Glossary
Vedic astrology glossary
The 216 Vedic astrology terms the API uses, explained for developers who are not astrologers. Each entry says what the term means, how the API works it out, and which endpoints return it. Many show a real example.
Chart basics 24
- LagnaThe lagna, or ascendant, is the sign that was rising over the eastern horizon when a person was born.
- AyanamsaAyanamsa is the gap, in degrees, between the Western (tropical) zodiac and the Vedic (sidereal) zodiac.
- Kundli (birth chart)A kundli is a Vedic birth chart: a map of the sky at the time and place of birth.
- GrahaA graha is one of the nine bodies Vedic astrology tracks: the Sun, the Moon, Mars, Mercury, Jupiter, Venus, Saturn, and the two lunar nodes, Rahu and Ketu.
- RashiA rashi is a sign of the zodiac.
- Bhava (house)A bhava is a house: one of the 12 parts of a birth chart, each linked to areas of life such as money, home, children or marriage.
- Whole-sign housesWhole-sign houses is a house system in which each house is one full sign.
- Avakhada chakraThe avakhada chakra is a table of birth details found near the start of most printed kundlis.
- Sidereal zodiacThe sidereal zodiac ties the 12 signs to the background stars.
- Moon sign (janma rashi)The Moon sign, or janma rashi, is the sign the Moon was in at birth.
- Lagnesh (ascendant lord)The lagnesh is the ruler of the ascendant sign: the planet that owns house 1.
- Drishti (aspect)Drishti means sight: a planet's aspect, or influence, on other houses.
- KendraKendras are houses 1, 4, 7 and 10, the four angles of the chart.
- TrikonaTrikonas are houses 1, 5 and 9, the trines of the chart.
- DusthanaDusthanas are houses 6, 8 and 12, traditionally linked to illness, loss and obstacles.
- UpachayaUpachaya houses are houses 3, 6, 10 and 11, the houses of growth.
- Benefic and maleficTradition sorts the planets into benefics, which help the houses they touch, and malefics, which harm them.
- True and mean nodeThe true node and the mean node are two ways to calculate Rahu and Ketu, the lunar nodes.
- Julian dayA Julian day number counts days, with a fraction for the time of day, from noon on January 1, 4713 BC.
- EphemerisAn ephemeris is a table or model of where the Sun, Moon and planets are at each moment.
- Bhava chalitThe bhava chalit is a second house table found next to the birth chart in most printed kundlis.
- KP astrology (Krishnamurti Paddhati)KP astrology, or Krishnamurti Paddhati, is a school of Vedic astrology started by K. S. Krishnamurti.
- Special lagnasSpecial lagnas are extra rising points used beside the ascendant.
- Yogi point, yogi and avayogiThe yogi point is a degree found by adding the Sun, the Moon and 93 degrees 20 minutes.
Nakshatras 31
- NakshatraA nakshatra is one of 27 star groups along the Moon's path, each 13°20′ wide.
- PadaA pada is one quarter of a nakshatra, 3 degrees 20 minutes wide.
- Nakshatra lordThe nakshatra lord is the planet that rules a nakshatra in the Vimshottari dasha system.
- Sub lord (KP)In KP astrology, a sub lord is the planet that rules a sub, one of the nine parts of each nakshatra.
- AshwiniAshwini is nakshatra 1 of the 27.
- BharaniBharani is the 2nd of the 27 nakshatras.
- KrittikaNakshatra 3 of the 27 is Krittika.
- RohiniRohini is nakshatra 4 of the 27.
- MrigashiraMrigashira is the 5th of the 27 nakshatras.
- ArdraNakshatra 6 of the 27 is Ardra.
- PunarvasuPunarvasu is nakshatra 7 of the 27.
- PushyaPushya is the 8th of the 27 nakshatras.
- AshleshaNakshatra 9 of the 27 is Ashlesha.
- MaghaMagha is nakshatra 10 of the 27.
- Purva PhalguniPurva Phalguni is the 11th of the 27 nakshatras.
- Uttara PhalguniNakshatra 12 of the 27 is Uttara Phalguni.
- Hast (Hasta)Hast, also spelled Hasta, is nakshatra 13 of the 27.
- ChitraChitra is the 14th of the 27 nakshatras.
