Introduction By Sanjay Rath and P.V.R.

Narasimha Rao
Tithi Pravesha is the Annual Horoscopy of Jyotish. The Tajika System of annual horoscopy
employs a chart cast for every year of life based on the solar return (i.e. suns return to its natal
sidereal position). Many scholars of history and Vedic Studies have held a view that this system
is primarily not Vedic Astrology and might be a borrowed feature from Yavanas or Tajikas, who
interacted with Indian scholars. Notwithstanding the peculiar yogas like Iasla, Easarpha etc.
nor divisional charts like Ama (D-8) etc., which are not a part of Pararas available
teachings, outstanding scholars like Nlakaha and Dr Raman set a precedent by accepting the
Tjaka system as a branch of Vedic astrology.
However, the solar calendar has been widely followed in India only since Varhamihira started
Vikrama Saka. India had been following the Vedic luni-solar calendar for millennia. When
Maharshis like Valmiki and Vyasa mentioned the timing of events in epics like Ramayana and
Mahabharata, they identified events only by the tithis. It maybe interesting to note that traditional
Hindus celebrate their birth days (called Jayanti or Janma tithi) on the Vedic date (Tithi) of the
luni-solar calendar instead of the date of Suns return. All festivals (except for Sankrantis)
commemorating the birthdays of deities, Gurus etc are also based on the luni-solar calendar of
Tithi. For example, Hindus celebrate Lord Ramas birthday on the Sukla Navami Tithi of Chaitra
month every year and Lord Krishnas birthday on the Krishna Ashtami Tithi of Sravana month. If
birthday as per the luni-solar calendar is more important than birthday as per the solar calendar,
why do we cast a chart for Varsha pravesha (commencement of a new year) based on birthday
as per the solar calendar? Does it not make sense to cast a chart for the commencement of a
new year based on birthday as per the luni-solar calendar of tithis?
In fact, not only does it make sense, but the technique of annual horoscopy using the luni-solar
calendar is one of the most reliable techniques and hence a guarded secret taught by
tradition for fine predictions.
Tithi
Tithi is the Vedic date of the luni-solar calendar and is a measure of the angular displacement of
Moon from Sun. It is known that the period between two consecutive full moons (i.e. exact 180
displacement of the Moon from the Sun) is about 29.5 civil days. The total movement of 360 of
the angle between the Luminaries in transit in a month was divided by 30 to obtain a measure of
12 called Tithi (luni-solar day). Tithi is the period in which the angular displacement of Moon
from Sun increases by exactly 12. There are fifteen tithi (15 x 12 =180) in the waxing phase
(ukla paka) and fifteen tithi is the waning phase (ka paka). The displacement angle =
Longitude of Moon longitude of sun. When this angle is divided by 12, we get an index to the
tithi, starting from ukla pratipada.

The Luminaries
A child is a product of both parents and the importance of the Moon, even over the Sun in the
determination of fortune is a well established aspect of Vedic Astrology. The tripod of life is the
ascendant (body), Sun (soul) and Moon (mind). In another sense, these are self (Lagna), Father
(Sun) and Mother (Moon). It is but natural that a better definition of the moment of birth would be
the angular displacement of the Moon from Sun, instead of just the natal Sun position. This is the
Janma Tithi.
We should be equally careful to ensure that such a definition does not dilute the importance of
the sun as it is the representative of the real self/the soul. For this purpose Maharshis have
defined the twelve sunsigns (or simply signs of the zodiac) called Dwadasa Aditya. These define
the boundaries within which the Suns placement causes it to have the specific form of a deva
and a Jyotirlinga. Thus the longitude of Sun in a sign is not as relevant as its placement in the
very sign itself and this fact is taken as an anchor for drawing the annual charts. As the soul is
the anchor of our existence, Suns transit in its natal sign signifies the figurative re-establishment
of this anchor, i.e. a new beginning (In fact, it is because of this re-establishment of anchor that
marriage is prohibited in the solar month of birth).
Such an anchorage would be meaningless without a consideration of the Mind the emotions,
sustenance and fruits of existence. Thus including the Moons angular return along with the
annual solar natal sign anchorage defines the astrological Janma Tithi return.
Though birthday as per the luni-solar calendar is traditionally celebrated when janma tithi returns
in the same lunar month (which is identified based on the signs occupied by Sun and Moon at
the beginning of the month), this definition was probably adopted for ease in civil usage. The
most astrologically acceptable definition is based on janma tithi and sunsign (sunsign at janma
tithi return and not sunsign at the beginning of the month). This is the most perfect method for
defining the moment that is the closest in emulating the moment of birth. Hence, this is the truest
astrological birthday or rather birth moment.
Tithi Pravesha Chakra
As outlined above, the definition of the annual birth moment is the moment when Sun transits its
natal sign and the Moon is at the exact displacement angle from Sun (degrees, minutes &
seconds) as at birth.
Pravesha means entry or return and Tithi Pravesha Chakra is the chart drawn for the birth
moment of Tithi return every year. If the angle from Sun to Moon matches that in the natal chart,
it means that the Tithi running is the same as birth Tithi and also the fraction of Tithi remaining is
the same as at birth. If someone was born with Sun in Aries on Chaitra Sukla Navami with 25%

of the Tithi remaining, the natives astrological luni-solar new year will commence every year
when Sun is in Aries and Sukla Navami is running with 25% of the Tithi remaining. A chart cast
for this moment for the longitude and latitude of the birthplace irrespective of where the native
is currently living will throw light on the events during the coming year. This chart is called Tithi
Pravesha (TP) chart.
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Tithi Pravesh
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5 thoughts on Tithi Pravesha

1.

mana
April 11, 2013 at 6:59 pm

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om gurave nama
Thank you so much for sharing this wonderful information, it seems so logic now; but I would
never have imagined without your guidance.
If I can ask a question; how should we approach the years containing adhika and nija months?
For an example: should a native born in the month of Bhadrapada, upon a year with both, adhika
and nija, bhadrapada; which should be reckoned for that years Tithi Pravesha chart?
Thank you for your kind consideration.

