Panchang is a spiritual and scientific Hindu calendar. It is an ancient art of Vedic astrology that helps to maintain the best days and time to come. Panchang has been derived from two words Panch(meaning 5) and ang(meaning aspect). The panchang measures time in lunar months whose names reveal the secret path of stars and constellations. It lists four weeks of seven days, identified with planets and gods. This therefore takes into account five aspects - Din(Vara) or the solar day, Tithi or the lunar day, Nakshatra or the constellation, Yoga and Karan.

It is far more accurate than conventional horoscopes and has loads of empowering practical uses like telling you the best days and times for travel, love, parties, moving, interviews, investments dental visits & lot. To find the auspicious time to start anything new it considers the week day of week (Vara), Tithi, Nakshatra(Star), Yogam of the day, Karana of the day, and the ending moments of all these to determine whether the day is Amurtha, Siddha and Shubha. The Panchang is always used as the spiritual expression of time for Hindus and a guide to a life close to God and religion.

Although it is essential to have the knowledge of arithmetical calculations to understand Indian Astrology, but for the benefit of the common people, astrologers have devised a calendar (Panchang) with the help of which, and simple arithmetical calculations, one can have knowledge about planets, good or bad for him.
It is not necessary for a common man to be an astrologer in order to understand the Panchanga. But for a smooth and systematic running of life, one should know how to interpret 'Phalita'.
Panchang means five organs to understand the Phalita. These five things are

Tithi (Date)
Nakshatra (Group of stars)
Yoga (an auspicious moment)
Karan (Half of the part of Tithi)
Vaar (days of the week)

In the Hindu method of calculations, although the 365 ¼ days of the revolutions of the earth round the sun are recognised, the calculations are done according to the revolution of the moon round the earth, which falls short by approximately 7 days during one year, when compared to calculations done according to the solar calendar.

The panchang, based on the lunar calendar, which also has 12 months in a year comes level with the "Ayanas" or sun calculation by adding a month ( known as Loonth or Purshottam Maas) after every three years.

The time between two consecutive risings of the sun is the day, the Solar day or Din.( according to the Gregorian calendar the day begins at 12.00 P.M.) , according to the Indian calendar the time between two consecutive risings of the moon is taken as LunarDay or Tithi.

The panchang measures time in lunar months whose names reveal the secret path of stars and constellations. The face of the new moon is called Amavasya and it ushers in the new month. The first fortnight of the full moon is known as Shuklapaksha "the bright half" as the moon waxes; while the dark half fortnight of the month is called Krishnapaksha during which the moon wanes.