Muhurtha is a Time of the day.
Marriages are conducted in Subha Muhurha,auspicious time.
In Hindu Almanac and Philosophy, Time, at the Macro Level is Cyclic and it is not linear,as we understand it today.
For details on this please read my Post Time, Non Linear.
A Muhurtha is reckoned as 48 Minutes.
References are found, about the Muhurtha,in the Brahmana portion of the Vedas, the Scripture of the Hindus.
The term muhūrta means,
“muhu” (sudden) and “ṛta” (order).
The author of Ṛg Veda III.33.5 seems aware of this, and uses it for word play. Ṛta refers to the natural, yearly order of the seasons, so that the term muhūrta refers to the daily reflection of these.
The term Rta is of special siginficance in Sanatana Dharma.
Rta isa Natural order of things and it includes the Moral Order.
The Order of Nature is called ‘Rta‘,it is difficult to translate in English as Rta indicates Order,Orderliness of Nature,Law of Nature ,The Rhythm of Nature The Truth(Empirical and Transcendental),all are indicated by the term Rta.
One of the Shanti Mantras,that is the Hymn to be used in all all auspicious occasions says
‘Brahmam Vathishyaami,ritham VathishyaamiSathyam Vathishyaami’
I Salute the Brahman, the Reality;Orderliness,’The Ultimate Truth,Truth’
It pays tribute to Nature in all it forms,Fire,Water,Earth, Air,Life,Sun,Early Morning,Night,Planets,Planets,Animals,Plants and Time.
Fire –Agni Sukhtham
Water-Mantra Pushpam
Air –Vayu Sukhtham
Earth-Bhoo Sukhtham.
Life-Ayshya Sukthtam
Early Morning-Ushas Suktham
Night-Rik Veediya Raathri Suktham
For more read Earth Day in the Vedas An approach to Universe
References in the Rig veda.
The term appears as early as the Ṛg Veda, where, according to Monier Williams, it means “a moment”, but does not evidence any specification of an exact periodicity there as received in later works,
Pt. Vijay Shrikrishna Jakatdar points to two specific Ṛg Veda passages that employ the term, III.33.5, and III.53.8:[7]
रमध्वं मे वचसे सोम्याय रतावरीरुप मुहूर्तमेवैः | पर सिन्धुमछा बर्हती मनीषावस्युरह्वे कुशिकस्य सूनुः ||
“Linger a little at my friendly bidding rest, Holy Ones, a moment in your journey. With hymn sublime soliciting your favour Kuśika’s son hath called unto the River.” (trans. Ralph T. H. Griffith[8])
and
रूपं-रूपं मघवा बोभवीति मायाः कर्ण्वानस्तन्वं परि सवाम | तरिर्यद दिवः परि मुहूर्तमागात सवैर्मन्त्रैरन्र्तुपा रतावा ||
“Maghavan weareth every shape at pleasure, effecting magic changes in his body, Holy One, drinker out of season, coming thrice, in a moment, through fit prayers, from heaven.”
The Fifteen Muhurthas.
(1) saṁjñānaṁ
(2) vijñānaṁ
(3) prajñānaṁ
(4) jānad
(5) abhijānat
(6) saṁkalpamānaṁ
(7) prakalpamānam
(8) upakalpamānam
(9) upakḷptaṁ
(10) kḷptam
(11) śreyo
(12) vasīya
(13) āyat
(14) saṁbhūtaṁ
(15) bhūtam
‘citraḥ ketuḥ prabhānābhānt saṁbhān |
jyotiṣmaṁs-tejasvānātapaṁs-tapann-abhitapan |
rocano rocamānaḥ śobhanaḥ śobhamānaḥ kalyāṇaḥ |
darśā dṛṣṭā darśatā viṣvarūpā surdarśanā |
āpy-āyamāṇāpyāyamānāpyāyā su-nṛterā |
āpūryamāṇā pūryamāṇā pūryantī pūrṇā paurṇamāsī |
-Taittriya Brahmana.
‘átʰa yaccáturviṃśatimātmáno’kuruta | tásmāc-cátur-viṃśaty-ardʰa-māsaḥ saṃ-vatsaraḥ sá etaiś-cátur-viṃśatyā triṃ-śád-iṣṭakair-ātmábʰir-na vyábʰavat-sa páñca-daśā́hno rūpā́ṇy-apaśyad-ātmánas-tanvò muhūrtā́lokam-pr̥ṇāḥ páñca-daśaiva rā́tres-tadyán-muhu trā́yante tásmān-muhurtā átʰa yát-kṣudrāḥ sánta imā́ṃ-lokā́n-āpūráyanti tásmāl-lokam-pr̥ṇā́ḥ || (X.4.2.18)
saṃvatsarásya muhūrtā́ yā́vanto muhūrtā́s tā́vanti páñcadaśa kŕ̥̄tvaḥ kṣiprā́ṇi yā́vanti kṣiprā́ṇi tā́vanti páñcadaśa kŕ̥̄tva etárhīṇi yā́vanty etárhīṇi tā́vanti páñcadaśa kŕ̥̄tva idā́nīni yā́vantīdā́nīni tā́vantaḥ páñcadaśa kŕ̥̄tvaḥ prā́ṇā́ yā́vantaḥ prā́ṇā́s tā́vanto ‘nā́ yā́vanto ‘nā́s tā́vanto nimeṣā́ yā́vanto nimeṣā́s tā́vanto lomagartā́ yā́vanto lomagartā́s tā́vanti svedā́yanā́ni yā́vanti svedā́yanā́ni tā́vanta eté stokā́ varṣanti // XII.3.2.5b
Muhurtha is one fifteenth of a Day’
( Satapada Brahmana)
18 nimeṣas (twinklings of the eye) are 1 Kāṣṭhā, 30 Kāṣṭhās are 1 Kāla, 30 Kālas are one Muhūrta, and 30 Muhūrtas are one day and night(Manu Smriti)
Auspicious occasions are to be celebrated on Subha Muhurtha.