2.

SGM
June 21, 2013 at 9:06 pm

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Sir,
That was a wonderful explanation for celebrating a persons birthday. However, I would like to
know if we should celebrate birthdays on janma tithi or nakshatra?. But I always thought, it should
be janma nakshatra in the janma rashi (suns). Most of the time, these two dates coincide.
Normally janma tithi and janma nakshatra falls on the same day. But in case of janma nakshatra
and janma tithi falling on different dates, which one should I be following, janma nakshatra or
janma tithi?
For example, I was born on 8th Dec 1964 in Sravana Nakshatra and Sukla Panchami Tithi. This
year (2013) Sravana Nakshatra falls on 7th December (2013) and the tithi is also Sukla
Panchami. But in year 2004 Sravana Nakshatra falls on 18th November but the tithi is Sukla
Sapthami. In such cases, what One should do?
Thanks,
S.Gurumanickam.

1.

Sanjay Rath
Author

June 22, 2013 at 6:38 am

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Gurumanickam Prabhu, Thanks to the traditions of India, we know that for all devata, we
follow only the Janma Tithi. Janma Tithi is the real date of birth. Janma Nakshatra is used for
certain puja and japa that protects us and gives long life, like the mtryunjaya mantra japa.

3.

o.djurovic
January 8, 2014 at 5:13 am

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Hrim Gurave Namah
Guruji, thank you for this great principles. I have some problem with calculations though.
- When I punch in Rath TP for 1990 in JH, it shows that 1990 TP Aug 09, (with planetary
positions shown on slides) Vara is Thursday and not Monday as used for explanation. Regular
calendar also confirm August 9th 1990 was Thursday.
- Gandi TP chart shown on slides is casted for Oct 14 1906 , and vara for that day was Sundaynot Monday as used for explanations.
Please help me resolve this. Is there something that I have missed in calculations or
interpretations?
Kind regards, Ognjen

Wednesday, September 22, 2004

Analysing Tithi Pravesh Chakra I

Tithi pravesh chakra is one of the cornerstone of vedic astrology and was hidden in tradition of SJC
until, the knowledge was given out by Pt. Sanjay Rath. Vedic astrology widely uses the solar return
chart or the surya varsha pravesh chakra to predict the event of a year and this is widely known as
Varshaphala. However, from time immemorial the scholars and pundits of India used the Tithi based
calendar to reckon time, since the time needs to be reckoned from both the lumeneries, as they
represent two different aspects of our self. Thus, the start of a year needs to be reckoned from the
time when the exact portion of tithi commence again after a full cycle of Sun in the zodiac. Since the
Moon phase calendar or the tithi calendar is synchronised with Sun, we need to see the tithi when the
Sun returns back to the same sign after an year and the exact amount of the birth tithi has elapsed.
When the event happen, that commences a new year in the life of native and the horoscope drawn for
that moment can show the events of the year. However, the tithi pravesh chart can not be read
independently from the natal chart, since the natal horoscope has an over-riding influence over the
native. This article shows how to analyse the tithi pravesh chart, while simultaneously taking the natal
chart into consideration.

1. Weekday: Take the weekday running at the commencement of the tithi new year. This becomes
the lord of the year and has the most predominating influence on the native. Here the day needs to be
reckoned from Sunrise to next sunrise and thus, somebody who is born after 00:00 hrs need to be

considered to be born in the previous day. Only when the birth is after Sunrise, the weekday becomes
the current weekday. Thus there can be minor discrepancy between the weekday as reckoned as per
the english calendar and the one reckoned as per the hindu calendar.

If this planet happens to be a functional benefic for the natal lagna and placed favourably in the
horoscope, then the year would be favourable, otherwise unfavourable. The intensity of the results
can be seen from how well the planet is placed in the natal horscope, what are the yogas the planet is
involved in etc. The year lord shall activate all the yogas and results related to it in the natal
horoscope during that year. This is based on the principle that whenever a planet is strong to give
results, it will give the results of its ownership, placement and yogas in the natal horoscope:

2. Lagna: The lagna is the key which chanalises the energies of the natal horoscope to the Tithi
pravesh chakra.

Thus, if the tithi pravesh lagna is placed in Kendra to Natal lagna, it will bring happiness; in trikona it
will bring prosperity and if placed in dusthana or badhakasthana, it will bring troubles and ostabcles.

The lagna lord in the tithi pravesh chakra needs to be studied for success or failure in different
endeavours in the year.

3. Hora: The hora lord at the commencement of the tithi new year set the focus of the events that are
going to happen in that year. The events can be seen from the ownership, placement and yogas the
hora lord is involved in the tithi pravesh chakra.

This is the most important factor of the three and the strengths, placement or ownership and the
yogas it is involved in will have tremendous impact on the main events of the year. If it is badly placed
or afflicted, then the events can leave us with some bad experiences.

The influence on the hora lord can be seen from the different divisional charts to find the exact nature
of events likely to take place in different area of life represented by the divisional chart.

The principle of the Year lord, Lagna, Lagna lord and hora lord can be applied to any other pravesh
chakra such as masa pravesh chakra or dina pravesh chakra.

To be continued...