View source for Muhurta

{{Short description|Time of the day as benefic or malefic}}
{{More citations needed|date=March 2010}}
'''Muhūrta''' ({{langx|sa|मुहूर्त|translit=muhūrtaṃ}})<ref>{{Cite book |last=Scharf |first=Peter M. |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=1jRWziY9m4cC&dq=muhurtam+time+sanskrit&pg=PA354 |title=Rāmopākhyāna: The Story of Rāma in the Mahābhārata : an Independent-study Reader in Sanskrit |date=2003 |publisher=Psychology Press |isbn=978-0-7007-1390-5 |pages=354 |language=en}}</ref> is a [[Hindu units of time|Hindu unit of time]] along with ''nimiṣa'', ''kāṣṭhā'', and ''kalā''<ref>{{Cite book |title=Hinduism for Children Activity Workbook |last=Verma |first=Dinesh |publisher=Chanda Books |year=2008 |isbn=9781440499913 |pages=101}}</ref> in the [[Hindu calendar]].

In the ''[[Brāhmaṇas]]'', ''muhūrta'' denotes a division of time: 1/30 of a day, or a period of 48 minutes.<ref>Taittirīya Brāhmaṇa, iii. 10, I, I (for the names); 9, 7; 12, 9, 6; Śatapata Brāhmaṇa, x. 4, 2, 18. 25. 27; 3, 20; xii. 3, 2, 5; x. 4, 4, 4, etc.</ref> An alternative meaning of "moment" is also common in the ''Brāhmanạs''.<ref>See ''Zeitschrift der Deutschen Morgenländischen Gesellschaft, 9, 139 et seq.; Indische Streifen, I, 92, et seq.''</ref> In the ''[[Rigveda]]''<ref>Rigveda iii. 33, 5: 53, 8.</ref> ''muhūrta'' exclusively means, "moment".<ref>Arthur Anthony Macdonnell and [[Arthur Berriedale Keith]], ''Vedic Index of Names and Subjects'', vol. 2, p. 169. Motilal Banarsidas, London 1912, reprint 1995.</ref>

Each muhūrta is further divided into 30 ''kalā'', (1 ''kalā'' = 1.6 minutes or 96 seconds). Each ''kalā'' is further divided into 30 ''kāṣṭhā'' (1 kāṣṭhā ≈ 3.2 seconds).  

==Etymology==
''Muhurta'' is a combination of the Sanskrit root words ''muhu'' (moment/immediate) and ''ṛta'' (order). The Ṛg Ved III.33.5 accordingly mentions this descriptive term. ''[[Ṛta]]'' refers to the natural, yearly order of the seasons, so ''muhūrta'' refers to the daily reflection of these. Also, cf., ''Śatapatha Brāhmaṇa'' X.4.2.18, as below.

==Annual calibration==
The Muhūrtas are traditionally calculated{{citation needed|date=March 2014}} by assuming sunrise at 06:00&nbsp;am on the [[March equinox|vernal equinox]], which is the Vedic New Year.{{citation needed|date=March 2014}} Not all of the constellations cross the zenith, so that it is not in every case clear which constellation presides over the Muhūrta. Yet it is clear that one or more prominent features of the correlate constellations, from which the later Muhūrtas draw their respective names, falls within the celestial longitude of the same, drawn from the polar axis.

{| class="wikitable"
!No.
!Daily period
!Name (मुहूर्त)
!Translation
!Correlate constellation/star (Greek)
!Quality, or guṇa (गुण)

