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Jyotisha — Jyotish · Vedic astrology

The Sanskrit name for Vedic astrology — literally "the science of light." One of the six Vedangas (auxiliary disciplines of the Veda).

About Vedic Astrology →

Kundli — Janam Kundali · Birth chart

A natal chart cast for the moment, date, and place of birth. The foundation of any Vedic reading.

Birth Chart guide →

Lagna — Ascendant · Rising sign

The zodiac sign rising on the eastern horizon at the moment of birth. Determines the first house and the entire house framework of the chart.

Rashi — Rasi · Zodiac sign

One of the twelve 30°-wide zodiac signs from Mesha (Aries) through Meena (Pisces). Vedic astrology uses the sidereal zodiac, not the tropical zodiac used in Western astrology.

Bhava — House · Sthana

One of twelve life-area divisions of the chart. In the Whole-Sign system (Parashari default), each sign occupies exactly one house counted from the Lagna.

Graha — Planet · "Seizer"

The nine classical Jyotish "planets": Sun, Moon, Mars, Mercury, Jupiter, Venus, Saturn, and the two lunar nodes Rahu and Ketu. Outer planets (Uranus, Neptune, Pluto) are not used.

Nakshatra — Lunar mansion

One of 27 segments of the ecliptic, each 13°20' wide. The Moon's nakshatra at birth determines the starting point of the Vimshottari Dasha sequence.

Drishti — Aspect · Glance

The "gaze" a planet casts on other points in the chart. All grahas aspect the 7th house from themselves; Mars adds 4 and 8, Jupiter adds 5 and 9, Saturn adds 3 and 10.

Karaka — Significator

A planet that signifies a specific life-area irrespective of the chart. Sun = soul/father, Moon = mother/mind, Jupiter = wisdom/children, Venus = relationships/wealth, and so on.

Yoga — Planetary combination

A named combination of planets, signs, or houses that produces a recognisable life-pattern. Hundreds are catalogued in BPHS, Phaladipika, Saravali, and B.V. Raman's "Three Hundred Important Combinations."

Dosha — Affliction · Risk-flag

A configuration considered inauspicious by classical texts when present in a chart. The most-searched examples are Mangal Dosha and Kala Sarpa.

Dasha — Planetary period

A timing system in which each graha "rules" a span of the native's life. Vimshottari Dasha (120-year cycle keyed to the Moon's nakshatra) is the standard.

Dasha guide →

Varga — Divisional chart

A subdivided chart derived by mathematically dividing each rashi into N parts. The Navamsa (D9) and Dashamsa (D10) are the most-used after the rashi chart itself.

Ayanamsa

The offset between the tropical and sidereal zodiacs. AstroPal uses the Lahiri ayanamsa by default, the standard for modern Vedic astrology.

Parampara — Lineage

The continuous teacher-to-student transmission by which Jyotish knowledge has been preserved. The classical texts AstroPal cites are still taught in unbroken parampara today.

Tanu Bhava (1st house)

House of self, body, personality, head, overall vitality. The Lagna itself is the 1st-house cusp.

Dhana Bhava (2nd house)

House of accumulated wealth, family of origin, speech, face, and early-childhood resources.

Sahaja Bhava (3rd house)

House of siblings, courage, short journeys, communication, and the hands/arms.

Sukha Bhava (4th house)

House of mother, home, vehicles, real estate, inner contentment, and primary-school years.

Putra Bhava (5th house)

House of children, intellect, romance, speculation, mantras and stored merit (purva-punya).

Ari Bhava (6th house)

House of enemies, disease, debt, daily work, and service. Classically called a dussthana (difficult house).

Yuvati Bhava (7th house)

House of spouse, business partnerships, and public dealings. Always directly opposite the Lagna.

Randhra Bhava (8th house)

House of longevity, deep transformation, in-laws' resources, occult, inheritance, and sudden events.

Dharma Bhava (9th house)

House of father (in some schools), guru, higher learning, dharma, long journeys, and good fortune (bhagya).

Karma Bhava (10th house)

House of career, public reputation, status, and one's actions in the world. The strongest "kendra" (angular) house.

Labha Bhava (11th house)

House of gains, elder siblings, networks, and fulfilled desires.

Vyaya Bhava (12th house)

House of expenditure, foreign places, isolation, liberation (moksha), and the bed (the literal meaning of "vyaya"-related sleep).

