✦ Reference

Vedic Astrology Glossary

Every key Jyotish term, defined in plain English — your quick reference for understanding your birth chart.

Vedic Astrology (Jyotish): The traditional Indian system of astrology, based on the sidereal zodiac and the actual positions of the planets and stars. Jyotish means 'science of light'.
Kundli (Birth Chart): Also called Janma Kundali — a map of the sky at your exact moment and place of birth, showing the planets in their signs and houses.
Rashi (Moon Sign): Your Moon sign — the zodiac sign the Moon occupied at birth. In Vedic astrology the Rashi, not the Sun sign, is the primary sign for predictions and matching.
Lagna (Ascendant): The zodiac sign rising on the eastern horizon at your birth. It anchors the houses of the chart and shapes your body, temperament and life path.
Nakshatra: One of 27 lunar mansions (star groups) the Moon passes through. Your Janma Nakshatra (birth star) governs your dasha sequence, temperament and matching.
Pada: Each Nakshatra is divided into four quarters called padas. Your pada refines your Nakshatra and determines your Navamsa placement.
Sidereal Zodiac: A zodiac fixed against the actual constellations, used in Vedic astrology — unlike the Western tropical zodiac, which is fixed to the seasons.
Ayanamsa: The angular difference between the sidereal and tropical zodiacs caused by precession. Vedic astrology most commonly uses the Lahiri (Chitrapaksha) Ayanamsa.
Graha (Planet): The nine Vedic 'planets' (Navagraha): Sun, Moon, Mars, Mercury, Jupiter, Venus, Saturn, and the lunar nodes Rahu and Ketu.
Bhava (House): One of the twelve houses of the chart, each governing areas of life such as self, wealth, marriage, career and spirituality.
Dasha: A planetary period that times events. The Vimshottari Dasha, keyed to your birth Nakshatra, is a 120-year cycle of major periods (Mahadashas).
Mahadasha & Antardasha: The Mahadasha is the major planetary period; the Antardasha (or Bhukti) is a sub-period within it. Together they pinpoint when results unfold.
Yoga: A specific planetary combination that produces a defined result — for example Gaja Kesari Yoga (wisdom and fame) or a Raj Yoga (status and power).
Dosha: An affliction or imbalance in the chart, such as Mangal Dosha or Kaal Sarp Dosha, often addressed with remedies.
Mangal Dosha (Manglik): An affliction caused by Mars in certain houses, traditionally considered in marriage matching. It is frequently cancelled by other chart factors.
Kaal Sarp Dosha: A configuration in which all seven planets fall between Rahu and Ketu. It is said to bring delays or struggle until its energy is consciously worked with.
Sade Sati: The roughly seven-and-a-half-year period when Saturn transits the 12th, 1st and 2nd houses from your natal Moon — a time of testing and maturity.
Gun Milan (Ashtakoot): The eight-fold (36-point) compatibility system used in Vedic marriage matching, comparing the couple's Nakshatras and Moon signs.
Navamsa (D9): The ninth divisional chart, the most important after the birth chart. It is used to judge marriage, dharma, and the inner strength of planets.
Atmakaraka: The 'soul significator' — the planet at the highest degree in your chart, representing your soul's deepest desire in this life.
Retrograde (Vakri): When a planet appears to move backward from Earth's view. Vedic astrology treats retrograde planets as intensified or inwardly directed.
Combustion (Astha): When a planet sits too close to the Sun and is 'burnt', weakening its ability to give results until it separates from the Sun.
Panchang: The Vedic almanac of the day, comprising five limbs: Tithi, Vara (weekday), Nakshatra, Yoga and Karana — used to choose auspicious timing.
Tithi: The lunar day, based on the angular distance between the Sun and Moon. There are 30 tithis in a lunar month.
Choghadiya: A division of the day and night into auspicious and inauspicious time slots, used to pick favourable windows for activities.
Rahu Kaal: An inauspicious window of roughly 90 minutes each day, ruled by Rahu, traditionally avoided for starting important new work.
Gochar (Transit): The current movement of planets and how it interacts with your birth chart, used for timing day-to-day and yearly predictions.