In Vedic panchangam, a yogam (also called Nithya Yoga, meaning "daily union") is computed by adding the Sun's ecliptic longitude to the Moon's ecliptic longitude and dividing by 13° 20'. The resulting index — from 0 to 26 — cycles through 27 named yogams, one for each of the 27 nakshatras. Because both luminaries move continuously, the yogam transitions at a different clock time each day, independent of sunrise.
The quality of the yogam is considered a secondary factor in muhurtham selection: a strong tithi and nakshatra can outweigh a moderately unfavorable yogam, but the classically inauspicious yogams — particularly Vishkambha, Atiganda, Shoola, Ganda, Vyaghata, Vajra, Vyatipata, Parigha, and Vaidhriti — are penalized by the engine when scoring candidate dates.
Among the 27, Siddha (index 15) and Siddha variant Sadhya (index 21) are classically noted in texts as productive and supportive of new undertakings.
All 27 Yogams
Rows highlighted in red carry a penalty in the muhurtham scoring engine.
| # | Name | Tamil | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Vishkambha avoid | விஷ்கம்பம் | Considered obstructive |
| 2 | Priti | பிரீதி | Generally favorable |
| 3 | Ayushman | ஆயுஷ்மான் | Generally favorable |
| 4 | Saubhagya | சௌபாக்யம் | Generally favorable |
| 5 | Shobhana | சோபனம் | Generally favorable |
| 6 | Atiganda avoid | அதிகண்டம் | Associated with danger and excess |
| 7 | Sukarma | சுகர்மா | Generally favorable |
| 8 | Dhriti | திருதி | Generally favorable |
| 9 | Shoola avoid | சூலம் | Carries sharp, piercing energy |
| 10 | Ganda avoid | கண்டம் | Linked to difficulties and obstacles |
| 11 | Vriddhi | விருத்தி | Generally favorable |
| 12 | Dhruva | த்ருவம் | Generally favorable |
| 13 | Vyaghata avoid | வியாகாதம் | Associated with destruction |
| 14 | Harshana | ஹர்ஷணம் | Generally favorable |
| 15 | Vajra avoid | வஜ்ரம் | Carries rigid, unyielding energy |
| 16 | Siddhi | சித்தி | Classically productive — supports new undertakings |
| 17 | Vyatipata avoid | வியதீபாதம் | Considered highly inauspicious |
| 18 | Variyan | வரீயான் | Generally favorable |
| 19 | Parigha avoid | பரிகம் | Associated with obstruction |
| 20 | Shiva | சிவம் | Generally favorable |
| 21 | Siddha | சித்தம் | Classically productive — supports accomplishment |
| 22 | Sadhya | சாத்யம் | Generally favorable |
| 23 | Shubha | சுபம் | Generally favorable |
| 24 | Shukla | சுக்லம் | Generally favorable |
| 25 | Brahma | பிரம்மம் | Generally favorable |
| 26 | Indra | இந்திரம் | Generally favorable |
| 27 | Vaidhriti avoid | வைதிருதி | Considered contrary and unfavorable |
How Yogams Affect Muhurtham Selection
The Rasi & Rise date finder evaluates each candidate window against the active yogam at the proposed event start time. The nine avoided yogams above each carry a scoring penalty. No single element disqualifies a date entirely — a very strong tithi and nakshatra can offset a mildly unfavorable yogam — but the engine's overall score will be lower when multiple factors are suboptimal simultaneously.
Yogam differs from tithi in one important respect: it is computed from the sum of both luminaries' longitudes, not just the Moon–Sun gap. This means the yogam boundary and the tithi boundary are entirely independent — they change at different times of day — and both must be checked when a muhurtham window spans multiple hours.
For the full picture of how each panchangam element interacts, see our guides on tithis, karanams, and the 27 nakshatras.