Hindu Predictive Astrology Part 3: Hindu Time Measure
In Part 2, we mapped the zodiac and the planetary system. Now we learn how the Hindus measure time itself — the fundamental medium through which all astrological influences operate.
Part 3 of 31 • Foundations • Covers: Book Chapter III — Hindu Time Measure
Astrology is the science of Time. Before you can cast a horoscope or calculate a Dasa period, you need to understand the Hindu system of measuring time — a system older than any calendar in use today.
The Hindu calendar is simultaneously solar, lunar, and stellar. It tracks the Sun's path through the signs, the Moon's monthly waxing and waning, and the positions of stars to mark the passage of years. This multi-layered system is far richer than the purely solar Gregorian calendar used globally today.
Units of Hindu Time
The Hindu system builds time from small units upward. The two essential units you must know for astrological calculations are the ghati and the vighati:
Vighati
= 24 seconds
= 1/60th of a Ghati
Ghati
= 24 minutes
= 60 Vighatis
One Day
= 60 Ghatis
= Sunrise to Sunrise
| Hours → Ghatis | Multiply hours by 2.5 | Example: 4 hours = 10 ghatis |
| Ghatis → Hours | Divide ghatis by 2.5 | Example: 15 ghatis = 6 hours |
| Minutes → Vighatis | Multiply minutes by 2.5 | Example: 12 minutes = 30 vighatis |
| Vighatis → Seconds | Multiply vighatis by 24 | Example: 5 vighatis = 120 seconds |
Unlike the Western convention where a new day starts at midnight (12:00 AM), the Hindu day is reckoned from sunrise to sunrise. This means a birth at 2:00 AM on a Tuesday (after midnight but before sunrise) is astrologically still Monday. This is critically important when determining the weekday ruler, planetary hours, and consulting traditional almanacs. Always convert birth time to time elapsed since sunrise before performing classical calculations.
Given: Birth at 5:35 PM (17:35). Sunrise on that day at 5:35 AM.
- Time elapsed since sunrise: 17:35 − 5:35 = 12 hours exactly
- Convert to ghatis: 12 × 2.5 = 30 ghatis
- Birth time in Hindu notation: 30 ghatis after sunrise
The 60-Year Jovian Cycle (Barhaspatyamana)
Among the Hindus, 60 lunar years constitute one cycle. Each year has its own name, and the entire cycle traces the evolution of a cosmic creative force from birth to destruction:
Complete 60-Year Cycle
The Two Ayanas: The Sun's Northward and Southward Journey
There are two Ayanas (periods) in a year, defined by the Sun's apparent movement north and south of the celestial equator:
The Sun's northerly course. Commences from the winter solstice, when the Sun enters Makara (Capricorn) and moves in a northerly direction.
Duration: roughly January to July. Days grow longer. Considered the more auspicious half of the year. This is the period of increasing light and vitality.
The Sun's southerly course. Begins with the summer solstice, or the ingress of the Sun into Kataka (Cancer), when the Sun takes a southerly course.
Duration: roughly July to January. Days grow shorter. The period of decreasing light. Certain astrological significances differ during this half.
