5th anga of Panchang
11 Karanas
एकादश करण
A karana is half a tithi (~12 hours). Seven chara karanas rotate, four sthira karanas are fixed near full moon and new moon. Vishti / Bhadra is the most-avoided karana — universally inauspicious for all auspicious work.
7 Chara Karanas (Movable)
Rotate 8 times each across 30 tithis = 56 slots.
#1
Bava
बव
Deity: Indra
Stable, growth-oriented karana. Excellent for activities that need long-lasting outcomes.
#2
Balava
बालव
Deity: Brahma
Vitality + strength giving karana. Good for learning, child-rituals, foundational education.
#3
Kaulava
कौलव
Deity: Mitra
Friendship + alliance karana. Strengthens relationships, partnerships, social bonds.
#4
Taitila
तैतिल
Deity: Aryaman
Prosperity + accumulation. Wealth + assets + grain-storage work flourish.
#5
Gara
गर
Deity: Bhumi
Agricultural + land-related karana. Excellent for soil, seeds, building on earth.
#6
Vanija
वणिज
Deity: Lakshmi
Trade + commerce karana. Strongest for buying-selling, retail launch, mercantile signing.
#7
Vishti (Bhadra)
विष्टि
Deity: Yama
Most inauspicious karana. Bhadra — universally avoided for ALL auspicious work. Yama-amsha brings obstacles, delay, loss.
4 Sthira Karanas (Fixed)
Occupy fixed slots near amavasya (new moon).
#8
Shakuni
शकुनि
Deity: Kali
Fixed karana — occurs in 2nd half of Krishna Chaturdashi. Treachery + deception risks; avoid important work.
#9
Chatushpada
चतुष्पद
Deity: Vrishabha (Bull)
Fixed karana — 1st half of Amavasya. Four-legged-creature ritual karana. Cattle puja + Govardhan-style worship favored.
#10
Naga
नाग
Deity: Sarpa (Serpent)
Fixed karana — 2nd half of Amavasya. Serpent karana. Naga puja + Kalsarpa dosh remedies; otherwise inauspicious.
#11
Kintughna
किंस्तुघ्न
Deity: Vayu
Fixed karana — 1st half of Shukla Pratipada (just after Amavasya). Kim-tu-ghna = "destroyer of obstacles". Sin-cleansing.
⚠ About Bhadra / Vishti
Bhadra (Vishti) is the daughter of Surya and sister of Yama. Visited by Yama-amsha. Every Drik Panchang publishes Bhadra hours separately. Avoid all auspicious work during Bhadra: marriage, griha pravesh, travel, business start, vehicle purchase, naming ceremony, sankalp. Even routine work suffers obstacles. Bhadra-shanti puja can be done within Bhadra hours itself.
Pair with yoga + tithi + nakshatra
Karana is the 5th and final anga of Panchang. Combine with the other four for complete muhurat shastra timing.