Nishita kaal (Nishita muhurat)
Nishita kaal is the 8th of the 15 muhurtas of the night, about 48 minutes centred on the midpoint between sunset and sunrise. It is the time for midnight worship on Janmashtami, Shivaratri and Kali Puja.
Also known as: Nishita muhurta, Nishitha kaal, Nishith kaal, Midnight muhurat
The night from sunset to the next sunrise is divided into 15 muhurtas, and the 8th straddles its exact middle. That window is Nishita, ‘the deep of night’. Because it is centred on the midpoint of the night rather than on 12 o’clock, it usually falls a little before or after midnight on the clock, and it moves with your city and the season.
Krishna is said to have been born at midnight, so the Janmashtami puja is performed in Nishita kaal. Shivaratri’s main worship is held then too, and the day of Masik Shivaratri is chosen by whether Chaturdashi runs at Nishita. Kali Puja and the night rites of Diwali also look to this window.
It is a window for worship and vigil rather than for worldly beginnings. Our Panchang shows each night’s Nishita muhurat with the day’s other timings.