Have you ever read eastern scriptures, spiritual texts, or yogic texts, then you may have come across the Sanskrit word “Brahma muhūrt,” OR in English “Brahma muhurta.”
Brahma means “The creator of the universe,” and muhūrt means “Time or Period.” So, the word Brahma Muhurta can be translated as “the creator’s time, or the time of Brahma.”
“One should wake up during Brahma Muhurta for perfect health
and for achieving a life as long as one desires.”
What Is Brahma Muhurta?
Brahma Muhurta is an auspicious period of 48 minutes which starts from 1 hour & 36 minutes before sunrise and ends 48 minutes before sunrise.
However, the timing of sunrise varies every day, so the Brahma muhurta also changes accordingly. But generally, we can say that Brahma Muhurta lies between 4:00 to 6:00 AM for most geographic locations.
Spiritual seekers utilize this time to do Yoga, Meditation, or other rituals that they have been initiated for.
In ancient time, Indian people have developed an interesting scale to measure time.
In this, the smallest unit of time is called Nimesha, which was defined as the ‘blink of an eye.’
So one Nimesha equals to the time that takes one blink your eyes.
Further,
- 15 Nimesha = One Kashta
- 15 Kashta = One Laghu
- 15 Laghu = One Ghatika
- 2 Ghatika (30 Laghu) = One Muhurta
- 30 Muhurta = One Day (24 hours)
As shown above, if you do the math, you will find that one Muhurta equals 48 minutes, and The Brahma Muhurta is the second-last Muhurta before sunrise.
The ancient people used to measure time in Muhurta, just as we do in hours.
However, Muhurta is still used in Vedic astrology to determine the auspicious time for any special events.
Top Benefits of Waking Up in Brahma Muhurta
- Improve cognitive function
- Improve sleep quality
- Better your mood & mental health
- Reduce stress and anxiety
- Give you a peaceful morning
- Give you time for meditation, yoga, workout, and other things
It is scientifically proven that waking early improves your physical and mental health.
Moreover, if you do yoga or meditate in the early morning, it will benefit more to you.
As you know, many successful people get up early in the morning and meditate, and give credit for their success to this habit.
So, why don’t you make it a habit to change your life?
Brahma Muhurta Time in Different Countries
| CountrySeason | Winter | Spring | Summer | Fall |
| USA | 4:49 – 5:37 AM | 4:54 – 5:42 AM | 4:19 – 5:07 AM | 5:42 – 6:30 AM |
| CANADA | 6:02 – 6:50 | 4:41 – 5:29 | 3:53 – 4:41 | 5:43 – 6:31 |
| INDIA | 5:33 -6:21 | 4:30 – 5:18 | 4:14 – 5:02 | 4:47 – 5:35 |
| UK | 6:23 – 7:11 | 4:28 – 5:16 | 3:25 – 4:13 | 5:48 – 6:36 |
| AUSTRALIA | 4:23 – 5:11 | 4:41 – 5:29 | 5:22 – 6:10 | 4:38 – 5:26 |
| NEW ZEALAND | 4:41 – 5:29 | 5:09 – 5:57 | 5:55 – 6:43 | 5:01 – 5:49 |
| POLAND | 5:57 – 6:45 | 5:52 – 4:40 | 2:43 – 3:31 | 5:17 – 6:05 |
| MEXICO | 3:43 – 4:31 | 4:04 – 4:52 | 4:22 – 5:10 | 3:33 – 4:21 |
| UNITED ARAB EMIRATES | 5:30 – 6:16 | 4:20 – 5:08 | 4:01 – 4:49 | 4:41 – 5:29 |
Brahma Muhurta Time in A.M. @ Different Locations
(Note: This time frame is not accurate, and it depends on the dynamic time of sunrise)
Formula to calculate Brahma Muhurta
Start time: Sunrise time – 1 hour 36 minutes
End time: Sunrise time – 48 Minutes
For example, if the sun rises at 6 AM, the Brahma Muhurta starts at 4:24 AM and ends at 5:12 AM. OR if the sun rises at 6:30 AM, Brahma Muhurta starts from 4:54 AM and ends at 5:42 AM.
Remember: the sunrise time at the particular location alters every day, which means Brahma muhurta also differs every single day.
The Importance of Auspicious Brahma Muhurta
As said, Brahma muhurta is an auspicious time. Therefore, it can be utilized for prayer, meditation, yoga, pranayama, or other religious practices.
During this time, our mind remains fresh and calm, free from thoughts and worries of day-to-day life.
The atmosphere is also calm and soothing at this time without any disturbances or noises.
Since both the mind and the world have qualities of Sattva (Good & Pure), we can utilize this time to progress in our spiritual journey by practicing our sadhana.
Waking up in Brahma muhurta increases our energy levels, boosts the immune system, and enhances the reproductive system.
Do’s And Don’ts During Brahma Muhurta
The ancient sages figured that doing certain things during Brahma muhurta could lead to uncommon physical and spiritual health benefits.
Dharmashastra, an ancient Hindu text on Dharma, lays down the following activities for us to engage in and abstain from during Brahma muhurta:
Do’s
1. Meditate: Brahma muhurta is an excellent time for meditation or bhajan. (The mind is easy to focus during this period)
2. Read books: Reading spiritual books or ancient scriptures is another wonderful way to utilize this time. (With no distractions around you, you can easily grasp and absorb the sacred teachings)
3. Yoga or Exercises: You can practice Yogic stretches or poses. (You can ensure a healthy body and mind by waking up in this time and practicing both meditation and Hatha Yoga)
Don’ts
1. Don’t eat during the Brahma muhurta. (Doing so is detrimental to your health and may cause illnesses)
2. Don’t do any strenuous or turbulent activity that requires a lot of mental work or disturbs your mind.
How To Manage Waking Up in Brahma Muhurta
Okay, so you know that waking up in Brahma muhurta is beneficial for your body and mind, but how can you actually do it?