Kendra

The four angular houses — 1st, 4th, 7th, 10th. Considered the chart's strongest positions.

Trikona

The three trinal houses — 1st, 5th, 9th. Classically the most auspicious; planets here flourish.

Dussthana

The three "difficult" houses — 6th, 8th, 12th. Classically afflicted positions, though malefics placed here can produce specific results.

Upachaya

The "improving" houses — 3rd, 6th, 10th, 11th. Malefic planets here are said to improve their results over time.

Mesha (Aries)

First rashi, ruled by Mars. Cardinal, fire, masculine. 0°-30° of the sidereal zodiac.

Vrishabha (Taurus)

Second rashi, ruled by Venus. Fixed, earth, feminine. 30°-60°.

Mithuna (Gemini)

Third rashi, ruled by Mercury. Mutable, air, masculine. 60°-90°.

Karka (Cancer)

Fourth rashi, ruled by the Moon. Cardinal, water, feminine. 90°-120°.

Simha (Leo)

Fifth rashi, ruled by the Sun. Fixed, fire, masculine. 120°-150°.

Kanya (Virgo)

Sixth rashi, ruled by Mercury. Mutable, earth, feminine. 150°-180°. Mercury is exalted here.

Tula (Libra)

Seventh rashi, ruled by Venus. Cardinal, air, masculine. 180°-210°. Saturn is exalted here; the Sun is debilitated.

Vrishchika (Scorpio)

Eighth rashi, ruled by Mars (and by Ketu in Jaimini schemes). Fixed, water, feminine. 210°-240°.

Dhanus (Sagittarius)

Ninth rashi, ruled by Jupiter. Mutable, fire, masculine. 240°-270°.

Makara (Capricorn)

Tenth rashi, ruled by Saturn. Cardinal, earth, feminine. 270°-300°. Mars is exalted here.

Kumbha (Aquarius)

Eleventh rashi, ruled by Saturn (and Rahu in some schemes). Fixed, air, masculine. 300°-330°.

Meena (Pisces)

Twelfth rashi, ruled by Jupiter (and by Ketu in some schemes). Mutable, water, feminine. 330°-360°. Venus is exalted here.

Pada

A 3°20' quarter of a nakshatra. Each nakshatra has 4 padas, dividing it across multiple navamsa signs in the D9.

Nakshatra lord

The graha that "rules" a given nakshatra in the Vimshottari sequence (e.g., Ketu rules Ashwini, Venus rules Bharani, Sun rules Krittika).

Ashwini

First nakshatra. 0°-13°20' Aries. Lord: Ketu. Symbol: horse's head.

Bharani

Second nakshatra. 13°20'-26°40' Aries. Lord: Venus. Symbol: yoni (vessel).

Krittika

Third nakshatra. 26°40' Aries - 10° Taurus. Lord: Sun. Symbol: razor / sharp blade.

Rohini

Fourth nakshatra. 10°-23°20' Taurus. Lord: Moon. The Moon is exalted in this nakshatra's span.

Mrigashira

Fifth nakshatra. 23°20' Taurus - 6°40' Gemini. Lord: Mars.

Ardra

Sixth nakshatra. 6°40'-20° Gemini. Lord: Rahu.

Punarvasu

Seventh nakshatra. 20° Gemini - 3°20' Cancer. Lord: Jupiter.

Pushya

Eighth nakshatra. 3°20'-16°40' Cancer. Lord: Saturn. Often called the most auspicious nakshatra for Muhurta selection.

Magha

Tenth nakshatra. 0°-13°20' Leo. Lord: Ketu. Symbol: royal throne.

Chitra

Fourteenth nakshatra. 23°20' Virgo - 6°40' Libra. Lord: Mars.

Swati

Fifteenth nakshatra. 6°40'-20° Libra. Lord: Rahu.

Anuradha

Seventeenth nakshatra. 3°20'-16°40' Scorpio. Lord: Saturn.

Mula

Nineteenth nakshatra. 0°-13°20' Sagittarius. Lord: Ketu. Considered sensitive in classical texts.

Uttara Ashadha

Twenty-first nakshatra. 26°40' Sagittarius - 10° Capricorn. Lord: Sun.

Rohini-Pushya-Hasta

Three nakshatras (Rohini, Pushya, Hasta) classically grouped as the most reliably auspicious for new ventures.

Surya (Sun)

Karaka of soul, father, authority, vitality. Exalted in Mesha (10°), debilitated in Tula (10°). Owns Simha.

