Bhadra is the popular name of Vishti, one of the eleven karanas. A karana is half a tithi, so a lunar month has 60 karanas. Seven "movable" karanas repeat in a fixed cycle through the month, and Vishti is the seventh of them, which means Bhadra occurs about eight times in each lunar month, each time lasting for half a tithi (roughly 10 to 13 hours).

Why Bhadra is noted

In Muhurat tradition Vishti is regarded as unsuitable for starting auspicious undertakings such as ceremonies, new ventures or celebrations. It is simply a time many people prefer to wait out; activities already in progress, daily work and routine worship continue as usual.

Where Bhadra resides: the three lokas

Texts assign Bhadra a "residence" (loka) according to the sidereal sign the Moon occupies:

  • Moon in Karka, Simha, Kumbha or Meena: Bhumi (on earth), traditionally considered the most relevant
  • Moon in Mesha, Vrishabha, Mithuna or Vrishchika: Swarga (heaven)
  • Moon in Kanya, Tula, Dhanu or Makara: Patala (netherworld)

Many Panchangs give full weight to Bhadra only when it resides on Bhumi, and treat Swarga and Patala Bhadra more leniently. If the Moon changes sign during a Bhadra, its loka can change too.

Mukha and Puchha

Some traditions refine Bhadra further into a mukha (head) portion, regarded as the part to avoid most, and a puchha (tail) portion, regarded as more permissible. The exact divisions differ between texts, so they are best checked with your local Panchang or priest.

Holika Dahan and Raksha Bandhan

Two popular festivals explicitly avoid Bhadra:

  • Holika Dahan is performed on Phalguna Purnima in the Pradosh window free of Bhadra. If Bhadra covers Pradosh, many Panchangs allow the bonfire in Bhadra Puchha or after Bhadra ends.
  • Raksha Bandhan is traditionally observed on Shravana Purnima in Aparahna, avoiding Bhadra. If Bhadra leaves no usable window and Purnima continues for at least 144 minutes after the next sunrise, this platform moves the observance to that next day.

Traditions vary by region and Panchang convention; follow local guidance where it differs.

How this platform calculates it

Bhadra is found from the exact karana boundaries (each 6° of Moon–Sun elongation), and its loka from the Moon's sidereal sign at the start, with any change noted. See current and upcoming periods on the Bhadra page, and read Yoga and Karana for the karana cycle.