Tarabalam is a concept used in Vedic astrology to determine the strength and auspiciousness of a day based on the compatibility between the birth star (nakshatra) of an individual and the star of the current day. Tarabalam is calculated based on the distance or the number of stars between the individual’s birth star and the star of the current day.

For example, your birth star is Magha and today’s star is Revati. Since there are nine stars between Magha and Revati, your tarabalam for the day is considered good. However, if your birth star was Revati and today’s star was Magha, the tarabalam for the day would be very good, as there are only two stars between them.

Similarly, if your birth star is Uttara Shadha and today’s star is Ashwini, there are eight stars between them, which is considered very good. But if your birth star was Ashwini and today’s star was Uttara Shadha, there are three stars between them, which is considered bad.

In summary, tarabalam is used to determine the auspiciousness of a day based on the compatibility between an individual’s birth star and the star of the current day, and is calculated based on the distance between them. A good tarabalam is considered favorable for important events or activities, while a bad tarabalam is considered unfavorable.

To calculate tarabalam, you need to count the number of stars between your birth star and the star of the current day, and then consider the result based on the following table:

  • If the distance is 2, 4, 6, 8, or 9 stars, it is considered good.
  • If the distance is 1, 3, 5, or 7 stars, it is considered medium.
  • If the distance is 0 or a multiple of 9, it is considered bad.

Because each planet has 3 stars, and there are a total of 27 stars (or nakshatras) in Vedic astrology. Therefore, if the distance between your birth star and the star of the current day is more than 9, you can simply take the remainder after dividing by 9, since this will give you the equivalent distance within the range of 1 to 9 stars.

Tarabalam Table

  Daily Nakshatra / Star from panchangam
Y
o
u
r

J
a
n
m
a

N
a
k
s
h
t
r
a
/

S
t
a
r
 
Ashwini Bharani Kritika Rohini Mrisgashirsh Ardra Punarvasu Pushya Ashlesha
Magha P.Phalguni U.Phalguni Hasta Chitra Swati Vishakha Anuradha Jyestha
Moola P.Shadha U.Shadha Shravan Dhanishtha Shatabhisha P.Bhadra U.Bhadra Revati
Ashwini
Magham
Moolam
1
Shani

Guru
3
Kuja
4
Ravi
5
Rahu
6
Sukra
7
Budha
8
Chandra
9
Ketu
Bharani
P.Phalguni
P.Shadha
9
Ketu
1
Shani
2
Guru
3
Kuja
4
Ravi
5
Rahu
6
Sukra
7
Budha
8
Chandra
Kritika
U.Phalguni
U.Shadha
8
Chandra
9
Ketu
1
Shani
2
Guru
3
Kuja
4
Ravi
5
Rahu
6
Sukra
7
Budha
Rohini
Hasta
Shravan
7
Budha
8
Chandra
9
Ketu
1
Shani
2
Guru
3
Kuja
4
Ravi
5
Rahu
6
Sukra
Mrigashirsh
Chitra
Dhanistha
6
Sukra
7
Budha
8
Chandra
9
Ketu
1
Shani
2
Guru
3
Kuja
4
Ravi
5
Rahu
Ardra
Swati
Shatabhisha
5
Rahu
6
Sukra
7
Budha
8
Chandra
9
Ketu
1
Shani
2
Guru
3
Kuja
4
Ravi
Punarvasu
Vishakha
P.Bhadra
4
Ravi
5
Rahu
6
Sukra
7
Budha
8
Chandra
9
Ketu
1
Shani
2
Guru
3
Kuja
Pushya
Anuradha
U.Bhadra
3
Kuja
4
Ravi
5
Rahu
6
Sukra
7
Budha
8
Chandra
9
Ketu
1
Shani
2
Guru
Ashlesha
Jyestha
Revati
2
Guru
3
Kuja
4
Ravi
5
Rahu
6
Sukra
7
Budha
8
Chandra
9
Ketu
1
Shani

Purpose of Tarabalam

  • The above table is divided into three groups of nakshatras known as a Navakam.
  • While deciding muhurthas in case the the tara balam happens to be bad(1,3,5 and 7) and the tara falls in First Navakam for Janma Tara, Second Navakam for Vipat Tara, and Third Navakam for Pratyak Tara and in any Navakam for Naidhana has to be discarded.
  • Muhurthas are possible even during the bad tarabalam by doing suitable dosha pariharam.
  • Tarabalam is a basic step in calculating muhurtha.
  • Other factors like panchaka bala, calculation of muhurta chart is very important.
  • If muhurtha chart is strong and required planets are positioned well it counters all doshas.
  • This does not replace the judgement of a professional astrologer but uses it as an aide.

Pariharam for Taradosham

  • For Janma Tara: Saka Danam–Yellow Pumpkin,Leafy Vegetable,
  • For Vipat Tara: Jaggery Danam
  • For Pratyak Tara: Salt Danam
  • For Naidhana Tara: Should be avoided. If inevitable Tila Sahita Suvrana Danam(Seseme seeds+Gold)

Meaning of Tarabalam

Meaning of tarabalam is explained in following table.

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9
Janma Sampatha Vipatha Kshema Pratyaka Sadhana Naidhana Mitra Paramitra
Not Good Very good Bad Good Not Good Very Good Totally Bad Good Good
Birth Wealth Danger Well-being Obstacles Achievement Death Friend Best friend