It’s tough to change your sleep cycle suddenly and start waking up early.
But here are few tips to help you get up in Brahma muhurta:
Go To Bed Early
Go to bed early at night (around 10-10:30 PM) to get up early in the morning.
Don’t try to reduce your sleep hours; otherwise, waking early will become tough for you, and you will feel drowsiness throughout your day. Instead, take enough sleep of 7-8 hours by going to bed early.
If you have trouble falling asleep at night, don’t use your phone or laptop at night; instead, read a book lying down on the bed or do anything that makes you sleepy.
Try To Get Up Few Minutes Early Every Day
Get up 5-10 minutes earlier than usual with maintaining your daily sleep quota.
This way, push yourself a little bit for few days until you can get up in Brahma muhurta.
Reward Yourself
Initially. you have to force yourself to get up early in the morning. But, achieving this goal becomes easier if there’s a reward waiting for your feat.
Hence, reward yourself every time when you got up in Brahma Muhurta. It can be something simple like a cup of coffee, a glass of your favourite juice, or a tasty breakfast (not to be eaten during Brahma muhurta, but after Brahma Muhurta).
Is it Good to Wake Up in Brahma Muhurta for Everyone?
I have read somewhere in some texts that only a healthy person should get up in Brahma muhurta.
Also, on the other hand, pregnant women and people who are suffering from any physical or mental ailments should avoid waking up in Brahma Muhurta.
Moreover, the aged people who haven’t been waking up early since their young age shouldn’t try to change their body cycle now, because the physical conditioning of years is difficult to break, especially for elder people.
Key Takeaway’s
Brahma muhurta is an optimal period for the practice of yogic exercises or meditation.
According to ancient Indian texts, this period is Divine and allows us to connect with ourselves more easily.
Thus, cultivating the habit of waking up in Brahma Muhurta can be so much beneficial, and it can improve our physical & spiritual health.
Even if you don’t believe in religious texts, you should experiment waking up early in Brahma Muhurta for a few weeks and see how it feels.
However, the initial days can be hard and drowsy for you, but once you develop the habit of it (doing it for consecutive 21 days), you will feel good and never miss this practice.
BRAHMA MUHURTA AND VATA DOSHA
In the human body and mind, the pancha tattwa or five elements exist through the three doshas: Vata (air), Pitta (fire) and Kapha (water). When the doshas are in balance, the body and mind live in harmony and good health. In the body, vata is related to gas, pitta to bile and kapha to mucus.
A precise and balanced formation of gas, bile and mucus results in good health. When either of them is out of balance, we fall out of wellness.
Each dosha becomes predominant during certain periods of the day. In fact, the entire 24 hours of the day and night can be divided between periods of vata, pitta and kapha, in which the qualities of the predominant dosha prevail.
The first period of Vata lasts four hours and ends at sunrise, peaking midway. The peak of vata period marks the start of Brahma muhurta, when vata is at its maximum effect.
WHAT THE MASTERS SAY ABOUT BRAHMA MUHURTA:
SWAMI SIVANANDA SARASWATI:
“O Aspirants! Get up at Brahmamuhurta and practise meditation. Do not fail at any cost. Brahmamuhurta is the morning period from 3.30 a.m. to 5.30 a.m. It is very favourable for meditation. The mind is quite refreshed after good sleep. It is quite calm and serene. There is the preponderance of Sattva or purity in the mind at this time. In the atmosphere also, Sattva predominates at this period.
Every Sandhya time, or dusk, is also favourable for meditation. During Brahmamuhurta and dusk, Sushumna Nadi flows readily. You will enter into deep meditation and Samadhi without much effort when Sushumna-Nadi flows. That is the reason why Rishis, Yogis and scriptures speak very highly of these two periods of time. When the breath flows through both nostrils, know that the Sushumna is working. Whenever the Sushumna functions, sit for meditation and enjoy the inner peace of Atman or Soul.”
SWAMI PRABHUPADA
“One who cannot rise early in the morning is not spiritually serious. That is the test. Brahma-muhurta is a very auspicious moment.”
OSHO
“There is a twilight, a moment when there is no light and no darkness. This they call brahmamuhurta, the moment of the divine. Become attuned, look, wait, watch. Soon your eyes will become accustomed and you will be able to see.”
SATYA SAI BABA
“Brahma-muhurta means early morning. It means that the senses are quiet, not yet agitated by the day and the mind is quiet from sleep. Train yourself to waken when Brahma-muhurta begins. You may require an alarm clock at first for the job; but soon, the urge for dhyana (meditation) will rouse you.”
SADHGURU:
“Brahma Muhurta means the time of the creator. You can look at it this way: it is the time when you can create yourself. You become the Brahman in the morning, so you can make yourself the way you want yourself to be.”
“The entire body is in a certain conducive atmosphere, and there is a natural production of what is called melatonin, which is a secretion of the pineal gland. We want to make use of this because the pineal gland is secreting at its maximum during Brahma Muhurta, which means you can stabilise.”