Why are the sub-periods of different lengths?

Classical Pancha Pakshi gives each activity a different share of the yama, and those shares change with the paksha and between day and night. A Ruling sub-period in the bright half of the month by day is the longest; a Dying one is the shortest.

How are the timings calculated for your location?

The day is counted from local sunrise to the next sunrise for your location. Sunrise to sunset is split into five day yamas and sunset to the next sunrise into five night yamas, so the timings shift with the place and the season.

What are the ruling bird and the dying bird?

Each day has one bird that rules it and one that is in its dying state. The ruling bird changes at sunset, while the dying bird stays the same for the whole day. Both depend on the weekday and the paksha.

How do I know my birth bird?

Your birth bird comes from your birth nakshatra and the paksha at birth. Use the Pancha Pakshi Bird Calculator to find it, then select that bird here.

Pancha Pakshi Bird Activities for your location

For Today

Right now—

Day & Paksha—

Ruling bird—

Dying bird—For the whole day

About Pancha Pakshi Bird Activities

What is Pancha Pakshi Shastra?

Pancha Pakshi Shastra is a timing system from the Tamil Siddha tradition. Five birds — Vulture, Owl, Crow, Cock and Peacock — pass through five states over every day and night. Each person has a birth bird, and what that bird is doing at a given moment shows how favourable the moment is for beginning something.

The five activities

Ruling: the bird at its strongest. The best time to start anything important.
Eating: a strong state, good for gain and nourishing work.
Walking: a middling state, fine for routine and travel.
Sleeping: a weak state; avoid new beginnings.
Dying: the weakest state; inauspicious for important work.

Yamas and sub-periods

The Pancha Pakshi day runs from sunrise to the next sunrise. Sunrise to sunset is divided into five day yamas, and sunset to the next sunrise into five night yamas. Within each yama the five birds take turns ruling a sub-period. The sub-periods are not equal: their length depends on the activity, on the paksha (Shukla or Krishna) and on whether it is day or night.

Ruling and dying bird of the day

Every day has a ruling bird and a dying bird. The ruling bird changes at sunset; the dying bird holds for the whole day. Both follow the weekday and the paksha.

How to read the tables

Pick your birth bird. For each sub-period, the relation (Self, Friend or Enemy), your bird's activity and the sub-period's activity combine into the effect and a rating from 1 to 10 — the higher the rating, the more favourable the window. Don't know your bird? Find it with the Pancha Pakshi Bird Calculator.

Frequently Asked Questions about Pancha Pakshi

Sub-periods with a high rating — especially when your birth bird is Ruling or Eating and the sub-period's bird is a friend — are the most favourable. Avoid windows where your bird is Sleeping or Dying.