- SwatiNakshatra 15 of the 27 is Swati.
- VishakhaVishakha is nakshatra 16 of the 27.
- AnuradhaAnuradha is the 17th of the 27 nakshatras.
- JyeshthaNakshatra 18 of the 27 is Jyeshtha.
- Mool (Mula)Mool, also spelled Mula, is nakshatra 19 of the 27.
- Purva AshadhaPurva Ashadha is the 20th of the 27 nakshatras.
- Uttara AshadhaNakshatra 21 of the 27 is Uttara Ashadha.
- Shravan (Shravana)Shravan, also spelled Shravana, is nakshatra 22 of the 27.
- DhanishthaDhanishtha is the 23rd of the 27 nakshatras.
- ShatabhishaNakshatra 24 of the 27 is Shatabhisha.
- Purva BhadrapadaPurva Bhadrapada is nakshatra 25 of the 27.
- Uttara BhadrapadaUttara Bhadrapada is the 26th of the 27 nakshatras.
- RevatiNakshatra 27 of the 27 is Revati.
Dashas (planetary periods) 16
- Vimshottari dashaVimshottari dasha is the most widely used dasha (planet period) system.
- DashaA dasha is a planetary period.
- MahadashaA mahadasha is a main planetary period.
- AntardashaAn antardasha is a sub-period inside a mahadasha.
- PratyantardashaA pratyantardasha is the third level of a Vimshottari dasha: a sub-period inside an antardasha.
- Yogini dashaYogini dasha is a second dasha system with a 36-year cycle of eight periods.
- Dasha sandhiDasha sandhi is the junction between two main planetary periods, when one mahadasha ends and the next begins.
- Ashtottari dashaAshtottari dasha is a third system of planetary periods, next to Vimshottari and Yogini.
- Mangala yogini dashaMangala dasha is period 1 of the eight in the Yogini dasha.
- Pingala yogini dashaIn the Yogini dasha, Pingala dasha is the 2nd of eight periods: it lasts 2 years and belongs to the Sun.
- Dhanya yogini dashaDhanya dasha is the 3rd period of the Yogini dasha, a 36-year cycle of eight periods.
- Bhramari yogini dashaBhramari dasha is period 4 of the eight in the Yogini dasha.
- Bhadrika yogini dashaIn the Yogini dasha, Bhadrika dasha is the 5th of eight periods: it lasts 5 years and belongs to Mercury.
- Ulka yogini dashaUlka dasha is the 6th period of the Yogini dasha, a 36-year cycle of eight periods.
- Siddha yogini dashaSiddha dasha is period 7 of the eight in the Yogini dasha.
- Sankata yogini dashaIn the Yogini dasha, Sankata dasha is the 8th of eight periods: it lasts 8 years and belongs to Rahu.
Matching 15
- Ashtakoot (guna milan)Ashtakoot, also called guna milan, is the 36-point marriage match used mostly in North India.
- DashakootDashakoot is the South Indian way to match two charts for marriage.
- Papa samyamPapa samyam is a count of malefic influence used in marriage matching.
- KootaA koota is one of the eight factors of ashtakoot matching: varna, vashya, tara, yoni, graha maitri, gana, bhakoot and nadi.
- Varna kootaVarna koota is the first koota (matching factor) in guna milan, worth 1 point.
- Vashya kootaVashya koota is the second koota (matching factor) in guna milan, worth 2 points.
- Tara kootaTara koota is the third koota (matching factor) in guna milan, worth 3 points.
- Yoni kootaYoni is the fourth koota, worth 4 points.
- Graha maitriGraha maitri is the fifth koota (matching factor) in guna milan, worth 5 points.
- Gana kootaGana koota is the sixth koota (matching factor) in guna milan, worth 6 points.
- BhakootBhakoot is the seventh koota, worth 7 points.
- Nadi kootaNadi is the eighth koota, worth 8 points, the most of any.
- RajjuRajju is a matching check from South India.
- PoruthamA porutham is one of the ten checks in South Indian matching, called dashakoot.
- ParasparamParasparam reads two charts against each other: where each person's planets fall in the other person's houses, for example his Jupiter in her 7th house.
Yogas and doshas 13
- Manglik doshaManglik dosha is a Mars check used in marriage matching.
