Accuracy: Traditional (may differ 1-4 hours from observation) · Era: Ancient – present
Also known as: Vakyam, Traditional Tamil Panchangam
Vakya Panchangam derives planetary positions from 'vakyas' — Sanskrit sentences that encode astronomical cycles in a form easy to memorize and calculate manually. This system was dominant in South India (especially Tamil Nadu) for centuries. The word 'vakya' literally means sentence — the planetary positions were transmitted as verses that could be memorized and used for calculation without complex astronomy equipment. The Vakya system has known discrepancies with actual sky observations — the difference between calculated Venus/Saturn positions and their actual positions in the sky can be significant. However, followers of Vakya continue using it out of deep respect for tradition and the authority of the ancient texts, treating accuracy as secondary to scriptural continuity.
The following publishers and panchangam traditions use Vakya Panchangam as their calculation basis. Click any publisher to see their specific panchangam details and today's values as per their tradition.