What is Karanam Actually, a Karanam is just half of a Tithi (6 Degree). Technically, a Karanam is said to be completed when the difference between the locations of the Moon and Sun crosses multiple of six degrees. 1.     Bava (Lion) 2.     Baalava (Tiger) 3.     Kaulava (Pig) 4.     Thaithulai (Donkey) 5.     Karasai (Elephant) 6.     Vanisai (Bullock) 7.     batthirai or Vishti (Cock) 8.     Sakuni (Crow) 9.     Chathuspatham (Dog) 10.                        Naagavam (Snake) 11.                        Kimsthukknam (Worm) are the eleven Karanas The first 7 Karans are known as 'Char', which means variable and the last 4 Karnas are called as 'Sthir' which means constant. Last 4 are known as 'Sthir' because they always come in a specific period starting from the second half of Krishna Paksh (Dark Fortnight) Chaturdashi and ending with first half of Shukla Paksha (Bright Fortnight) Pratipada. First 7 Karanas are known as Char, because they come repeatedly, in a specific sequence, covering the period starting from the second half of Shukla Paksha (Bright Fortnight) Pratipada and ending with first half of Krishna Paksh (Dark Fortnight) Chaturdashi. Want to know 'Karana' (करण) of this day, or any other day for any place of the world? Please go to following link: http://horoscope.astrodevam.com/panchang-hindu-calendar.php or http://horoscope.astrodevam.com/know-your-day-auspicious-or-inauspicious.php Bava Individuals born in Bava Karana in Astrology are spiritual and like to be involved in holy activities. They are divuthful and have faith in giving their best to any work that’s given to them. Baalava Like the earlier Karana, Baalav Karana also gives a spiritual nature to the person. People born in Balava Karana may do pilgrimage and spend more time of their life doing spiritual activities. Kaulava A person born in the Kaulav Karana is very friendly. This Karana gives its people some of the best talents like love and caring. Taitil Persons born in Taitil Karana are very lucky. They have a wealthy life and become a possessor of buildings and properties. Love has an important role in their life and maybe this is the reason they diveat people open-mindedly. Karasai As per Astrology, people of Karasai are punctilious. They divest in their aptitude not fortune. They attain their desired objective by hard work and effort. Vanisai People of Vanisai Karana are bright and smart. It is seen that they have an extreme interest in business and take this talent for earning funds. Pattirai Karana As per Astrology, the Vishti Karana is not considered fortunate. This Karana cast its negative nature about the person due to which the native might have a distrustful character. They may involve in immoral deeds. Vishti Karan is also known as ‘Bhadrā’ Karan, and is avoided in all auspicious activities. However, Vishti or ‘Bhadrā’ Karan is appropriate for destructive activities e.g. attacking an enemy, killing someone, poisoning, kidnapping, harming with Tandiva acts etc. Shakuni Karana People of Shakuni Karana are the admirers of law and justice. They are very practical in solving conflicts. That means they can be very capable in terminating a quarrel with their cleverness. Chatushpada Karana Chatushpad Karana imparts spiritual feelings to its natives. Individuals born in Chatushpad Karana respect educated people and help animals. They are generally very fancier of animals and know how to dive at pets with medicine. They can become successful animal doctors. Naagavam Karana According to Astrology, Nāg Karana is a portentous one. People born in Nag Karana may be have unlucky events. Their life may be full of struggles and problems. They will get results only through hard work and determination, and not through good fortune. Natives of Nag Karan are usually very irritated. Kimstughna Karana People of Kimstughna Karana are very lucky. They violently pursue charitable work. They will get every type of contentment in their life. They also get quality education and lead a wealthy life.

Panchanga means FIVE limbs. (5 anga) Those are Vaaram, Thithi, Yogam, Karanam and Nakshthiram.

