Most of us are aware of and also use the word Panchang. We think that the word denotes an almanac or a religious calendar.
But in fact Panchang is that treatise where the following five Divisions of time are described viz... (1) Thithi, (2) Vaara, (3) Nakshatra, (4) Yoga and (5) Karana. Out of these the first three are known to most of us in general terms.
Not much is known about Karana and Yoga.
Let us now discuss Karana. It is the name given to the half part of the Thithi. Hence there are 2 Karanas for each Thithi i.e. in all 60 Karanas.
But Karanas are only 11 in number. They are (1) Bava (2) Baalava (3) Kaulava (4) Thaithila (5) Gara (6) Vanija (7) Vishti (8) Shakuni (9) Chathushpada (10) Naga and (11) Kimsthughna. Of these, the first seven repeat eight times starting from the latter half of Shukla Pratipada and ending with the first half of Krishna Chaturdasi. The latter half of Krishna Chaturdasi has Shakuni as its Karana. Chatushpada and Naga form the former and the latter half of Amavasya, while Kimstughna Karana occupies the first h alf of Shukla Pratipada.
The following table will give a clear picture of the Karanas:
Thithi | 1st half | 2nd half |
| Shukla Pratipada | Kimsthughna | Bava |
| Shukla Dvitheeya | Baalava | Kaulava |
| Shukla Thrutheeya | Thaithila | Gara |
| Shukla Chathurthi | Vanija | Vishti |
| Shukla Panchami | Bava | Baalava |
| Shukla Shashti | Kaulava | Thaithila |
| Shukla Sapthami | Gara | Vanija |
| Shukla Ashtami | Vishti | Bava |
| Shukla Navami | Baalava | Kaulava |
| Shukla Dasami | Thaithila | Gara |
| Shukla Ekadasi | Vanija | Vishti |
| Shukla Dwadasi | Bava | Baalava |
| Shukla Trayodasi | Kaulava | Thaithila |
| Shukla Chathurthi | Gara | Vanija |
| Shukla Paurnima | Vishti | Bava |
| Krishna Pratipada | Baalava | Kaulava |
| Krishna Dvitheeya | Thaithila | Gara |
| Krishna Thrutheeya | Vanija | Vishti |
| Krishna Chathurthi | Bava | Baalava |
| Krishna Panchami | Kaulava | Thaithila |
| Krishna Shashti | Gara | Vanija |
| Krishna Sapthami | Vishti | Bava |
| Krishna Ashtami | Baalava | Kaulava |
| Krishna Navami | Thaithila | Gara |
| Krishna Dasami | Vanija | Vishti |
| Krishna Ekadasi | Bava | Baalava |
| Krishna Dwadasi | Kaulava | Thaithila |
| Krishna Trayodasi | Gara | Vanija |
| Krishna Chathurthi | Vishti | Shakuni |
| Krishna Amavasya | Chathushpada | Naga |
Readers may be wondering about what all these have to do with fasting on Chathurthi and Ekadasi. The matter has been nicely explained by Shri V Thiruvenkatacharya in his article "Significance of 4th and 11th lunar days ".
According to Vasishta the functions of Vishiti Karana are as follows: "killing, binding, use of poisons, fire, arrows, or instruments, cutting and use of black magic, functions using horses, buffaloes and camels will be successful on a Vishiti Karana day. One who wants to be prosperous in the world should not have an auspicious function during a Vishti Karana period. Functions performed out of ignorance end in destruction."
All Vishti Karanas are not considered bad and there are exceptions to the general rule. Lalla says that Vishti Karanas coinciding with the second half of a thithi are beneficial in day time viz... Shukla Chathurthi, Shukla Ekadasi, Krishna Thrutheeya and Krishna Dasami and those coinciding with first half are good at night viz... Shukla Ashtami, Purnima, Krishna Saptami and Krishna Chathurdasi. Prayers and propitiations to the planets are ordained by Sages in order to get over difficulties caused during Vi shti Karana period.
During the first Vishiti Karana on Chathurthi, the position of the moon relative to the sun is 45 degrees and during the second Vishiti Karana on Ashtami it is 90 degrees. These are the semi-square and square accepted by western astrology which are considered highly malefic. Out of these the first on Chathurthi is most malefic day according to our convention as the moon is very week. Hence Lard Ganesha is propitiated on the day to mitigate the evil efforts of the Vishiti Karana. Similarly Ashtami is a day set apart for prayers and oblations to the manes.
Ekadashi is the 11th lunar day also known as Hari-Vasara is a day of fasting and prayer. It is a day of Vishiti Karana, a day of malefic influence. Ekadashi dedicated to lord Vishnu.
Those Vishiti Karana days - Chathurthi and Ekadasi are to be avoided for the functions associated with worldly prosperity. But it is eminently suitable for spiritual practices.
Hence let us fast on Chathurthi to ward off malefic influence through the power of Ganesha and also on Ekadasi to become fit for salvation through the grace of Vishnu.
Time of Moonrise on Sankatahara Chaturthi and Dates of Ekadasi
Dates | MUMBAI | THANE | PUNE | DAY |
| 28.6.02 | 10.22 P.M. | 10.21 P.M. | 10.16 P.M. | FRIDAY |
| 27.7.02 | 09.35 P.M. | 09.34 P.M. | 09.30 P.M. | SATURDAY |
| 26.8.02 | 09.15 P.M. | 09.14 P.M. | 09.11 P.M. | MONDAY |
| 25.9.02 | 08.58 P.M. | 08.57 P.M. | 08.54 P.M. | WEDNESDAY |
| 24.10.02 | 08.17 P.M. | 08.15 P.M. | 08.13 P.M. | THURSDAY |
| 23.11.02 | 08.42 P.M. | 08.40 P.M. | 08.38 P.M. | SATURDAY |
| 23.12.02 | 09.31 P.M. | 09.29 P.M. | 09.27 P.M. | MONDAY |
DATE | DAY |
| 6.6.02 | THURSDAY |
| 21.6.02 | FRIDAY |
| 6.7.02 | SATURDAY |
| 20.7.02 | SATURDAY |
| 4.8.02 | SUNDAY (SMARTHA) |
| 5.8.02 | MONDAY (VAISHNAVA) |
| 18.8.02 | SUNDAY |
| 3.9.02 | TUESDAY |
| 17.9.02 | TUESDAY |
| 2.10.02 | WEDNESDAY |
| 16.10.02 | WEDNESDAY (SMARTHA) |
| 17.10.02 | THURSDAY (VAISHNAVA) |
| 1.11.02 | FRIDAY |
| 15.11.02 | FRIDAY |
| 30.11.02 | SATURDAY |
| 15.12.02 | SUNDAY |
| 30.12.02 | MONDAY |