Rahu Kaal Today
Rahu Kaal is the daily inauspicious time period ruled by the shadow planet Rahu in Vedic astrology. Check today's exact Rahu Kalam timings for your city, computed with Swiss Ephemeris precision, and get AI-powered advice on scheduling your important activities.
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About This Tool
Who it's for: Anyone who observes Rahu Kaal before starting important activities — whether for business meetings, travel, ceremonies, property purchases, or scheduling auspicious events.
Who it's not for: Rahu Kaal is a traditional Vedic timing guideline, not a scientific prediction. Use it as one of many factors in your decision-making, not as the sole determinant.
How to use: Ask the AI "What is Rahu Kaal today?" along with your city name. You can also ask whether a specific activity is advisable at a particular time, and the AI will factor in Rahu Kaal and other inauspicious periods.
Accuracy: Rahu Kaal timings depend on precise sunrise and sunset data. Jyotir AI uses Swiss Ephemeris to compute these for your exact location and date, ensuring timings are accurate to the minute.
What is Rahu Kaal?
Rahu Kaal is an inauspicious time period in Vedic astrology that occurs daily, governed by the shadow planet (chhaya graha) Rahu. In Hindu astronomical tradition, Rahu is the north lunar node — the ascending point where the Moon's orbit crosses the ecliptic. Though not a physical planet, Rahu is one of the nine celestial bodies (Navagraha) in Vedic astrology and is considered a powerful malefic force associated with illusion, confusion, unexpected obstacles, and delays. Millions of people across India check Rahu Kaal daily before starting any new or important activity. To understand how Rahu fits into the broader Vedic framework, see our complete beginner guide to Vedic astrology.
The calculation of Rahu Kaal follows a precise astronomical method. The total daylight duration — from sunrise to sunset — is divided into eight equal segments, each approximately 90 minutes long (varying by season and latitude). Each segment is assigned to one of the seven classical planets plus Rahu, following a fixed weekday rotation. On Monday, Rahu rules the 2nd segment; Saturday the 3rd; Friday the 4th; Wednesday the 5th; Thursday the 6th; Tuesday the 7th; and Sunday the 8th segment. A simple mnemonic used in South India is "Mother Saw Father Wearing The Turban on Sunday" (Mo-Sa-Fr-We-Th-Tu-Su, segments 2-3-4-5-6-7-8). Because sunrise and sunset times differ by city and change daily, Rahu Kaal timings are location-specific and shift throughout the year.
During Rahu Kaal, traditional wisdom advises against initiating new ventures such as starting a business, signing contracts, embarking on travel, beginning construction, conducting marriage ceremonies, or making major financial investments. The belief is that activities "born" during Rahu's influence are more likely to encounter unexpected obstacles, delays, or unfavorable outcomes. However, it is important to note that Rahu Kaal does not affect ongoing activities — only the commencement of new ones. If you are already working, traveling, or engaged in a task that started before Rahu Kaal, there is no need to pause or stop. This distinction is crucial and often misunderstood.
Jyotir AI computes Rahu Kaal with scientific precision using Swiss Ephemeris, the astronomical engine trusted by NASA and professional astrologers worldwide. Unlike static charts or generalized tables that show fixed timings for entire cities, our system calculates exact sunrise and sunset for your specific coordinates on the current date, then derives the precise Rahu Kaal window. Beyond Rahu Kaal, the AI can also identify other inauspicious periods like Yamaghanda Kaal (ruled by Saturn) and Gulika Kaal (ruled by Mandi), as well as the highly auspicious Abhijit Muhurat. Combined with your personal birth chart analysis and the daily Panchang, you can plan your entire day with confidence according to Vedic principles.
How It Works
Ask About Rahu Kaal
Simply ask "What is Rahu Kaal today?" along with your city. The AI will compute timings for your exact location.
AI Calculates Precisely
Swiss Ephemeris computes exact sunrise and sunset for your coordinates, then derives the precise Rahu Kaal window.
Get Scheduling Advice
Receive today's Rahu Kaal timings with AI-powered guidance on when to schedule or avoid important activities.
Why Use Jyotir AI for Rahu Kaal
Location-Accurate Timings
Rahu Kaal computed from your exact location using precise sunrise and sunset data from Swiss Ephemeris
AI-Powered Advice
Ask the AI whether your planned activity is affected by Rahu Kaal and get personalized scheduling suggestions
Complete Daily Timings
Beyond Rahu Kaal, also check Yamaghanda Kaal, Gulika Kaal, and Abhijit Muhurat for comprehensive planning
Swiss Ephemeris Precision
NASA-grade astronomical calculations ensure sunrise, sunset, and Rahu Kaal timings are accurate to the minute
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Rahu Kaal?
Rahu Kaal (also spelled Rahu Kalam or Raahu Kaal) is an inauspicious time period in Vedic astrology that occurs every day, ruled by the shadow planet Rahu. In Hindu tradition, Rahu is considered a malefic influence associated with confusion, delays, and obstacles. During Rahu Kaal, it is believed that new ventures, important decisions, and auspicious activities should be avoided. The period lasts approximately 90 minutes each day and falls at different times depending on the weekday. Rahu Kaal is one of the most widely observed inauspicious timings in Indian daily life.
How is Rahu Kaal calculated?
Rahu Kaal is calculated by dividing the total duration of daylight (sunrise to sunset) into eight equal segments, each assigned to a planet. The segment ruled by Rahu is considered Rahu Kaal. The order of planetary rulers for these segments follows a fixed pattern for each weekday: Monday (2nd segment), Saturday (3rd), Friday (4th), Wednesday (5th), Thursday (6th), Tuesday (7th), and Sunday (8th). Since sunrise and sunset times vary by location and season, Rahu Kaal timings differ across cities and change throughout the year. Jyotir AI uses Swiss Ephemeris to compute precise sunrise and sunset for your location, ensuring accurate Rahu Kaal timings.
What should not be done during Rahu Kaal?
During Rahu Kaal, it is traditionally advised to avoid starting new activities such as beginning a new job, signing contracts, starting a journey, launching a business, purchasing property, or conducting marriage ceremonies and other auspicious rituals. Financial transactions like investments, loan applications, and major purchases are also generally postponed. However, routine daily activities, ongoing work, and activities already in progress are considered unaffected. Some people also avoid scheduling important meetings or medical procedures during this period, though the strictness of observance varies by region and family tradition.
Does Rahu Kaal apply to existing activities?
No, Rahu Kaal traditionally applies only to the initiation of new activities, not to work or tasks already in progress. If you started a task before Rahu Kaal began, you can continue it without concern. The inauspicious influence is believed to affect the "birth" or starting moment of an activity — similar to how a birth chart captures the planetary configuration at the moment of birth. So if you are already at work, traveling, or engaged in any ongoing activity, Rahu Kaal does not require you to stop. This is why Rahu Kaal primarily matters for scheduling new beginnings and auspicious ceremonies.
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