The energy on these days is considered depleted or challenging, potentially leading to obstacles in new ventures.
How Tithis Affect Daily Decisions
The Panchang uses the Tithi as a primary factor in calculating auspiciousness scores. When the Tithi is favourable for a particular activity (for example, Tritiya for gold purchases, or Saptami for travel), it contributes a significant positive score. When the Tithi is unfavourable (a Rikta Tithi for property buying, for instance), it penalises the day's overall score.
Tithi and Other Panchang Elements
A Tithi does not exist in isolation. Its auspiciousness is modified by the concurrent Nakshatra, Yoga, Karana, and weekday. For example, an otherwise favourable Panchami Tithi might be diminished if it falls on an unfavourable Nakshatra or during a challenging Yoga. ShubhHaiKya's scoring system considers all five Panchang elements simultaneously, giving you a comprehensive picture rather than relying on Tithi alone.
Understanding tithis helps you read and interpret the Panchang with confidence. Rather than following dates blindly, you gain insight into why certain days are recommended and others cautioned against — empowering you to make well-informed decisions rooted in Vedic wisdom.
How ShubhHaiKya weights Tithi: In our engine Tithi is the heaviest single factor. A favourable tithi for that activity adds a large plus; a Rikta or explicitly unfavourable tithi subtracts about the same. Nakshatra is next. That is why an Ashtami with a superb Nakshatra can still look Neutral rather than Avoid — and why a “good” weekday cannot rescue a Rikta tithi on its own. Always read the reasons list on the result page, not only the headline number.