How many tithis are there in a month?

There are 30 tithis in one lunar month, 15 in the waxing Shukla paksha and 15 in the waning Krishna paksha.

Why does the tithi change during the day?

A tithi is tied to the Moon's angle from the Sun, not the clock. Because the Moon moves at a changing speed, one tithi can last roughly 19 to 26 hours, so it often ends partway through a calendar day.

Which tithis are best for new work?

Nanda tithis suit joyful starts, Bhadra tithis suit steady practical work, and Purna tithis suit completion. Rikta tithis are usually kept light rather than used for big launches.

What is the difference between Shukla and Krishna paksha?

Shukla paksha is the bright waxing half when the Moon grows toward full, ending at Purnima. Krishna paksha is the dark waning half when it shrinks toward new, ending at Amavasya.

Tithi: The Lunar Day, Explained Simply

A tithi is the Moon's daily step away from the Sun. Learn how 30 tithis make a lunar month and how they guide auspicious work.

This is the general meaning. See what your own birth chart says — free.

A tithi is the lunar day. Think of it as the Moon's daily step away from the Sun. After a new Moon, the two start side by side in the sky. Each day the Moon pulls a little further ahead, and every time it gains another 12 degrees on the Sun, one tithi has passed. So a tithi is not a fixed clock-hour. It is a slice of the Moon's monthly journey, and it can run a little shorter or longer than a calendar day.

What It Means

The word tithi simply marks where the Moon sits relative to the Sun on a given day. Because the Moon travels at a changing speed, a tithi can last anywhere from about 19 to 26 hours. That is why the tithi you wake up with may change to the next one by afternoon. The Panchang lists the exact moment each tithi ends, so you always know which lunar day is running.

How It Is Calculated

Start from the angle between the Moon and the Sun. Divide the full circle of 360 degrees into 30 equal parts of 12 degrees each. Each 12-degree gain by the Moon completes one tithi. This gives 30 tithis in a lunar month, split into two halves. The bright waxing half is Shukla paksha, when the Moon grows from new to full. The dark waning half is Krishna paksha, when it shrinks back. The waxing half ends at Purnima, the full Moon. The waning half ends at Amavasya, the new Moon.

Why It Matters

Tithis are grouped into five families based on their nature, and each family suits a different kind of task. Nanda tithis fit joyful starts and celebrations. Bhadra tithis suit steady, practical work. Jaya tithis favour effort that needs to win out, like competition or confrontation. Rikta tithis are quieter and are usually kept light. Purna tithis suit completion and anything you want to feel whole. Knowing the group helps you place the right activity on the right day.

How To Use It

You do not need to memorise all thirty names to benefit. The simple habit is to check today's tithi, see which group it belongs to, and match your plan to its mood. Plan a celebration on a Nanda day, settle into focused work on a Bhadra day, keep a Rikta day calm. Over time this builds a gentle rhythm rather than a rulebook. You can check today's tithi and the day's good and bad windows free in the Muhurat tool.

Common questions

How many tithis are there in a month?: There are 30 tithis in one lunar month, 15 in the waxing Shukla paksha and 15 in the waning Krishna paksha.
Why does the tithi change during the day?: A tithi is tied to the Moon's angle from the Sun, not the clock. Because the Moon moves at a changing speed, one tithi can last roughly 19 to 26 hours, so it often ends partway through a calendar day.
Which tithis are best for new work?: Nanda tithis suit joyful starts, Bhadra tithis suit steady practical work, and Purna tithis suit completion. Rikta tithis are usually kept light rather than used for big launches.
What is the difference between Shukla and Krishna paksha?: Shukla paksha is the bright waxing half when the Moon grows toward full, ending at Purnima. Krishna paksha is the dark waning half when it shrinks toward new, ending at Amavasya.

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