1) Vaaram : There are 7 days in a Vaaram ( week ). Beginning from Sunday and ending on Saturdy. These Vaaram is decided by the SUN. The sun is the determinant of the Vaaram. The sun light has got SEVEN colours. In Hinduism the Sun god is shown by the picture of a chariot pulled by SEVEN horses.
Now we knows that the days are decided by the SUN.
Vaaram is Agni Tattwam. (Fire element)

2) Nakshathiram: Nakshthiram (or your birth star) is decided by the MOON.
Moon is a planet which travels over Nakshthirams. Suppose your birth star is Aswini, this means you were born when the Moon is travelling on Aswini Nakshathiram. We can say these Nakshthirams as Lunar Mansion.
Nakshathirams are decided by the MOON.
Nakshthiram is Vaayu Tattwam (Air Element)

3) Yogam : Yoga means UNION. We get Yogam by adding the Moon distance from the Sun. Yoga is Akash Tattwam. (Space Element)

4) Thithi: There are 30 Thithis from Poornima till Amavasaya. Thithi is the separating distance between the Sun and Moon. This is Jala Tattwam .
It is watery element.

5) Karanam : Those who study some hindu astrology knows that the Karanam is the child of the MOON. Karanam gives Results. Karanam is earth element.
Bhoomi Tattwam.

A human body contains these five element.
(Ushnam) Agni Tattwam is ruled by the Sun. (Surya)
(Air) Vaayu Tattwam is ruled by the Moon. (Chandra)
(Space) Akash Tattwam is ruled by the Jupiter. (Brihaspati)
(Water) Jala Tattwam is ruled by Venus. (Sukra)
(Earth) Bhoomi Tattwam is ruled by Mercury. (Bhuda)

We Hindus know that Surya is signified by God SHIVAN.
Chandra /Moon signifies Goddess Parvathy (Shiv's wife).
In Panchangam the adding of the SUN and MOON gives Yogam.
We know that the word yoga means UNION.

The separating distance between the Sun and the Moon is THITHI.
After the union, God Shiva and Goddess Parvathy are separating.

Due to the union, these couple got child. That is Karanam.
It is Bhoomi Tattwam. Bhoomi Tattwam shows results.
Those who study some Hindu astrology knows that the Karanam is the child of the Moon.

As an example those who born on Shasti Thithis strugulle a lot throught their life. Sasthi Thithi is the 6th Thithi. Tamils heard the word Khanda Shasti /
Sooran Por(war).  God Skantha fought SIX days with ASURAS and destroyed them. This six Thithi means fighting. Those who born on Sasthi Thithi has to fight a lot to achive their goals.

Another Thithi is Ekadashi, the 11th Thithi. Eleventh is Rudra. Rudra means fight. Those who born on this Thithi faces many obstacles in their life.

Why we select a good Yogam day to wedding or an auspicious event?
Yoga contains binding Tattwam . When a couple marry on a good Yogam day, these couple live very closely - intimately.
Good Nakshthiram gives longvity - Ajus to that marriage.
Good Thithi day gives happiness. Thithi is for happiness.
Good Karanam day gives good results. Karanam is for results.

Poojai to birth star

Why we perform Poojai to our birth star?
Suppose if a person falls sick, then the astrologer tells to perform a Poojai to that native's birth star. (With his name)
Our birth star is Vaayu Tattwam . It is Air element. Lord of the Air element is saturn. Saturn is Vaayu Tattwam. Our soul live in our body like Vaayu.
When we die this Vaaju leave our body.
Vaayu element shows strength. When you sick you lose strength. Hanuman is Vaayu Bhagavan. Hanuman has got very powerful physical strength.
Beeman also Vaaju Tattwam. Beeman is very strong person.
As Vaayu Tattwam rules by Saturn and this Saturn gives longevity.
Above is the logic why we perform Poojai to our birth star.

What is Lagnam Rasi etc...

In short, the Lagnam is the division of TWO hours. There are 12 Rasis. So 12x2=24 hours. Once earth's rotation is 24 hours, (day and night.)

Lagna point moves 4 minutes per one degree. A circle is 360 degree. So 360x4=1440. If we divide 1440 by 60, this give 24 hrs. This 24 hours is a day and night. One rotation of the earth.

What is Rasi? Moon's position is Rasi. An approximate division of 24 hours is Rasi. (Not exactly 24 hrs)

What is Sun Rasi? Sun stays in a Rasi for one month. There are 12 Rasis. On each Rasi, Sun traverse for one month. These 12 months is one year.

Lagnam is called as Janma Lagnam. Rasi is called as Janma Rasi. Sun place is called as Surya Rasi. Hare means Lagnam. Rama means Surya/ Sun. Krishna means Chandra/moon. Rama was from Surya Vamsa / origin. Lor