Panchakāla Prakriyā - An IKS Framework for Structuring the Modern Workday

Our ancient Bharatiya texts cover an unimaginable range of topics. Yet, for many, the immediate association with ancient Indian literature is “religion”—something meant only for puja and for purohitas.

Even setting aside the vast STEM literature within Indian Knowledge Systems (IKS), the so-called “religious texts” such as the Upanishads, Itihāsas, and Purāṇas offer deep, comprehensive wisdom and practical insights into every aspect of human life. They present frameworks for living—frameworks that help us structure time, attention, effort, learning, and purpose.

IKS texts are rich with process models: quietly elegant, deeply human, and remarkably adaptable to contemporary life.

One such framework is Panchakāla Prakriyā—a way of organising one’s day with clarity and intention.

What is Panchakāla Prakriyā?

Panchakāla Prakriyā literally means “the discipline of five time-periods.”It is described in the Pancharatra Agama, which lays down daily observances for devotees of Vishnu.

At its core, Panchakāla is not merely ritualistic. It is a rhythm of preparation, action, learning, and reflection.

The five components are:

1. Abhigamanam – Going towards

2. Upādānam – Gathering

3. Ijya – Worship through action

4. Svādhyāya – Self-study

5. Yoga – Unification and contemplation

While traditionally intended for a Sri Vaishnava’s spiritual life, this framework translates surprisingly well into modern professional life.

Re-imagining Panchakāla for Work Life

To apply this framework today, let us make a simple shift in perspective:

• Sri Vaishnava → Working Professional

• Vishnu (the object of worship) → Customer(internal or external, individual or collective)

Work, then, becomes Ijya—an offering done with care, sincerity, and responsibility.

1. Abhigamanam (say 9:00 – 10:00 AM): Preparing the Self

Abhigamanam means “going towards”.

In a professional context, this is not about rushing into tasks but aligning oneself before action.

This time may involve:

• Clearing pending messages and emails

• Reviewing priorities for the day

• Aligning your team’s focus

• Mentally preparing for the kind of work the day demands

The intent here is inner readiness. A distracted beginning often leads to a fragmented day.

2. Upādānam (say 10:00 – 11:00 AM): Organising for Effectiveness

Upādānam means “gathering”.

Before worship begins, materials are gathered.Before meaningful work begins, context must be assembled.

This phase includes:

• Collecting documentation and data

• Team stand-ups or sync-ups

• Discussions with relevant stakeholders

• Clarifying dependencies and constraints

Time invested here prevents confusion later. Efficiency, in IKS, is born from order - not urgency.

3. Ijya (say 11:00 AM – 4:00 PM): Work as Offering

Ijya is the act of worship itself.

In work life, this translates to deep, sincere execution:

• Focused effort

• Ownership of outcomes

• Attention to quality

• Respect for time—yours and others’

In traditional worship, prasāda is shared after completion.In work, prasāda becomes:

• Updates to stakeholders

• Transparent reporting

• Sharing outcomes with teams and leaders

The spirit is the same: Offer the fruit of your work, without anxiety or concealment.

4. Svādhyāya (say 4:00 – 5:00 PM): Learning and Sharing

Svādhyāya means self-study, but never in isolation.

This is the phase most professionals quietly skip—and pay for later.

It includes:

• Reading about industry trends

• Reflecting on what worked and what didn’t

• Learning from peers

• Teaching or sharing insights with others

In IKS, learning is not only from the taught. Self-learning and reflection is a key aspect in Indian model. 

5. Yoga (say 5:00 – 6:00 PM): Reflecting on Purpose

Yoga means “to unite”.

This is not about producing ideas every day. It is about reconnecting with purpose. This is another key problem every employee faces today - Purpose. 

Purpose aligns effort with a larger goal and gives meaning. Its absence is why many experience work as merely transactional in today’s world resulting in stress and low morale.

Questions that belong here:

• How does my work serve the customer?

• What larger problem are we solving?

• What impact does our organization have on society?

Tasks change. Purpose must not.

The Panchakāla Rhythm, Summarised

• Prepare yourself for the day

• Organise before you act

• Work sincerely and completely

• Continuously learn and share

• Reflect on the larger purpose

Panchakāla Prakriyā reminds us that life—and work—thrives on rhythm, not haste.

In a world obsessed with hacks and productivity shortcuts, IKS quietly offer something deeper:

A way to live and work without fragmentation.

If you find the above framework interesting (or even if you don’t), you might want to try living with Panchakāla Prakriyā for a while. Not for a day or two, but over a few weeks, with gentle discipline rather than perfection. See what it does to your mornings, your focus at work, your learning habits, and your sense of purpose. Pay attention to where it feels natural and where it feels uncomfortable—that’s often where the learning is. These Indic frameworks don’t reveal themselves instantly; they unfold slowly, through practice. If you do give this a try, I’d genuinely love to hear how it went - what shifted, what didn’t, and what surprised you along the way.