|-
|1
|06:00–06:48 (sunrise)
|Rudra (रुद्र)
|"Cryer", "Howler"
|Unknown
|Inauspicious
|-
|2
|06:48–07:36
|Āhi (आहि)
|"Serpent"
|Lacerta
|Inauspicious
|-
|3
|07:36–08:24
|Mitra (मित्र)
|"Friend"
|Unknown
|Auspicious
|-
|4
|08:24–09:12
|Pitṝ (पितृ)
|"Father"
|Cepheus & Casseiopeia
|Inauspicious
|-
|5
|09:12–10:00
|Vasu (वसु)
|"Bright"
|Delphinus
|Auspicious
|-
|6
|10:00–10:48
|Vārāha (वाराह)
|"Boar"
|Unknown
|Auspicious
|-
|7
|10:48–11:36
|Viśvedevā (विश्वेदेवा)
|"Heavenly Lights in the Universe"
|Unknown
|Auspicious
|-
|8
|11:36–12:24
|Vidhi (विधि)
|"Insight"
|Unknown
|Auspicious, except Mondays and Fridays
|-
|9
|12:24–13:12
|Sutamukhī (सतमुखी)
|"Goat/Charioteer-Face"
|Auriga
|Auspicious
|-
|10
|13:12–14:00
|Puruhūta (पुरुहूत)
|"Many Offerings"
|Unknown (Taurus or Orion?)
|Inauspicious
|-
|11
|14:00–14:48
|Vāhinī (वाहिनी)
|"Possessed of Chariot"
|Unknown (Gemini?)
|Inauspicious
|-
|12
|14:48–15:36
|Naktanakarā (नक्तनकरा)
|"Night Maker"
|Unknown
|Inauspicious
|-
|13
|15:36–16:24
|Varuṇa (वरुण)
|"All-Enveloping Night Sky"
|Unknown
|Auspicious
|-
|14
|16:24–17:12
|Aryaman (अर्यमन्)
|"Possessed of Nobility"
|Unknown
|Auspicious, except Sundays
|-
|15
|17:12–18:00
|Bhaga (भग)
|"Share"/"Stake"
|Unknown
|Inauspicious
|-
|16
|18:00–18:48 (sunset)
|Girīśa (गिरीश)
|"Lord who lifted the Mount (Krishna)"
|Unknown
|Auspicious
|-
|17
|18:48–19:36
|Ajapāda (अजपाद)
|"Unborn Foot"/"Goat Foot"
|Unknown
|Inauspicious
|-
|18
|19:36–20:24
|Ahir-Budhnya (अहिर्बुध्न्य)
|"Serpent at the Bottom"
|Hydra
|Auspicious
|-
|19
|20:24–21:12
|Puṣya (पुष्य)
|"Nourishment"/"Blossom"
|Unknown
|Auspicious
|-
|20
|21:12–22:00
|Aśvinī (अश्विनी)
|"Horsemen"
|Unknown
|Auspicious
|-
|21
|22:00–22:48
|Yama (यम)
|"Restrainer" (Death)
|Boötes (cf., Bhūteśa)
|Inauspicious
|-
|22
|22:48–23:36
|Agni (अग्नि)
|"Fire"/"Ignition"
|Ara
|Auspicious
|-
|23
|23:36–00:24
|Vidhātṛ (विधातृ)
|"Distributor"
|Unknown
|Auspicious
|-
|24
|00:24–01:12
|Kaṇḍa (क्ण्ड)
|"Ornament"
|Corona Borealis
|Auspicious
|-
|25
|01:12–02:00
|Aditi (अदिति)
|"Limitless"/"Boundless"
|goddess good time
|Auspicious
|-
|26
|02:00–02:48
|Jīva/Amṛta (जीव/अमृत)
|"Life"/"Immortal"
|Unknown
|Very Auspicious
|-
|27
|02:48–03:36
|Viṣṇu (विष्णु)
|"All Pervading"
|Hercules
|Auspicious
|-
|28
|03:36–04:24
|Dyumadgadyuti (द्युमद्गद्युति)
|"Resounding Light"
|Lyra
|Auspicious
|-
|29
|04:24–05:12
|[[Brahmamuhurtha|Brahma]] (ब्रह्म)
|"Universe"
|Cygnus
|Very Auspicious<ref name="brahma-muhurta">{{cite web |url=http://nitaaiveda.com/NITAAI_Yoga_Forums/Swami%27s_Writings_and_Articles/Brahma-Muhurta_-_The_48_mins_from_1_hr_36_min_to_48_min_before_Sunrise.htm |title=Major Religions of the World Ranked by Number of Adherents |access-date=2009-05-03 |publisher=nitaaiveda.com |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130508072845/http://nitaaiveda.com/NITAAI_Yoga_Forums/Swami's_Writings_and_Articles/Brahma-Muhurta_-_The_48_mins_from_1_hr_36_min_to_48_min_before_Sunrise.htm |archive-date=2013-05-08 |url-status=dead }}</ref>
|-
|30
|05:12–06:00
|Samudra (समुद्र)
|"Ocean"
|Deluge (region with several aqueous constellations)
|Auspicious
|-
|}