The Six Ruthus (Seasons)
The principal seasons among the Hindus are six, whereas Europeans consider only four (Autumn, Spring, Winter, Summer). Each Hindu season spans two lunar months:
| # | Sanskrit Name | English Equivalent | Lunar Months | Approx. Western Months |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Vasantha Ruthu | Spring | Chaitra & Vaisakha | March–May |
| 2 | Greeshma Ruthu | Summer | Jyeshta & Ashadha | May–July |
| 3 | Varsha Ruthu | Rainy Season | Sravana & Bhadrapada | July–September |
| 4 | Sarad Ruthu | Autumn | Aswija & Kartika | September–November |
| 5 | Hemantha Ruthu | Early Winter | Margasira & Pushya | November–January |
| 6 | Sisira Ruthu | Late Winter | Magha & Phalguna | January–March |
The 12 Lunar Months
The Hindu calendar features 12 lunar months. The name of each lunar month is derived from the nakshatra (constellation) that falls on the Full Moon day of that particular month:
| # | Lunar Month | Approx. Western Equivalent | Full Moon Nakshatra |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Chaitra | March–April | Chitta |
| 2 | Vaisakha | April–May | Visakha |
| 3 | Jyeshta | May–June | Jyeshta |
| 4 | Ashadha | June–July | Poorvashadha/Uttarashadha |
| 5 | Sravana | July–August | Sravana |
| 6 | Bhadrapada | August–September | Poorvabhadra/Uttarabhadra |
| 7 | Aswija | September–October | Aswini |
| 8 | Kartika | October–November | Krittika |
| 9 | Margasira | November–December | Mrigasira |
| 10 | Pushya | December–January | Pushyami |
| 11 | Magha | January–February | Makha |
| 12 | Phalguna | February–March | Pubba/Uttara |
The 12 Solar Months
Solar months are defined by the Sun's transit through each zodiacal sign. Each solar month begins when the Sun enters a new sign. Raman provides both the Sanskrit and Tamil names:
| Sanskrit Name | Tamil Name | Zodiac Sign | Sun Enters |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mesha | Chittirai | Aries ♈ | ~April 14 |
| Vrishabha | Vaigasi | Taurus ♉ | ~May 15 |
| Mithuna | Ani | Gemini ♊ | ~June 15 |
| Kataka | Adi | Cancer ♋ | ~July 16 |
| Simha | Avani | Leo ♌ | ~August 17 |
| Kanya | Purattasi | Virgo ♍ | ~September 17 |
| Thula | Aipasi | Libra ♎ | ~October 17 |
| Vrischika | Kartigai | Scorpio ♏ | ~November 16 |
| Dhanus | Margali | Sagittarius ♐ | ~December 16 |
| Makara | Tai | Capricorn ♑ | ~January 14 |
| Kumbha | Masi | Aquarius ♒ | ~February 13 |
| Meena | Panguni | Pisces ♓ | ~March 14 |
Shukla and Krishna Pakshas: Bright and Dark Halves
Each lunar month is divided into two halves called Pakshas:
Consists of the bright half of the lunar month when the Moon waxes (grows fuller each night).
The 15 days from the next day of the New Moon up to and including the Full Moon constitute the Shukla Paksha.
Consists of the dark half of the lunar month when the Moon wanes (diminishes each night).
The 15 days from the next day of the Full Moon to the New Moon day make up the Krishna Paksha.
Why this matters for astrology:
- Moon's strength — From the 8th day of the bright half, the Moon is considered full and strong. She is weak from the 8th day of the dark half. This directly affects whether the Moon is treated as a benefic or malefic in your chart.
- Temporal strength (Kalabala) — Malefic planets are powerful during the dark half; benefic planets are powerful during the bright half.
- Dasa calculations — The Paksha at birth affects several predictive techniques covered in later parts.
Key Takeaways
-
The Hindu day begins at sunrise, not midnight
A 2 AM birth is still astrologically the previous day. Always count time from local sunrise. -
1 Ghati = 24 minutes. 1 Vighati = 24 seconds. 60 Ghatis = 1 day.
To convert: multiply hours by 2.5 to get ghatis. These units appear throughout classical texts. -
60 lunar years form one Jovian cycle (Barhaspatyamana)
From Prabhava (creation of new force) through Akshaya (destruction). Each year name carries meaning. -
Two Ayanas divide the year: Uttarayana (northward) and Dakshinayana (southward)
The Sun enters Capricorn (Uttarayana) and Cancer (Dakshinayana) at the solstices. -
Six Ruthus (seasons), not four, and 12 lunar months named after Full Moon nakshatras
The Rainy Season (Varsha) and split Winter (Hemantha + Sisira) are the additions beyond the Western four. -
Shukla Paksha (bright, waxing) and Krishna Paksha (dark, waning) split each month into halves
This affects Moon's strength classification: strong from 8th bright day, weak from 8th dark day.
With the stage (zodiac), the actors (planets), and the clock (time system) now understood, in Part 4, we'll dive deep into the 27 Nakshatras, sign lordships, exaltation/debilitation degrees, and the constellation-to-sign mapping that is the backbone of all Vedic calculations.
Based on
Hindu Predictive Astrology
by B.V. Raman | First published 1938 | UBS Publishers' Distributors Ltd.