Glossary

Jupiter, Venus, well-placed Mercury and a waxing Moon are the natural benefics — grahas whose influence is generally supportive. That is their inherent nature; a planet's role in YOUR chart also depends on which houses it rules, which is the separate idea of a functional benefic.

Compares the Moon signs of the couple. Certain sign combinations (6-8 and 2-12) are considered inauspicious as they may bring financial strain or separation, though lordship can cancel the dosha.

One of the 12 houses dividing the chart, each governing a sphere of life such as wealth (2nd), marriage (7th), or career (10th). House cusps are calculated from the ascendant degree.

The composite strength of a house calculated from the house lord's strength, aspects received, and planets occupying it. Strong bhava bala indicates the house's significations will flourish.

A nadi technique that interprets every pair of planets by house position to generate detailed life predictions. It works by combining the significations of two planets in a specific bhava.

A classical collection of chart-pattern readings attributed to Sage Bhrigu. Entries that match your chart are read as indications for life areas such as career, marriage and wealth.

The divisional chart for career and professional achievements. Strong planets in the dasamsa, especially in kendras, indicate success and recognition in one's profession.

A time-based system assigning rulership of life periods to specific planets. The most widely used is Vimshottari Dasha (120-year cycle), where each planet rules a period proportional to its nakshatra allocation.

The sign opposite exaltation where a planet is weakest (e.g., Sun in Libra, Moon in Scorpio). A debilitated planet struggles to deliver its karakatvas unless cancellation conditions apply.

Formed by connections between lords of the 1st, 2nd, 5th, 9th, and 11th houses. Multiple dhana yogas in a chart indicate accumulation of wealth, especially during related dasha periods.

Strength a planet gains from house placement: Jupiter and Mercury are strong in the 1st house, Sun and Mars in the 10th, Saturn in the 7th, and Moon and Venus in the 4th.

A planetary combination considered challenging or inauspicious. Common doshas include Manglik Dosha (Mars in 1st, 4th, 7th, 8th, or 12th house), Kaal Sarp Dosha (all planets between Rahu and Ketu), and Pitra Dosha.

Examines siblings, courage, and short journeys. Each sign is divided into three equal parts of 10° each, mapped to the trinal signs of the same element.

The houses of illness and conflict (6th), upheaval and inheritance (8th) and loss and withdrawal (12th) — exactly these three. A planet here is tested, but the 6th and 8th also govern resilience and research, so the placement is not simply bad.

A planet whose house lordship makes it favourable for the chart, regardless of its natural benefic/malefic status. Trikona lords (5th and 9th) are always functional benefics.

A planet whose house lordship (especially 6th, 8th, 12th) makes it challenging for the chart. Even naturally benefic planets become functional malefics if they rule dusthana houses.

The simplest divisional chart, dividing each sign into two halves ruled by the Sun and Moon. It is primarily used to assess wealth potential and financial fortune.

Present when all seven planets are hemmed between Rahu and Ketu. It is said to create recurring obstacles and karmic patterns, though its severity is debated among scholars.

A significator. Each life matter has a planet representing it whatever your chart looks like — Jupiter for children and wisdom, Venus for marriage, the Sun for the father, the Moon for the mother. A subject is read from both its house and its karaka.

Each tithi is split into two karanas, totalling 60 per lunar month. Karanas are used in muhurta (electional astrology) to fine-tune timing of activities.

Formed when there are no planets in the 2nd or 12th house from the Moon. It can indicate emotional loneliness and financial instability, but is cancelled if the Moon is aspected by benefics or in a kendra.

The four angular houses, the chart's pillars: self, home, partnership and career. Planets here act visibly in the world. A planet ruling both a kendra and a trikona becomes a yogakaraka, among the strongest placements available.

The south node of the Moon, representing spirituality, liberation, past-life karma, and detachment. Ketu is considered a shadow planet (chhaya graha) and is always exactly opposite Rahu in the chart.

A refined predictive system developed by K.S. Krishnamurti that uses sub-lords (nakshatra-pada-based cuspal rulers) for precise event timing. It divides each nakshatra into nine unequal sub-divisions.

The map of the sky at the exact moment and location of birth, showing the positions of all nine planets across the 12 houses and 12 signs of the sidereal zodiac.

The top-level period in the Vimshottari system, lasting 6 to 20 years depending on the ruling planet. The mahadasha lord becomes the primary karmic theme for that span of life.

Saturn, Mars, the Sun, Rahu, Ketu and a waning Moon are the natural malefics. The word is harsher than the idea: a malefic applies pressure, discipline and friction rather than doing harm, and a well-placed one is often what makes a chart capable.

Occurs when Mars occupies the 1st, 2nd, 4th, 7th, 8th, or 12th house from the lagna, Moon, or Venus. It is traditionally considered a factor in marital compatibility, though many cancellation conditions exist.

Lords of the 2nd and 7th houses are marakas, capable of triggering health crises or endings during their dasha periods. Maraka analysis is crucial for longevity assessment.

Each planet's most productive sign, ranking between exaltation and own sign. A planet in mooltrikona is highly effective — for example, Sun in Leo 0°–20° or Mars in Aries 0°–12°.

The branch of Vedic astrology dealing with selecting the most favourable date and time to begin important activities such as marriage, business ventures, travel, or house construction.

Each nakshatra is divided into four padas of 3°20′. The pada determines the navamsha sign and adds nuance to planet placement, especially for dasha interpretation.

Formed when Mars, Mercury, Jupiter, Venus, or Saturn is in its own or exaltation sign in a kendra from the lagna. These are Ruchaka, Bhadra, Hamsa, Malavya, and Sasa yogas respectively.

The daily almanac comprising Tithi, Nakshatra, Yoga, Karana, and Vara. These five elements determine the auspiciousness of any given moment for rituals, travel, and important decisions.

When two true planets (not Rahu/Ketu) are within 1° of each other, they are in graha yuddha. The planet with higher latitude wins, gaining strength while the loser is weakened.

A branch of Vedic astrology where a chart is cast for the exact moment a question is asked, rather than for a person's birth. The resulting chart is interpreted to answer the querent's specific question.

The third level of dasha refinement, useful for pinpointing the timing of events within a few months. Progressively finer levels (sookshma, prana) exist but are rarely used.

The period when Saturn passes through the sign before, over, and after your natal Moon — roughly 7½ years in total. Traditionally read as a time of testing, discipline and maturing rather than simple misfortune.

The transitional zone between two signs, houses, or dasha periods. Planets at sign junctions (within 1° of the boundary) are considered weak. Dasha Sandhi refers to the turbulent period when one planetary period transitions to the next.

A composite strength score calculated from six components: positional, directional, temporal, motional, natural, and aspectual. A planet needs at least 1.0 rupa to be considered adequately strong.

Houses that improve with time and effort. A malefic here is welcome: struggle in these areas tends to convert into competence, so difficulty early often reads as strength later.

One of 27 yogas derived from the sum of Sun and Moon longitudes, each spanning 13°20′. Also used broadly to describe any significant planetary combination in a chart.

A single planet that lords over both a kendra (1, 4, 7, 10) and a trikona (1, 5, 9) simultaneously. For example, Saturn is yogakaraka for Taurus and Libra lagnas, bringing exceptional results in its periods.

An alternative dasha system with eight lords totalling 36 years. Yogini dasha is valued for its simplicity and accuracy in confirming Vimshottari predictions.

Each nakshatra is assigned an animal symbol representing sexual and instinctual nature. Matching yoni symbols indicate physical and temperamental harmony between partners.