Panchang (literally "five limbs") is the Hindu calendar and astronomical almanac. Its five elements are: Tithi (lunar day), Nakshatra (lunar mansion), Yoga (luni-solar angle), Karana (half-tithi), and Vara (weekday). The Panchang provides essential information for determining auspicious times (Muhurat) for activities like weddings, travel, starting businesses, and religious ceremonies. It combines both solar and lunar measurements, making it a lunisolar calendar. Two main systems exist: Vikram Samvat (starting ~57 BCE, used in North India) and Shaka Samvat (starting 78 CE, India's national calendar). The Panchang also tracks eclipses, planetary transits, and seasonal festivals. Traditional Panchang makers (Panchangkars) use Surya Siddhanta and other astronomical treatises for calculations.