तिथि, a unit of time

Small Things Make Big Difference - The Universal "तिथि/Tithi"
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Knowing certain small things technically sometimes makes long lasting impact on a whole group or generation. Here intention is to drive attention to "तिथि/Tithi"

Our traditional unit of time keeping, called "तिथि/Tithi" is often overlooked but it is critically important for us to know since it manifests deep scientific (astronomical) modelling of astronomical configuration exercised by our ancestors.

What is "तिथि/Tithi" do we know it ?
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The "तिथि/Tithi" is angular distance of 12 degrees between Sun and Moon's astronomical position. 30 tithis, of 12 degrees each  (12*30 = 360 degrees) makes a complete circle of 360 degrees knowing and measuring such a distance of 12 degrees in Rigvedic era shows how advanced were our seers or the "कवि/kavi" in their astronomical pursuit far ago in Vedic era.

Indians must realize that for "तिथि/Tithi" there is no parallel in the world be it Mesopotamia, Egypt or Greece.

"तिथि/Tithi" is a Universal Phenomena
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When every morning bright Sun lights up the earth and makes a day,  Why our seers or the "कवि/kavi" didn't make day the basic unit of their calendar is a question that is no longer asked. Historians of ancient India whether Indian or not, have overlooked  "तिथि/Tithi" altogether.

The construct of the "तिथि/Tithi" is universal which stands same wherever you travel in globe unlike the day break which changes as you move along longitudes east or west.

"तिथि/Tithi" is immune to time's slippage which you experience during your air travels and sophistically term 'Jet Leg' in your talks with friends.

करण/ Karana, A Further division of "तिथि/Tithi" 
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A करण/ Karana is half the tithi of 6 degrees of arc. In thirty "तिथि/Tithi",  making a full month, there are sixty half-tithis or करण/ Karana

Naming of Karanas indicate that the concept had it's origin in Mahabharat era

These are 7 करण/ Karana which recurs eight times in an astronomical month,names are :

1. Bava
2. Balava
3. Kanlava
4. Taitila
5. Gara
6. Vanija
7. Vishti

Along with exclusively noted occurrences of below करण/ Karanas

1. Shakuni - Assigned to the latter half of the 14th day of the krishna paksha or no moon weeks

2. Chatuspada - Assigned to the first half of the Amavasya ( approximately 15th day)  of the astronomical months

3. Naga - Assigned to the second half of the Amavasya ( approximately 15th day)  of the astronomical months

4. Kimstughna - Assigned to the first half of the first day of the shukla paksha. (bright moon weeks)