A karana is half a tithi. There are 11 karanas in total but they recur 8 times across the 60 half-tithis of a lunar month, so any given half-tithi is one of those 11.
The 7 movable (chara) karanas
These cycle through the 56 movable half-tithis (Krishna Pratipada 2nd half → Krishna Chaturdashi 1st half):
- Bava — auspicious, especially for beginnings, learning.
- Balava — auspicious, good for routine work.
- Kaulava — auspicious, friendly acts.
- Taitila — auspicious, sweet things, gold.
- Garaja — auspicious, especially agriculture.
- Vanija — auspicious, trade and commerce.
- Vishti (Bhadra) — strongly avoid. Surgery / war only.
The 4 fixed (sthira) karanas
These occupy four specific half-tithis around the lunar nodes:
- Shakuni — Krishna Chaturdashi 2nd half. Mixed.
- Chatushpada — Amavasya 1st half. For ancestor work.
- Naga — Amavasya 2nd half. For ancestor work; avoid auspicious starts.
- Kintughna — Shukla Pratipada 1st half. Auspicious for starts.
How the filter works
The calculator exposes the 7 movable karanas in the filter checklist (the 4 fixed karanas are accepted by default since they only occupy specific half-tithis around new moon). By default all 7 are allowed.
Always uncheck Vishti (Bhadra) for any auspicious work. The other 6 movable karanas (Bava, Balava, Kaulava, Taitila, Garaja, Vanija) are all acceptable.