Choghadiya Muhurta: for Auspicious & Inauspicious Time
Introduction to Choghadiya Muhurta
Choghadiya or Chogadia is a widely used astrological timekeeping system in Hinduism. It is primarily utilized for checking auspicious moments (muhurat) before starting any significant work. While traditionally used for travel-related activities, due to its simplicity, Choghadiya Muhurta is now considered for various life events, including business dealings, ceremonies, and new ventures.
Choghadiya Muhurta divides the day and night into different time slots, each ruled by a specific planetary influence. The effect of these planets determines whether a particular period is good or bad for undertaking important tasks. Understanding Choghadiya is essential for selecting the best possible time for any activity, ensuring success and prosperity.
Division of Choghadiya: Day and Night Time Segments
The entire day (from sunrise to sunset) is known as Day Choghadiya, while the time between sunset and the next day’s sunrise is called Night Choghadiya. Each Choghadiya Muhurta lasts for approximately 1.5 hours, and the total number of Choghadiya in a day (including both day and night) is 16.
How Choghadiya is Calculated?
In Hindu timekeeping, a day is divided into 30 Ghati, where each Ghati is approximately 24 minutes long. For Choghadiya Muhurta, this time is further divided into 8 parts during the daytime and 8 parts during the nighttime, resulting in 8 Choghadiya Muhurtas in both periods.
Since each Choghadiya spans around 4 Ghati (roughly 1.5 hours), the word “Choghadiya” is derived from the combination of Cho (four) and Ghadiya (Ghati). This system is also referred to as Chaturshtika Muhurta.
Types of Choghadiya and Their Influence
There are seven types of Choghadiya, categorized as either good (auspicious) or bad (inauspicious) based on the ruling planet:
Auspicious Choghadiya
- Amrit Choghadiya – Ruled by the Moon (Chandra)
- Considered the most auspicious Choghadiya.
- Suitable for all types of work, including starting a new business, conducting ceremonies, and initiating spiritual practices.
- Shubh Choghadiya – Ruled by Jupiter (Guru)
- Highly favorable for marriages, religious activities, and ceremonies.
- Good for starting long-term ventures.
- Labh Choghadiya – Ruled by Mercury (Budh)
- Ideal for education, skill acquisition, and new business opportunities.
- Favorable for commercial activities and investments.
- Char Choghadiya – Ruled by Venus (Shukra)
- Best suited for travel, movement, and creative endeavors.
- Ensures smooth progress in journeys and trade.
Inauspicious Choghadiya
- Rog Choghadiya – Ruled by Mars (Mangal)
- Considered inauspicious for most activities.
- However, it can be used for defensive actions, wars, and competitive exams.
- Kaal Choghadiya – Ruled by Saturn (Shani)
- Avoided for auspicious activities.
- Used for tasks involving accumulation of wealth and discipline-related work.
- Udveg Choghadiya – Ruled by the Sun (Surya)
- Generally inauspicious but considered beneficial for government-related work.
- Not recommended for personal or business ventures.
The Effect of Vara Vela, Kaal Vela, and Kaal Ratri
Apart from Choghadiya Muhurta, three other important time divisions affect the auspiciousness of an event:
- Vara Vela – Prevalent during the day.
- Kaal Vela – Also prevalent during the day but considered more adverse.
- Kaal Ratri – Prevalent during the night and considered highly inauspicious.
It is believed that no auspicious work should be performed during these time periods, as they are ruled by unfavorable planetary energies. Any significant activities conducted during these periods are believed to be unsuccessful.
Overlapping of Auspicious Choghadiya with Rahu Kaal
Rahu Kaal is a time period associated with the malefic influence of Rahu, which occurs daily. It is widely avoided in South India while selecting a Muhurat for any auspicious activity. If an auspicious Choghadiya coincides with Rahu Kaal, it is generally considered ineffective, and an alternative Choghadiya Muhurat should be chosen.
How to Determine a Good or Bad Choghadiya?
The first Choghadiya of each weekday is ruled by the planetary lord of the respective weekday. The cycle then continues with the sequence of Venus, Mercury, Moon, Saturn, Jupiter, and Mars before repeating.
Based on the nature of the ruling planet, each Choghadiya Muhurat is categorized as auspicious or inauspicious:
- Venus, Mercury, Moon, and Jupiter are considered benefic planets, making their time favorable.
- Sun, Mars, and Saturn are considered malefic planets, making their time inauspicious.
- However, the suitability of a Choghadiya also depends on the specific activity being undertaken.
Special Use Cases of Inauspicious Choghadiya
Though certain Choghadiya periods are generally considered inauspicious, they may still be favorable for specific tasks:
- Udveg Choghadiya (Sun) – Good for government work.
- Kala Choghadiya (Saturn) – Suitable for wealth accumulation.
- Rog Choghadiya (Mars) – Recommended for war, sports, and legal battles.
Conclusion
Choghadiya Muhurta is an ancient yet practical system for identifying auspicious and inauspicious time periods throughout the day and night. By selecting the right Choghadiya, individuals can enhance their chances of success in business, ceremonies, travel, and other important events.
Understanding the planetary influences behind each Choghadiya and avoiding overlaps with Rahu Kaal, Vara Vela, Kaal Vela, and Kaal Ratri ensures that chosen Muhurtas yield the desired outcomes. For accurate Choghadiya calculations, one should consult a Panchang (Hindu Calendar) or an expert astrologer.
