Vedic Astrology Glossary — Jyotish Terms Defined
Plain-English definitions of the Sanskrit terms that classical Jyotish actually uses. 20 entries, each grounded in the source texts.
Foundation
- Kundli — कुण्डली — A kundli is a Vedic birth chart — a diagram showing the position of the nine grahas (planets) in the twelve bhavas (houses) at the exact moment of birth. It is the foundation of all Jyotish prediction.
- Lagna — लग्न — Lagna, also called the Ascendant, is the sign rising on the eastern horizon at the moment of birth. It defines the first house of the chart and is the foundation of how all other planets are read.
- Rashi — राशि — Rashi is the Vedic term for a zodiac sign — one of twelve 30° divisions of the sidereal zodiac. Each rashi has a ruling planet, an element, and a quality that shapes how planets in that sign behave.
- Nakshatra — नक्षत्र — A nakshatra is one of 27 lunar mansions — sub-divisions of the zodiac, each 13°20' wide, used in Vedic astrology to read finer-grained character, compatibility, and timing. The Moon occupies one nakshatra at any moment.
- Ayanamsa — अयनांश — Ayanamsa is the angular difference between the sidereal zodiac (used in Vedic astrology) and the tropical zodiac (used in Western astrology). It is currently about 24° and grows roughly 50 arc-seconds per year due to precession of the equinoxes.
- Panchang — पञ्चाङ्ग — Panchang is the Vedic almanac — a five-part daily calendar tracking the Tithi (lunar day), Vara (weekday), Nakshatra, Yoga, and Karana. It is used to determine auspicious timings (muhurta) and is the basis of festival dates.
Planetary Periods
- Dasha — दशा — A dasha is a planetary period — a span of time during which a specific graha (planet) is the primary influence over a person's life. Vedic astrology uses dasha systems to predict timing of life events, the most common being Vimshottari Dasha.
- Mahadasha — महादशा — A mahadasha is a major planetary period in the Vimshottari Dasha system, ranging from 6 to 20 years in length depending on the planet. The current mahadasha lord is the dominant influence over a major chapter of life.
- Antardasha — अन्तर्दशा — An antardasha is a sub-period within a mahadasha, ruled by a secondary planet. It refines the timing of specific events within the longer mahadasha and is critical for short-window predictions.
- Vimshottari Dasha — विंशोत्तरी दशा — Vimshottari Dasha is the most widely used Vedic planetary period system, totaling 120 years across nine grahas. It is referenced by Sage Parashara as the dasha system suited to the current cosmic age and is calculated from the Moon's nakshatra at birth.
- Sade Sati — साढ़े साती — Sade Sati is the seven-and-a-half year period during which Saturn transits the 12th, 1st, and 2nd houses from a person's natal Moon (chandra rashi). It is classically associated with hardship, restructuring, and slow maturation.
Houses & Divisional Charts
- Bhava — भाव — Bhava is the Vedic term for a house in the birth chart — one of twelve life-domain divisions. Each bhava governs a specific set of life themes: the 1st rules self, the 7th rules marriage, the 10th rules career, and so on.
- Navamsha — नवांश — Navamsha (D9) is the most important divisional chart in Vedic astrology — each rashi is divided into nine equal parts, and the position of every planet in this finer grid produces a second chart used to read marriage, dharma, and the inner strength of natal placements.
- Whole-Sign House System — The whole-sign house system is the classical Vedic method for dividing a chart into houses: whichever rashi the Ascendant falls in becomes the entire first house, the next rashi the entire second house, and so on. Each house occupies exactly one full sign — no partial cusps.
Planets & Aspects
- Graha — ग्रह — Graha is the Vedic term for a planet — literally meaning 'one who seizes' or 'one who grabs'. Vedic astrology recognises nine grahas: the seven classical planets plus the two lunar nodes Rahu and Ketu.
- Drishti — दृष्टि — Drishti is the Vedic term for a planetary aspect — the influence a graha exerts on other houses by its line of sight from its current position. Every graha aspects the 7th house from itself; Mars, Jupiter, and Saturn have additional special aspects.
- Retrograde — वक्री (Vakri) — A graha is retrograde (vakri) when, from Earth's vantage point, it appears to move backwards through the zodiac. This is an optical effect of Earth overtaking outer planets or being overtaken by Mercury and Venus. Vedic astrology treats retrograde planets as functionally strengthened.
Yogas & Doshas
- Yoga (Planetary Combination) — योग — A yoga (in the planetary-combination sense) is a specific configuration of two or more grahas in a chart that produces a defined outcome. Classical Jyotish identifies hundreds of yogas; the most well-known include Gaja Kesari Yoga, Raja Yoga, Dhana Yoga, and Neecha Bhanga Raja Yoga.
- Mangal Dosha — मंगल दोष — Mangal Dosha (also called Manglik Dosha) is the condition of having Mars placed in the 1st, 4th, 7th, 8th, or 12th house of the birth chart. It is classically associated with delays, friction, or disharmony in marriage, and is heavily considered in traditional Indian matchmaking.
- Kaal Sarp Dosh — काल सर्प दोष — Kaal Sarp Dosh is the condition of having all seven traditional planets (Sun through Saturn) placed between Rahu and Ketu in the birth chart. It is classically associated with sudden reversals, hidden obstacles, and a feeling that effort does not yield proportional results.