Chandra (Moon)

Karaka of mind, mother, emotions, public. Exalted in Vrishabha (3°), debilitated in Vrishchika (3°). Owns Karka.

Mangala (Mars)

Karaka of energy, siblings, property, courage. Exalted in Makara (28°), debilitated in Karka (28°). Owns Mesha and Vrishchika.

Budha (Mercury)

Karaka of intellect, speech, commerce, communication. Exalted in Kanya (15°), debilitated in Meena (15°). Owns Mithuna and Kanya.

Guru (Jupiter · Brihaspati)

Karaka of wisdom, dharma, children, wealth. Exalted in Karka (5°), debilitated in Makara (5°). Owns Dhanus and Meena.

Shukra (Venus)

Karaka of relationships, wealth, beauty, the arts. Exalted in Meena (27°), debilitated in Kanya (27°). Owns Vrishabha and Tula.

Shani (Saturn)

Karaka of longevity, discipline, labour, sorrow. Exalted in Tula (20°), debilitated in Mesha (20°). Owns Makara and Kumbha.

Rahu

The North Lunar Node — a mathematical point, not a physical body. A "shadow graha." No ownership of any rashi; associated by many classical schemes with Kumbha.

Ketu

The South Lunar Node — always exactly 180° from Rahu. The "shadow graha" of liberation, occult, and detachment. Associated by some schemes with Vrishchika or Meena.

Combust (Astangata)

A graha is "combust" when too close in longitude to the Sun, weakening its expression. The classical limit varies by planet (e.g., 12° for Mercury, 8° for Jupiter).

Retrograde (Vakra)

A graha appearing to move backward through the zodiac. Classical texts give it special weight in interpretation, both positive and negative depending on context.

Exaltation (Uccha)

The rashi (and exact degree) in which a graha is at maximum strength. Each graha has one exaltation point and one debilitation point exactly 180° opposite.

Debilitation (Neecha)

The point opposite the exaltation, where a graha is at minimum classical strength. Neecha-bhanga rules can cancel this debility.

Rashi (D1)

The natal chart itself — the primary chart. All other vargas are derived from it.

Hora (D2)

Divisional chart of wealth and resources. Each rashi is split into two halves between Sun and Moon.

Drekkana (D3)

Divisional chart of siblings. Each rashi is divided into three 10°-segments.

Saptamsa (D7)

Divisional chart of children and progeny. Each rashi divided into seven.

Navamsa (D9)

Divisional chart of marriage, dharma, and inner self. Each rashi divided into nine 3°20' parts. After the rashi itself, the most-used varga.

Navamsa (D9) guide →

Dashamsa (D10)

Divisional chart of career and public action. Each rashi divided into ten 3°-parts.

Dwadashamsa (D12)

Divisional chart of parents and ancestry. Each rashi divided into twelve 2°30'-parts.

Shodashamsa (D16)

Divisional chart of vehicles, comforts, and conveyances.

Vimshamsa (D20)

Divisional chart of spiritual practice and worship.

Trimshamsa (D30)

Divisional chart of misfortunes, accidents, and weaknesses. Each rashi divided unequally into five sections ruled by the five non-luminary planets.

Shashtiamsa (D60)

Divisional chart of overall life-results across past karma. The finest division Parashara catalogues in BPHS.

Shodasavargas

The classical "16 vargas" — the canonical set Parashara lists in BPHS Chapter 6. AstroPal computes all 16.

Shadbala

The classical six-fold planetary strength system: Sthana (positional), Dig (directional), Kala (temporal), Cheshta (motional), Naisargika (intrinsic), Drik (aspectual). Specified rule-by-rule in BPHS Chapter 27.

Bhavabala

House-strength calculation, parallel to Shadbala. Combines the lord's strength, occupants' strengths, and the aspects on the house. AstroPal computes this per BPHS Article 132 (B. V. Raman, 1996 edition).

Ashtakavarga

A bindu-based ("dot") strength system. Each graha contributes points to each rashi from its own perspective and from the seven other grahas; the totals form a transit-prediction grid.

Vimshopaka Bala

A weighted-average strength across multiple vargas, giving an overall multi-chart score for a planet.

Ishta-Kashta Phala

Two derived scores ("auspicious result" and "inauspicious result") combining Shadbala and other factors to estimate a planet's net helpfulness. AstroPal surfaces these on the chart page.