- Yoga (in a chart)In a birth chart, a yoga is a named combination of planets that tradition links to a result, such as wealth, fame or hardship.
- Raj yogaA raj yoga (raja yoga) is a combination that tradition links to status and success.
- Pancha mahapurusha yogaThe pancha mahapurusha yogas are five yogas, one for each visible planet other than the Sun and Moon: Ruchaka (Mars), Bhadra (Mercury), Hamsa (Jupiter), Malavya (Venus) and Sasa (Saturn).
- Gajakesari yogaGajakesari yoga is the yoga formed when Jupiter sits in a kendra (angle) from the Moon.
- Budhaditya yogaBudhaditya yoga is the yoga formed when the Sun and Mercury sit in the same sign.
- Neecha bhangaNeecha bhanga means cancelled debilitation.
- Parivartana yogaParivartana yoga is an exchange of signs: two planets each sit in the sign the other rules, such as Mars in Taurus and Venus in Aries.
- Kemadruma yogaKemadruma yoga is the Moon standing alone in a birth chart.
- Nabhasa yogaNabhasa yogas are chart patterns based on how the planets are spread across the signs, not on any one planet.
- DoshaA dosha is a chart feature that tradition treats as a problem, mostly in marriage matching.
- Kaal sarp doshKaal sarp dosh (kaal sarpa dosha) is said to form when all seven planets from the Sun to Saturn sit on one side of the Rahu and Ketu axis.
- Pitra doshPitra dosh (pitra dosha) is a chart feature traditionally linked to ancestors.
Planet condition and strength 19
- ShadbalaShadbala, meaning six-fold strength, scores how strong each planet from the Sun to Saturn is.
- DignityDignity says how well a planet is placed in its sign.
- Exaltation (uchcha)A planet is exalted, or uchcha, in the one sign where tradition holds it is strongest.
- Debilitation (neecha)A planet is debilitated, or neecha, in the sign opposite its exaltation sign, where tradition holds it is weakest.
- MulatrikonaMulatrikona is a sign, or part of a sign, where a planet is strong and at ease, ranked just below exaltation and above its other own sign.
- Own sign (svakshetra)A planet is in its own sign, or svakshetra, when it sits in a sign it rules, such as Mars in Aries or Scorpio, or Venus in Taurus or Libra.
- Retrograde (vakri)A planet is retrograde, or vakri, when it appears from Earth to move backward through the zodiac for a while.
- Combustion (asta)A planet is combust, or asta, when it is so close to the Sun in the sky that it is lost in the Sun's glare.
- VargottamaA planet is vargottama, meaning best in its division, when it sits in the same sign in the birth chart (D1) and the navamsa (D9).
- YogakarakaA yogakaraka is a planet that rules both a kendra (house 4, 7 or 10) and a trikona (house 5 or 9) for a given rising sign.
- Graha yuddha (planetary war)Graha yuddha, or planetary war, happens when two of the five planets Mars, Mercury, Jupiter, Venus and Saturn are within one degree of each other.
- AshtakavargaAshtakavarga is a scoring system that rates each sign of a chart from eight reference points: the seven visible planets and the ascendant.
- BinduA bindu is one point in ashtakavarga.
- SarvashtakavargaSarvashtakavarga is the combined ashtakavarga: for each sign, the bindus from all seven planets added together.
- Virupa and rupaVirupas and rupas are the units of shadbala, the six-part strength score.
- Vimshopaka balaVimshopaka bala is a strength score out of 20 for each planet.
- Ishta and kashta phalaIshta phala and kashta phala measure how much good and how much harm a planet is able to give.
- Planet friendship (panchadha maitri)Planet friendship, or panchadha maitri, says how each planet treats every other planet.
- Avastha (planet state)An avastha is a planet's state: the condition it is in to give its results.
Panchang and calendar 15
- PanchangThe panchang is the Hindu almanac for a day and a place.
- TithiA tithi is a lunar day: the time it takes the Moon to gain 12 degrees on the Sun.
- PakshaA paksha is one half of the lunar month: 15 tithis, a little under 15 days.
- Vara (weekday)Vara is the weekday, one of the five parts of the panchang.
