Talk:Muhurta

By Swami Harshananda

muhurta (‘a short unit of time’)

Measurement of time in certain units has been known to the Hindus since a long time. The word ‘muhurta,’ meaning ‘a short time’, is one such unit known even to the Vedas (vide Rgveda 3.35.5; 3.53.8 and Satapatha Brāhmana 1.8.3.17).

However, in course of time, it became fixed as l/30th part of a day of 24 hours and hence, of a duration of 48 minutes.

The 15 muhurtas of a day (as different from those of the night) are sometimes given specific names such as brāhma-muhurta, abhijit-muhurta, vairāja-muhurta and so on.

A proper muhurta is one of the four elements—the other three being tithi,

nakṣatra and karaṇa—needed to be looked into for the success of an undertaking.

Muhurtas considered auspicious for various acts, have been mentioned in the works on Hindu astrology. For instance: for purchasing merchandise, for the performance of auspicious acts, for wearing new garments for the first time, for upanayana and marriage and so on.

It is interesting to note that a work called Muhurtamuktāvali prescribes ‘auspicious’ time even for stealing!

However, certain sages have also declared that if there is purity of mind—as indicated by faith in God, honouring the holy ones and contentment—all the planets will become favourable and hence there is no need to look for auspicious times (Matsyapurāna 243.25-27; Visnu-dharmottarapurāna 2.163.32).

See also kāla.

References

• The Concise Encyclopedia of Hinduism, Swami Harshananda, Ram Krishna Math, Bangalore