Tithi
తిథి
Sanskrit: तिथि · Category: Panchanga
Quick Definition
Lunar day — the time it takes for the Moon to gain 12° angular distance from the Sun.
Detailed Explanation
A tithi is one of 30 lunar days in a lunar month. The 30 tithis are split into 15 of the bright half (Shukla Paksha) and 15 of the dark half (Krishna Paksha), each named (Pratipada, Dwitiya, ..., Purnima/Amavasya). Tithi duration varies from ~19 to ~26 hours because the Moon's orbital speed varies. Tithi determines the suitability of various rituals — Ekadashi (11th tithi) is for fasting, Pournami (15th) for full-moon rituals, etc.
See Also
Related Terms
Author & Sources
Compiled by Pandit Ramachandra Sharma, Vedic Astrologer & Panchangam Scholar. Definitions cross-referenced against classical texts: Brihat Parashara Hora Shastra, Muhurta Chintamani, Surya Siddhanta, Gṛhya Sūtras. See the full Vedic Glossary for 58 terms across Panchanga, Astrology, Calendar, Dosha, Ritual, and Sanskara categories.