- KaranaA karana is half a tithi: the time it takes the Moon to gain 6 degrees on the Sun.
- Panchang yogaThe panchang yoga is one of the five parts of the Hindu calendar day.
- Masa (lunar month)A masa is a month of the Hindu lunisolar calendar.
- Ritu (season)A ritu is one of the six seasons of the Hindu calendar, each two lunar months long.
- AyanaAyana is the half of the year in which the Sun moves north or south.
- Samvat (era year)A samvat is an era used to number years in Indian calendars.
- PurnimaPurnima is the full moon day, the 15th tithi (lunar day) of the waxing half of the lunar month.
- AmavasyaAmavasya is the new moon day, the last tithi of the waning half of the lunar month.
- EkadashiEkadashi is the 11th tithi of each half of the lunar month, and one of the most widely kept fasting days.
- Sankashti chaturthiSankashti chaturthi is the 4th tithi (lunar day) of the waning half of each lunar month.
- PradoshPradosh is the period around sunset.
Transits 5
- Gochar (transits)Gochar is the Vedic word for transits: where the planets are moving now, judged against a birth chart.
- Sade satiSade sati is the seven and a half years Saturn spends passing over the birth Moon.
- DhaiyaDhaiya, or shani dhaiya, means two and a half.
- VedhaVedha means obstruction, or blocking.
- Ingress (sankranti)An ingress is the moment a planet moves into a new sign.
Divisional charts (vargas) 17
- Navamsa (D9 chart)The navamsa, or D9 chart, is the ninth divisional chart.
- Varga (divisional chart)A varga is a divisional chart.
- Rasi (D1)Rasi (D1) is the birth chart itself: each sign is one whole part, so every planet sits in its actual sidereal sign.
- Hora (D2)Hora (D2) is one of the 16 divisional charts.
- Drekkana (D3)Drekkana (D3) is a divisional chart that splits each sign into 3 parts of 10°.
- Chaturthamsa (D4)Chaturthamsa (D4) is one of the 16 divisional charts.
- Saptamsa (D7)Saptamsa (D7) cuts every sign into 7 equal parts of about 4.29° each.
- Dasamsa (D10)Dasamsa (D10) is one of the 16 divisional charts.
- Dwadasamsa (D12)Dwadasamsa (D12) cuts every sign into 12 equal parts of 2°30′ each.
- Shodasamsa (D16)Shodasamsa (D16) is a divisional chart that splits each sign into 16 parts of about 1.88°.
- Vimsamsa (D20)Vimsamsa (D20) is one of the 16 divisional charts.
- Chaturvimsamsa (D24)Chaturvimsamsa (D24) cuts every sign into 24 equal parts of 1°15′ each.
- Bhamsa (D27)Bhamsa (D27) is a divisional chart that splits each sign into 27 parts of about 1.11°.
- Trimsamsa (D30)Trimsamsa (D30) is one of the 16 divisional charts.
- Khavedamsa (D40)Khavedamsa (D40) cuts every sign into 40 equal parts of 45′ each.
- Akshavedamsa (D45)Akshavedamsa (D45) is a divisional chart that splits each sign into 45 parts of 40′.
- Shashtiamsa (D60)Shashtiamsa (D60) is one of the 16 divisional charts.
Jaimini astrology 13
- Chara dashaChara dasha is the main dasha (period) system of Jaimini astrology.
- Chara karakaChara karakas are the movable significators of Jaimini astrology.
- Arudha lagnaThe arudha lagna is the image of the ascendant: how a person is seen by others, as opposed to who they are.
- Upapada lagnaThe upapada lagna, also called UL or A12, is the arudha (image) of the 12th house.
- KarakamsaThe karakamsa is the sign the atmakaraka holds in the navamsa (D9) chart.
- ArgalaArgala means intervention.
- AtmakarakaThe Atmakaraka is chara karaka number 1 of 7 in Jaimini astrology: of the seven planets from the Sun to Saturn, the one with the highest degree within its sign.
- AmatyakarakaIn Jaimini astrology, the Amatyakaraka is chara karaka 2 of 7: the planet, from the Sun to Saturn, with the 2nd highest degree within its sign.
- BhratrikarakaThe Bhratrikaraka is the 3rd of the 7 chara karakas in Jaimini astrology.