==Literature==
The term appears as early as the Ṛg Veda, where, according to Monier Williams, it means "a moment",<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.sanskrit-lexicon.uni-koeln.de/cgi-bin/monier/serveimg.pl?file=%2Fscans%2FMWScan%2FMWScanjpg%2Fmw0825-mugdha.jpg |title=Cologne Scan |access-date=2022-07-14 |archive-date=2016-05-14 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160514070609/http://www.sanskrit-lexicon.uni-koeln.de/cgi-bin/monier/serveimg.pl?file=%2Fscans%2FMWScan%2FMWScanjpg%2Fmw0825-mugdha.jpg |url-status=dead }}</ref> but does not evidence any specification of an exact periodicity there as received in later works, such as the  ''[[Shatapatha Brahmana|Śatapatha-Brāhmaṇa]]'', "The One Hundred Path Riddle" or the ''[[Taittiriya Brahmana|Taittirīya-Brāhmaṇa]]'', "The Partridge's Riddle".<ref>{{cite book|title=Vedic Index of Names and Subjects, Volume 2; Volume 5|page=169|publisher=[[Motilal Banarsidass]]|author=Arthur Anthony Macdonell |author2=Arthur Berriedale Keith|date=1995|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=U5GaKHfNzScC|isbn=9788120813335}}</ref>

Pt. Vijay Shrikrishna Jakatdar points to two specific Ṛg Veda passages that employ the term, III.33.5, and III.53.8:<ref name="ebookbrowsee.net">{{Cite web|url=http://ebookbrowsee.net/filedownload-php-v-8-a-y-b-y-f-71-muhurtaaconcepttobeamendedaspermoderntimesbw-pdf-d169899279|title=Ebookbrowsee.net}}</ref>

{{Verse translation
|रमध्वं मे वचसे सोम्याय रतावरीरुप मुहूर्तमेवैः 
पर सिन्धुमछा बर्हती मनीषावस्युरह्वे कुशिकस्य सूनुः
|Linger a little at my friendly bidding rest, Holy Ones, a ''moment'' in your journey.
With hymn sublime soliciting your favour Kuśika's son hath called unto the River.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.sacred-texts.com/hin/rigveda/rv03033.htm|title=Rig Veda: Rig-Veda, Book 3: HYMN XXXIII. Indra.}}</ref>}}

and

{{Verse translation
|रूपं-रूपं मघवा बोभवीति मायाः कर्ण्वानस्तन्वं परि सवाम 
तरिर्यद दिवः परि मुहूर्तमागात सवैर्मन्त्रैरन्र्तुपा रतावा
|Maghavan weareth every shape at pleasure, effecting magic changes in his body,
Holy One, drinker out of season, coming thrice, in a ''moment'', through fit prayers, from heaven.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.sacred-texts.com/hin/rigveda/rv03053.htm|title=Rig Veda: Rig-Veda, Book 3: HYMN LIII. Indra, Parvata, Etc}}</ref>}}

Taittirīya-Brāhmaṇa mentions the names of 15 muhūrtas as follows:

#  saṁjñānaṁ 
#  vijñānaṁ 
#  prajñānaṁ 
#  jānad 
#  abhijānat
#  saṁkalpamānaṁ 
#  prakalpamānam 
#  upakalpamānam 
#  upakḷptaṁ 
#  kḷptam
#  śreyo 
#  vasīya 
#  āyat 
#  saṁbhūtaṁ 
#  bhūtam |

Śatapatha Brāhmaṇa describes a muhūrta as 1/15th portion of a day:

{{poemquote|átʰa yaccáturviṃśatimātmáno'kuruta
tásmāc-cátur-viṃśaty-ardʰa-māsaḥ saṃ-vatsaraḥ sá etaiś-cátur-viṃśatyā triṃ-śád-iṣṭakair-ātmábʰir-na vyábʰavat-sa páñca-daśā́hno rūpā́ṇy-apaśyad-ātmánas-tanvò muhūrtā́lokam-pr̥ṇāḥ páñca-daśaiva rā́tres-tadyán-muhu trā́yante tásmān-muhurtā átʰa yát-kṣudrāḥ sánta imā́ṃ-lokā́n-āpūráyanti tásmāl-lokam-pr̥ṇā́ḥ (X.4.2.18)

saṃvatsarásya ''muhūrtā́'' yā́vanto ''muhūrtā́s'' tā́vanti páñcadaśa kŕ̥̄tvaḥ kṣiprā́ṇi yā́vanti kṣiprā́ṇi tā́vanti páñcadaśa kŕ̥̄tva etárhīṇi yā́vanty etárhīṇi tā́vanti páñcadaśa kŕ̥̄tva idā́nīni yā́vantīdā́nīni tā́vantaḥ páñcadaśa kŕ̥̄tvaḥ prā́ṇā́ yā́vantaḥ prā́ṇā́s tā́vanto 'nā́ yā́vanto 'nā́s tā́vanto nimeṣā́ yā́vanto nimeṣā́s tā́vanto lomagartā́ yā́vanto lomagartā́s tā́vanti svedā́yanā́ni yā́vanti svedā́yanā́ni tā́vanta eté stokā́ varṣanti (XII.3.2.5b)}}

