The twelfth lunar day original: Dvadashi in the bright fortnight original: Shukla-paksha; the period of the waxing moon is auspicious. The second, third, and fifth days are also considered to provide moderate results. One must ensure the purity of the day and the week. The Sacred Thread ceremony original: Maunji is highly praised when performed on a day dedicated to Mercury Wednesday. It is beneficial when the Sun is in the sign of Sagittarius original: Dhanu and under the asterisms of Shvaida?, Hasta represented by a hand, Shravana associated with hearing/learning, Ashwini the horsemen, Pushya the nourisher, and Punarvasu associated with the goddess Aditi.

Regarding the ritual of the sacred thread, the sage Narada states: "When malefic planets are situated in the third, sixth, and eleventh houses from the ascendant, and the benefics are in the quadrants, any obstacles are destroyed." If such purity of time is not available in a given year, the initiation is considered auspicious when the Sun enters the sign of Pisces original: Mina during the month of Chaitra the first month of the Hindu calendar, typically March–April.

According to the Narada Samhita A classical compendium of astrology, one must avoid the "throat-seizing" days term: Galagraha (specific lunar days—the 4th, 7th, 8th, 9th, 13th, 14th, and 15th—where Vedic study is traditionally prohibited because it is believed the knowledge will not be retained). These occur in the dark fortnight the waning moon on the fourth day, the three days starting from the eighth, and the thirteenth through the new moon.

The sage Vashistha adds: "If it thunders during the evening twilight preceding the day of the vow, that day becomes unfit for study original: anadhyaya, and the ritual should not be performed then." The scholar Shripati notes that the four months beginning with Pausha December–January are generally avoided for seasonal reasons regarding vows, travel, and marriage. Specifically, three days in Pausha, two in Magha, one in Phalguna, and two half-days in Chaitra are restricted.

Thus ends the third section on Sacraments original: Samskaras according to the text Mirror of Auspicious Moments term: Muhurta Darpana.

On the Matter of Marriage

original: Atha Vivaha Prakaranam

In the selection of a marriage, there are eight primary factors often called Ashta-kuta to be analyzed for compatibility. These are:
1. Class original: Varna; matching the spiritual/social temperament
2. Influence original: Vashya; mutual attraction or dominance
3. Birth Star original: Tara; health and longevity compatibility
4. Instinct original: Yoni; physical or sexual compatibility, symbolized by animal types
5. Friendship original: Maitri; the relationship between the ruling planets of the moon signs
6. Temperament original: Gana; matching divine, human, or demonic natures
7. Relative Moon Signs original: Bhakuta; the position of the couple's moons relative to each other
8. Pulse original: Nadi; the physiological/hereditary constitution, considered the most important factor

These eight factors are used to determine the strength of the union.