Yamagandam, Kuligai and Rahu Kalam, the three avoid-windows

Overview

Most people know rahu kalam, the daily window when you should avoid starting anything new. But there are two more: yamagandam and kuligai. They work the exact same way and are calculated with the same method.

The most important thing to understand is that the three windows never overlap. They always fall in three different eighths of daylight. The rest, five eighths, is free. That is always more than half the day.

What is Rahu Kalam?

Rahu kalam is the best known of the three. It is named after Rahu, a shadow planet in Indian astronomy.

Daylight, from sunrise to sunset, is divided into eight equal parts. Rahu kalam is one of those eight. Which part it is depends on the weekday. On Monday it is part 2, on Sunday it is part 8.

Tradition says you should not begin new things in this window. Do not sign contracts, do not move into a new home, do not start an important journey. Anything already in progress does not need to be interrupted.

What is Yamagandam?

Yamagandam is named after Yama, the god of death in Hinduism. It is considered the harshest of the three windows.

It is calculated the exact same way: daylight is divided into eight, and each part number belongs to a weekday. The only difference is that it uses a different part number than rahu kalam.

In practice many people avoid yamagandam just as much as rahu kalam, especially for important beginnings like weddings or property deals. Some take it even more seriously than rahu kalam.

What is Kuligai?

Kuligai (also called Gulika) is named after a son of Saturn in the Vedic tradition. It is the third avoid-window.

Again: daylight into eight, one part number per weekday. Kuligai is generally considered the least severe of the three, but many still choose to avoid it for new beginnings.

The three windows together cover three out of eight parts, roughly four and a half hours on a twelve-hour day. The rest is free.

The complete table

Here are all three windows for all seven weekdays. The part numbers never change, the table is the same every year, regardless of location or season.

Worked example: Thursday in Chennai

Let us calculate all three windows for Thursday 15 January 2026 in Chennai. Sunrise: 06:35. Sunset: 18:01. Daylight: 686 minutes. One part: 85.75 minutes (about 1 hour 26 min).

What do the windows apply to?

All three windows apply to beginnings, not to things already in progress.

Tradition advises against starting new things in these periods: signing a contract, moving in, starting a journey, opening a business. But it does not say you should interrupt something that has already begun.

If you have a meeting that started at 13:00 and rahu kalam begins at 13:44, you do not need to leave. Tradition is about the start, not the entire event.

What about Abhijit Muhurtam?

Abhijit Muhurtam is a short auspicious period around midday. It typically falls around 12:00 and lasts about 48 minutes. On some days it overlaps with rahu kalam or one of the other windows.

Tradition says Abhijit Muhurtam cancels the inauspicious, it is considered so strongly positive that it overrides rahu kalam. It does not override yamagandam, which is considered more severe.

Try it with your city

Compare two cities below and see all the windows for today. The calculator uses your city's sunrise and sunset.