A karana is half of a tithi. It starts each time the Moon gets 6° ahead of the Sun. A lunar month has 30 tithis, so it has 60 karanas. They are the fifth limb of the panchang and are used mostly to find the time known as Bhadra.
The 11 karanas
| Type | Karanas | How they repeat |
|---|---|---|
| Movable (chara) – 7 | Bava, Balava, Kaulava, Taitila, Gara, Vanija, Vishti (Bhadra) | They run in this order, and repeat 8 times in a month (56 karanas) |
| Fixed (sthira) – 4 | Shakuni, Chatushpada, Naga, Kimstughna | Come once a month near the new moon: Shakuni, Chatushpada and Naga in the last three half-tithis of Krishna paksha, and Kimstughna in the first half of Shukla Pratipada |
Vishti karana (Bhadra)
Vishti is the seventh movable karana, and is better known as Bhadra. It is considered unsuitable for starting auspicious work such as weddings, housewarming and travel. It comes about 8 times a month, each time for roughly half a tithi, and it can fall by day or night.
Why Bhadra matters for festivals
- Raksha Bandhan: Rakhi is not tied during Bhadra, so the muhurat starts after Bhadra ends. Our festival page shows the exact time.
- Holika Dahan: The fire is lit after Bhadra Mukha ends.
- Bhadra "Mukha" and "Puchha": within Bhadra, the first part (Mukha) is the most avoided and the last part (Puchha) is somewhat lighter.
Some families believe Bhadra on certain tithis is fine, when it falls in the patal (underworld) or swarga (heaven) according to the Moon's rashi. This is a regional detail; if in doubt, ask your priest.
Questions people ask
What is Bhadra?
Bhadra is the Vishti karana, the seventh movable karana. It is avoided for auspicious starts.
How many karanas are there?
11 karanas: 7 movable that repeat, and 4 fixed.
Can I tie rakhi during Bhadra?
Traditionally no. Wait till Bhadra ends. If Bhadra is over before the afternoon, the rakhi is tied in the afternoon.