Abhijit Muhurtha is most auspicious.
This normally occurs around 1230 pm daily.
Please read my Post o Abhijit Muhurtham
‘
This Temple also has 28 Nakshatras’Idols.
The 28th Nakshatra is called ‘Abhijeet’
I may mention that the Abhijt Muhurtha is normally between 12 and 1230 pm and it is not necessary to look for an auspicious time for performance of auspicious events.
Thiruvudai Maruthur Mahalingam
Check ,Calculate Muhurthas here
The Muhūrtas are traditionally calculated by assuming sunrise at 06:00 AM on the Vernal Equinox, which is the Vedic New Year. Not all of the constellations cross the zenith, so that it is not in every case clear which constellation presides over the Muhūrta. Yet it is clear that one or more prominent features of the correlate constellations, from which the later Muhūrtas draw their respective names, falls within the Celestial Longitude of the same, drawn from the Polar Axis.
Citation.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Muhurta
| No. | Daily Period | Name (मुहूर्त) | Translation | Correlate Constellation/Star (Greek) | Quality, or Guṇa (गुण) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 06:00 – 06:48 (sunrise) | Rudra (रुद्र) | “Cryer”, “Howler” | Unknown | Inauspicious |
| 2 | 06:48 – 07:36 | Āhi (आहि) | “Serpent” | Lacerta | Inauspicious |
| 3 | 07:36 – 08:24 | Mitra (मित्र) | “Friend” | Unknown | Auspicious |
| 4 | 08:24 – 09:12 | Pitṝ (पितॄ) | “Father” | Cepheus & Casseiopeia | Inauspicious |
| 5 | 09:12 – 10:00 | Vasu (वसु) | “Bright” | Delphinus | Auspicious |
| 6 | 10:00 – 10:48 | Vārāha (वाराह) | “Boar” | Unknown | Auspicious |
| 7 | 10:48 – 11:36 | Viśvedevā (विश्वेदेवा) | “Heavenly Lights in the Universe” | Unknown | Auspicious |
| 8 | 11:36 – 12:24 | Vidhi (विधि) | “Insight” | Unknown | Auspicious – except Mondays and Fridays |
| 9 | 12:24 – 13:12 | Sutamukhī (सतमुखी) | “Goat/Charioteer-Face” | Auriga | Auspicious |
| 10 | 13:12 – 14:00 | Puruhūta (पुरुहूत) | “Many Offerings” | Unknown (Taurus or Orion?) | Inauspicious |
| 11 | 14:00 – 14:48 | Vāhinī (वाहिनी) | “Possessed of Chariot” | Unknown (Gemini?) | Inauspicious |
| 12 | 14:48 – 15:36 | Naktanakarā (नक्तनकरा) | “Night Maker” | Unknown | Inauspicious |
| 13 | 15:36 – 16:24 | Varuṇa (वरुण) | “All-Envoloping Night Sky” | Unknown | Auspicious |
| 14 | 16:24 – 17:12 | Aryaman (अर्यमन्) | “Possessed of Nobility” | Unknown | Auspicious – except Sundays |
| 15 | 17:12 – 18:00 | Bhaga (भग) | “Share”/”Stake” | Unknown | Inauspicious |
| 16 | 18:00 – 18:48 (sunset) | Girīśa (गिरीश) | “Lord of the Mount” | Unknown | Inauspicious |
| 17 | 18:48 – 19:36 | Ajapāda (अजपाद) | “Unborn Foot”/”Goat Foot” | Unknown | Inauspicious |
| 18 | 19:36 – 20:24 | Ahir-Budhnya (अहिर्बुध्न्य) | “Serpent at the Bottom” | Hydra | Auspicious |
| 19 | 20:24 – 21:12 | Puṣya (पुष्य) | “Nourishment”/”Blossom” | Unknown | Auspicious |
| 20 | 21:12 – 22:00 | Aśvinī (अश्विनी) | “Horsemen” | Unknown | Auspicious |
| 21 | 22:00 – 22:48 | Yama (यम) | “Restrainer” (Death) | Boötes (cf., Bhūteśa) | Inauspicious |
| 22 | 22:48 – 23:36 | Agni (अग्नि) | “Fire”/”Ignition” | Ara | Auspicious |
| 23 | 23:36 – 24:24 | Vidhātṛ (विधातृ) | “Distributor” | Unknown | Auspicious |
| 24 | 24:24 – 01:12 | Kaṇḍa (क्ण्ड) | “Ornament” | Corona Borealis | Auspicious |
| 25 | 01:12 – 02:00 | Aditi (अदिति) | “Destitute”/”Boundless” | Unknown | Auspicious |
| 26 | 02:00 – 02:48 | Jīva/Amṛta (जीव/अमृत) | “Life”/”Immortal” | Unknown | Very Auspicious |
| 27 | 02:48 – 03:36 | Viṣṇu (विष्णु) | “All Pervading” | Hercules | Auspicious |
| 28 | 03:36 – 04:24 | Dyumadgadyuti (द्युमद्गद्युति) | “Resounding Light” | Lyra | Auspicious |
| 29 | 04:24 – 05:12 | Brahma (ब्रह्म) | “Universe” | Cygnus | Very Auspicious |
| 30 | 05:12 – 06:00 | Samudram (समुद्रम) | “Ocean” | Deluge (region with several aqueous constellations) | Auspicious |