Vedic Muhurat & Shadow Planetary Timings

Today's Rahu Kaal Timing Calculator

Calculate exact Rahu Kaal, Yamaganda, and Gulika Kalam timings for New Delhi, India with local sunrise and sunset precision.

Home Calculators Rahu Kaal Calculator
LOCATION & DATE PARAMETERS

Configure Location & Date

Rahu Kaal & Muhurat

August 23, 2026
Weekday: Sunday
Time zone: UTC+5.5 Location: New Delhi, India (28.6139, 77.209)
Rahu Kaal (Inauspicious) Ruled by Rahu

05:15 PM to 06:53 PM

Inauspicious Octant 8 Avoid Starting New Tasks
Yamaganda Kalam Ruled by Yama

12:23 PM to 02:01 PM

Inauspicious Octant 5 Avoid Major Journeys
Gulika Kalam Ruled by Gulika

03:38 PM to 05:15 PM

Neutral Octant 7 Repeating Action Window
Abhijit Muhurat Auspicious Zenith

11:57 AM to 12:49 PM

Midday Solar Window Victorious Remedy
Daytime Span (Dina Mana) Solar Cycle

12 hrs 58 mins

Sunrise 05:54 AM Sunset 06:53 PM
1/8th Daytime Division 8 Prahars

~97 Mins / Octant

Weekday: Sunday 2026-08-23
Weekly Almanac

7-Day Weekly Rahu Kaal Schedule

Plan your upcoming week with exact Rahu Kaal, Yamaganda, and Gulika Kalam timings for New Delhi, India.
Day & Date Sunrise to Sunset Rahu Kaal (Avoid New Tasks) Yamaganda Kalam Gulika Kalam
Sunday
2026-08-23
05:54 AM to 06:53 PM 05:15 PM to 06:53 PM 12:23 PM to 02:01 PM 03:38 PM to 05:15 PM
Monday
2026-08-24
05:55 AM to 06:52 PM 07:32 AM to 09:09 AM 10:46 AM to 12:23 PM 02:00 PM to 03:37 PM
Tuesday
2026-08-25
05:55 AM to 06:50 PM 03:37 PM to 05:14 PM 09:09 AM to 10:46 AM 12:23 PM to 02:00 PM
Wednesday
2026-08-26
05:56 AM to 06:49 PM 12:23 PM to 01:59 PM 07:32 AM to 09:09 AM 10:46 AM to 12:23 PM
Thursday
2026-08-27
05:56 AM to 06:48 PM 01:59 PM to 03:35 PM 05:56 AM to 07:33 AM 09:09 AM to 10:46 AM
Friday
2026-08-28
05:57 AM to 06:47 PM 10:46 AM to 12:22 PM 03:35 PM to 05:11 PM 07:33 AM to 09:09 AM
Saturday
2026-08-29
05:57 AM to 06:46 PM 09:09 AM to 10:46 AM 01:58 PM to 03:34 PM 05:57 AM to 07:33 AM

Important Things to Postpone During Rahu Kaal

  • New Commercial Ventures: Postpone launching new websites, opening storefronts, or inaugurating businesses.
  • Signing Key Agreements: Avoid executing deeds, signing major financial contracts, or finalizing investments.
  • Major Purchases: Hold off on buying new vehicles, gold jewelry, houses, or high-value equipment.
  • Auspicious Rites: Do not schedule Griha Pravesh (housewarming), engagement events, or marriage ceremonies.

Permissible and Recommended Activities

  • Continuing Routine Tasks: Ongoing office work, domestic routines, and previously started assignments proceed normally.
  • Rahu Shanti Mantras: Chanting "Om Raam Rahave Namah" or reciting the Rahu Stotra brings steady mental focus.
  • Deity Prayers: Praying to Lord Ganesha, Lord Shiva, or Goddess Durga offers protection against anxiety.
  • Charitable Giving: Donating black sesame seeds, urad dal, or dark clothes during Rahu Kaal yields spiritual peace.

What is Rahu Kaal? Astronomical and Mythological Foundations

In classical Vedic astrology and traditional Hindu timekeeping, Rahu Kaal (also spelled Rahukalam or Rahu Kalam) is a daily daytime period lasting approximately 90 minutes. It is governed by Rahu, the northern ascending node of the Moon. In astronomy, Rahu is not a solid planet like Mars or Venus, but a mathematically calculated intersection where the Moon's path crosses the apparent path of the Sun.

Puranic tradition recounts that during the churning of the cosmic ocean (Samudra Manthan), the Asura Swarbhanu drank the nectar of immortality. When the Sun and Moon alerted Lord Vishnu, he used the Sudarshana Chakra to divide the form into two entities: the upper head became Rahu and the torso became Ketu.

