Introduction

A wise man should perform his actions using four factors to ensure success:
the lunar day, the lunar mansion, the half-day, and the auspicious moment, daily. original: "tithi-nakshatra-karana-muhurta"

In the second chapter, twenty-fifth section of the Nirukta An ancient Vedic text focused on etymology and philology, the names for the measurements of time known as muhurta a period of approximately 48 minutes and kshana an instant are specifically mentioned.

Similarly, in the Grammar of Panini and in the Mahabharata, this word muhurta is frequently seen mentioned as a standard measurement of time.

As time passed, the scope of the meaning of the word muhurta became greatly expanded. People in the world believe that specific life-cycle rituals, such as marriage, as well as various other practical daily activities, grant the desired results only when performed in accordance with a prescribed time. Gradually, the practice arose of calling that specific time "Muhurta" in which—based on the requirements of a particular task—the mutual combination of the weekday, lunar day, and lunar mansion results in the greatest increase of virtues and the minimum of faults. Initially, descriptions of auspicious moments suitable for various tasks are found in the Samhita compendium texts. Because of the vastness of the Samhita branch of knowledge and the great utility of these auspicious moments, Muhurta attained primary importance. Thus, scholars have conceived of Muhurta as a distinct branch within the science of Jyotish Vedic astrology and astronomy.

The Purpose of Muhurta

Only an action performed in harmony with the direction, place, and time yields the true fruit, and not otherwise. It is a matter of universal experience that even when many resources are available and constant effort is applied, many actions still produce undesirable results. Even modern thinkers agree that living beings and objects in the world are influenced by the specific rays of the Sun, Moon, and other planets situated in the sky. Considering through a disciplined, yogic insight how and when the influence of these planets and stars falls upon a person, and what the result might be, the ancient sages—for the benefit of the world—discovered the determination of the proper time for performing each specific action through many types of research and great effort. For this very reason, humans desiring successful results perform their daily and occasional duties only at the times stated by experts in the science of Muhurta.

The vocabulary list below provides the key Sanskrit terms used in this introduction.