It is stated in ''[[Manusmṛti]]'' that 18 ''nimeṣas'' ("twinklings of the eye") are 1 ''kāṣṭhā'', 30 ''kāṣṭhās'' are 1 ''kāla'', 30 ''kālas'' are one ''muhūrta'', and 30 ''muhūrtas'' are one day and night.

==Significance (version 1) ==
It is a common practice in Hinduism to perform or avoid activities like important religious ceremonies on the basis of the quality of a particular Muhūrta.<ref name=":0">{{Cite book|title=Demystifying Brahminism and Re-Inventing Hinduism: Volume 1 - Demystifying Brahminism|last=Shri|first=Satya|publisher=Notion Press|year=2017|isbn=9781946515544|location=Chennai}}</ref> One or more Muhūrtas are recommended by the Vedic scriptures when performing rituals and other ceremonies.<ref name=":0" /> This is demonstrated in the way "Muhūrt" is used in present-day South Asia for calculating the most auspicious moment for a Vedic-Hindu Wedding ceremony. Astrologers are often hired to calculate a moment for the wedding so that any possible divinely-sourced problems can be averted. Jakatdar suggests a shift in the contemporary temperament regarding the traditional approach to calculating such events, to accommodate the ever increasing complexity of modern life.<ref name="ebookbrowsee.net"/> The muhūrt has the same utility in the marriage rites in Hinduism.<ref>{{Cite book|title=Gazetteer of the Bombay Presidency, Volume 20|last=Sholapur|publisher=Government Central Press|year=1884|location=Bombay|pages=110}}</ref>

Another example is the so-called Brahma Muhūrta, which is about one and a half hours before sunrise. This particular time, which is associated with the constellations during the Vernal Equinox, is said to be auspicious for practicing yoga.<ref name=":0" /> There is also the case of ''samayik'', which is part of the initiation rite for the ''Svetambar'' mendicants or those who pursue a perpetual state of heightened meditative awareness. They take the ''samayik,'' a vow for life taken for short periods, preferably one or two muhūrts, where one muhūrt constitutes forty minutes.<ref>{{Cite book|title=Jains in the World: Religious Values and Ideology in India|last=Cort|first=John|publisher=Oxford University Press|year=2001|isbn=0195132343|location=Oxford|pages=123}}</ref>

==Significance (version 2)==
Traditionally, it is common practice amongst [[Hindu]]s to start or avoid starting significant tasks like religious ceremonies, etc. on the basis of the quality of a particular Muhūrta. The [[Vedas|Vedic scriptures]] also generally recommend one or more Muhūrtas to perform rituals and practices. The most widely known example of this practice:

[[Brahma muhurta|Brahma Muhūrta]], approximately one and a half hours before sunrise or more precisely is 1Hr 36 Mins. i.e. 96 Minutes = 2 Muhūrta or 4 Ghaṭīkā, is recommended in all practices of [[yoga]] is traditionally considered most apt for [[meditation]].<ref name="brahma-muhurta" /> However, it is clear from the associations of the names with specific constellations that the present Brahma-Muhūrta starts just before 6:00&nbsp;am during the Vernal Equinox. At present, Jīva-Amṛta and Viṣṇu comprise the two twilight muhūrtas prior to sunrise.

==See also==
* [[Electional astrology]]
* [[Gudhi Padwa]]
* [[Jyotiṣa]]
* [[Rahukaalam|Rāhu-Kālam or Rāhu Kāla]]

==References==
{{reflist}}

==Further reading==
*''Dictionary of Hindu Lore and Legend'' ({{ISBN|0-500-51088-1}}) by Anna Dallapiccola

==External links==
{{wiktionary|Mahurat}}
*[http://www.shyamasundaradasa.com/jyotish/resources/q&a/muhurta.html Article on Importance of Muhurta] by Shyamasundara Dasa

[[Category:Hindu astrology]]
[[Category:Time measurement systems]]
[[Category:Hindu philosophical concepts]]
[[Category:Time in Hinduism]]
[[Category:Obsolete units of measurement]]