Because Rahu holds a natural tension with the Sun and Moon, his daily daytime window is associated with sudden impulses, distraction, and unexpected delays. Initiating fresh financial investments or long-term projects during this period often requires extra rework later.

To check your complete planetary alignments and personalized Dashas, explore our Free Janam Kundli Generator.

How Rahu Kaal is Calculated: The 8-Octant Daytime Division

Rahu Kaal timings are never fixed at static hours. They change every day based on your exact geographical coordinates and the local time of Sunrise and Sunset.

In traditional calculation, the total daytime span (Dina Mana) between local Sunrise and Sunset is divided into eight equal parts (octants or Prahars). On a standard 12-hour day, each octant lasts exactly 90 minutes (1 hour 30 minutes):

Daytime Octant Duration = (Local Sunset Time - Local Sunrise Time) / 8

The first octant of any day is always ruled by the planetary lord of that weekday (for example, the Sun rules the 1st octant on Sunday, and the Moon on Monday). Rahu never governs the 1st octant. Instead, Rahu rules a specific octant depending on the day:

  • Monday: 2nd Octant (Approx. 07:30 AM to 09:00 AM on a 6:00 AM sunrise day)
  • Saturday: 3rd Octant (Approx. 09:00 AM to 10:30 AM)
  • Friday: 4th Octant (Approx. 10:30 AM to 12:00 PM)
  • Wednesday: 5th Octant (Approx. 12:00 PM to 01:30 PM)
  • Thursday: 6th Octant (Approx. 01:30 PM to 03:00 PM)
  • Tuesday: 7th Octant (Approx. 03:00 PM to 04:30 PM)
  • Sunday: 8th Octant (Approx. 04:30 PM to 06:00 PM)

Understanding Rahu Kaal, Yamaganda Kalam, and Gulika Kalam

Traditional Vedic Panchangs monitor three daytime shadow windows, each ruled by different forces:

Timing Window Governing Entity Core Characteristic Practical Guidance
Rahu Kaal Rahu (North Node) Distraction and unexpected delay Avoid starting new commercial ventures or ceremonies
Yamaganda Kalam Yama (Lord of Justice) Stall in momentum or cancellation Avoid beginning long travels or sensitive negotiations
Gulika Kalam Gulika (Son of Saturn) Tendency for actions to repeat Avoid borrowing money or scheduling medical treatments

Abhijit Muhurat: The Midday Remedial Window

In Vedic astrology, Abhijit Muhurat is the 8th Muhurat of the day, occurring around exact local solar noon (approximately 24 minutes before to 24 minutes after midday). It is regarded as an auspicious, protective window capable of mitigating minor timing flaws.

If an urgent task must be executed and waiting for another day is not feasible, completing the task during Abhijit Muhurat helps ensure smooth execution.

Frequently Asked Questions

Common Questions About Rahu Kaal

Key principles of daytime shadow periods and daily Panchang timing.

Rahu Kaal is an approximate 90-minute daytime segment ruled by Rahu. In Vedic astrology, Rahu represents distraction and sudden disruptions, so starting new projects during this window is traditionally avoided.

Rahu Kaal is determined by calculating the local Sunrise and Sunset times for your city, dividing that total daytime into eight equal parts, and taking the octant allocated to Rahu based on the day of the week.

Yes. Routine office tasks, domestic chores, and previously started work can continue normally. Rahu Kaal specifically cautions against initiating new commercial or financial undertakings.

If travel or urgent work cannot be postponed, classical suggestions include taking a piece of jaggery or curd before leaving home, praying to Lord Ganesha, or reciting the Rahu Beej mantra 'Om Raam Rahave Namah'.

Yamaganda Kalam is governed by Yama, the deity of death and righteousness. Major journeys, new investments, and inaugurations started during Yamaganda often face heavy delays and unfavorable outcomes.

Gulika Kalam is ruled by Gulika, the son of Saturn. Actions performed during Gulika Kalam have a tendency to repeat, making it ideal for constructive long-term activities like house purchases, but strictly avoided for borrowing money or scheduling medical treatments.

Abhijit Muhurat occurs around local solar noon (approximately 24 minutes before and after midday) and is considered universally victorious. It can be used for urgent tasks when no other auspicious timing is available.

Because the exact times of local sunrise and sunset fluctuate based on geographic latitude, longitude, and seasonal day-length variation, static clock models are inaccurate. Exact solar calculations are required for each specific location.

Standard classical Muhurta texts calculate Rahu Kaal exclusively during the daytime hours between sunrise and sunset. Nighttime Muhurats follow Night Choghadiya and Hora rotations.

Sunday has the latest Rahu Kaal, falling in the 8th octant of the day (the final 90 minutes before sunset), whereas Monday has the earliest Rahu Kaal in the 2nd octant shortly after sunrise.