If you are planning an important event, activity or a project, you would want it to be a success. So, it is quite logical that you should choose the best time or the right time to begin it to get the best possible results.

Muhurta or auspicious times are an astrological subject quite familiar to peoples in many countries in the East due its applicability in their day-to-day life. In the West the practice of fixing a propitious time or a Subha Muhurta is called Electional Astrology.

Muhurta or Nekata is the auspicious or propitious time selected according to astrological principles to commence some important activity or event anticipating optimal successful results

In ancient times, kings in India would consult an astrologer for choosing a Muhurtha or a Muhurta to start a military campaign or to sign a peace treaty.  

People in Sri Lanka often refer to Muhurta as Nekata’, and it has become a household word among the people.
Muhurta or Nekata is the auspicious or propitious time selected according to astrological principles to commence some important activity or event anticipating optimal successful results.

Peoples in the orient in particular believe that if some task undertaken is to succeed or produce the desired result in full measure it should be commenced at an auspicious time.

Muhurta represents the moment at which the ethereal currents released by the planets become as powerful as to make a beneficial effect on the activity that is begun at that particular moment

Time, both creator and destroyer
Celebrated Indian Astrologer Dr. B.V. Raman says that it is an established fact that the success in any work you embark on depends on the time it is begun. 

He says all objects in nature are produced in Time, developed in Time and destroyed in Time.
According to Dr. Raman, if some work is begun at an inauspicious time, despite the resource input is the best by all standards, it will end in failure. 

Sages and savants in ancient India and even those who lived in great ancient civilizations in Sumer, Babylonia and Egypt have propounded that man’s actions in any field should be in harmony with natural forces and rhythms,invisible powers and patterns embedded in the womb of Time - if they are to come to fruition.

Ethereal currents released by planets
A Muhurta or Nekata is normally fixed for launching some work or activity meant to produce good or beneficial results. However, a Muhurta can also be selected to embark on activity aimed at producing some evil effect on someone as well- for example a chosen victim of vengeance. All planetary positions are taken into consideration in fixing Muhurta while the Moon plays a major role in the scheme. Muhurta represents the moment at which the ethereal currents released by the planets become as powerful as to make a beneficial effect on the activity that is begun at that particular moment.

Lunar energy identified with mental energy
The Moon plays an important role in fixing Muhurta because the Moon rules the mind and the lunar energy represents the mental energy.

People in Sri Lanka are in the habit of referring to Muhurta as Nekata because the Nekata or the constellation the Moon occupies at a given time is considered the most important of the five astrological factors - Pachanga which have a bearing on fixing a propitious time.