Sthana Bala

Positional strength — first of the six Shadbala components. Includes Uccha (exaltation), Saptavargaja (multi-varga), Ojha-Yugma (odd/even), Kendradi (angular), Drekkana.

Vimshottari Dasha

The standard 120-year planetary period system. The starting Mahadasha is determined by the nakshatra-lord of the Moon at birth.

Dasha guide →

Mahadasha

A major planetary period in the Vimshottari system. Ketu rules 7 years, Venus 20, Sun 6, Moon 10, Mars 7, Rahu 18, Jupiter 16, Saturn 19, Mercury 17.

Antardasha

A sub-period within a Mahadasha — the second-level rulership in Vimshottari. Nine Antardashas span each Mahadasha.

Pratyantardasha

A sub-sub-period within an Antardasha — the third level of Vimshottari's nested structure.

Yogini Dasha

A 36-year cyclical dasha system based on eight Yogini deities. Used as a complement to Vimshottari for short-term timing.

Chara Dasha

A Jaimini-system dasha that progresses by sign (rashi) rather than by graha. Each rashi rules a number of years computed from a specific formula.

Kala Chakra Dasha

A complex dasha system from BPHS, prized for its accuracy but rarely calculated correctly by hand. AstroPal computes it directly from the canonical rules.

Raja Yoga

A combination of kendra (angular) and trikona (trinal) lords that classical texts associate with success, power, and rise in life.

Dhana Yoga

A combination involving the lords of wealth-houses (2nd, 5th, 9th, 11th) that classical texts associate with accumulation of wealth.

Gajakesari Yoga

Jupiter in a kendra from the Moon. One of the most-cited beneficial yogas in BPHS and Phaladipika.

Pancha Mahapurusha Yoga

A set of five yogas formed when one of Mars, Mercury, Jupiter, Venus, or Saturn is exalted or in its own sign AND in a kendra from the Lagna.

Neecha Bhanga Raja Yoga

A combination that "cancels" a planet's debilitation and converts it into a Raja Yoga. BPHS specifies four conditions any one of which produces the cancellation.

Mangal Dosha

Mars positioned in the 1st, 2nd, 4th, 7th, 8th, or 12th house from the Lagna (and in some schools from the Moon and Venus as well). Classically considered for marriage compatibility analysis.

Mangal Dosha guide →

Sade Sati

The 7.5-year period during which Saturn transits the rashi before, on, and after the natal Moon. Three phases of 2.5 years each.

Sade Sati guide →

Kala Sarpa Yoga

A configuration in which all seven non-nodal grahas lie within the 180° arc bounded by Rahu and Ketu. A modern construct (not canonical in BPHS); AstroPal flags it transparently as such.

Kuja Dosha

Alternate Sanskrit name for Mangal Dosha. "Kuja" is a name for Mars.

Mangal Dosha guide →

Pitru Dosha

A configuration involving Sun (karaka of father) and Rahu/Ketu indicating unresolved ancestral karma in classical interpretations.

Gochara

Transit — the current positions of grahas, read against the natal chart. Saturn's gochara across the natal Moon defines Sade Sati.

Muhurta

Electional astrology — the selection of an auspicious moment for a deliberate action (marriage, business start, surgery, travel). The classical text is Muhurta Chintamani.

Muhurta guide →

Prashna

Horary astrology — reading a chart cast for the moment a question is asked. Used when the natal chart is unknown or to answer specific questions independently.

Tithi

A lunar-day division — the time the Moon takes to gain 12° of longitude on the Sun. 30 tithis make one lunar month.

Vara

The seven weekdays, each ruled by one of the seven classical luminaries/planets (Sun for Ravivara/Sunday, Moon for Somavara/Monday, etc.).

Karana

A half-tithi. Eleven karanas cycle through the lunar month, used in muhurta selection.

Yoga (calendrical)

A 5-aspect calendrical period (distinct from the planetary-combination meaning of "yoga"). One of 27, used in panchanga calculations.

Panchanga

The five-limbed Vedic almanac: Tithi, Vara, Nakshatra, Yoga (calendrical), Karana. The basis of muhurta selection.

Ashtakoota Milan

An eight-factor compatibility scoring system used in Kundali Milan (Indian marriage matching). Total possible score is 36 points.

Kundali Milan guide →

Rajju Dosha

A compatibility risk-flag based on the bride's and groom's nakshatras falling on incompatible "rope" segments. Used primarily in South Indian Kerala-style matching.