- MatrikarakaThe Matrikaraka is chara karaka number 4 of 7 in Jaimini astrology: of the seven planets from the Sun to Saturn, the one with the 4th highest degree within its sign.
- PutrakarakaIn Jaimini astrology, the Putrakaraka is chara karaka 5 of 7: the planet, from the Sun to Saturn, with the 5th highest degree within its sign.
- GnatikarakaThe Gnatikaraka is the 6th of the 7 chara karakas in Jaimini astrology.
- DarakarakaThe Darakaraka is chara karaka number 7 of 7 in Jaimini astrology: of the seven planets from the Sun to Saturn, the one with the lowest degree within its sign.
Muhurat and times of day 22
- MuhuratA muhurat (muhurta) is a good time picked to start an activity, such as a wedding, moving into a new home or buying a car.
- Rahu kaalRahu kaal is a daily window, about 90 minutes long, that tradition avoids for starting new work.
- YamagandaYamaganda is one of three daily windows, with rahu kaal and gulika kaal, that tradition treats with caution.
- Gulika kaalGulika kaal is one of the three daily windows, with rahu kaal and yamaganda, that tradition treats with caution.
- ChoghadiyaChoghadiya splits the day and the night each into eight equal parts, about 90 minutes long near the equinox.
- Hora (planetary hour)A hora is a planetary hour, one of 24 in each day from sunrise to sunrise.
- Abhijit muhuratAbhijit muhurat is the 8th of the 15 daytime muhurats, centered on local noon.
- Brahma muhuratBrahma muhurat is an early-morning window of about 48 minutes that starts about 96 minutes before sunrise.
- Dur muhuratDur muhurat means bad muhurat: a part of the day held to be unfavorable for new starts.
- BhadraBhadra is the time of Vishti, one of the 11 karanas.
- PanchakaPanchaka is the time, about five days each month, when the Moon passes through the last five nakshatras, from the second half of Dhanishtha to Revati.
- Nishita kaalNishita kaal is the muhurat (time block) at the middle of the night.
- GodhuliGodhuli is the short period around sunset.
- Tara balaTara bala rates a day for a person by counting from their birth nakshatra to the day's nakshatra.
- Chandra balaChandra bala rates a day for a person by the sign the Moon is passing through, counted from their natal Moon sign.
- Udveg choghadiyaUdveg, meaning anxiety, is one of the seven choghadiya names used for the parts of the day and the night.
- Char choghadiyaChar (moving) is one of the seven names given to the eight choghadiya parts of each day and night.
- Labh choghadiyaThe choghadiya called Labh means gain.
- Amrit choghadiyaAmrit, meaning nectar, is one of the seven choghadiya names used for the parts of the day and the night.
- Kaal choghadiyaKaal (time, or death) is one of the seven names given to the eight choghadiya parts of each day and night.
- Shubh choghadiyaThe choghadiya called Shubh means good.
- Rog choghadiyaRog, meaning illness, is one of the seven choghadiya names used for the parts of the day and the night.
Planets (grahas) 11
- UpagrahaUpagrahas are sensitive points in a chart that are not planets.
- Gulika and MandiGulika and Mandi are two points tied to Saturn's part of the day or night of birth.
- Sun (Surya)Sun (Surya in Sanskrit) is one of the nine grahas.
- Moon (Chandra)Moon, called Chandra in Sanskrit, is one of the nine grahas of Vedic astrology.
- Mars (Mangal)In Vedic astrology, Mars (Mangal) is one of the nine grahas.
- Mercury (Budha)Mercury (Budha in Sanskrit) is one of the nine grahas.
- Jupiter (Guru)Jupiter, called Guru in Sanskrit, is one of the nine grahas of Vedic astrology.
- Venus (Shukra)In Vedic astrology, Venus (Shukra) is one of the nine grahas.
- Saturn (Shani)Saturn (Shani in Sanskrit) is one of the nine grahas.
- RahuRahu, or the north lunar node, is one of the nine grahas of Vedic astrology.
- KetuKetu (the south lunar node) is one of the nine grahas.
Remedies 1
Question charts (prashna) 2
Signs (rashis) 12
- Aries (Mesha)Aries (Mesha) is sign 1 of the 12 rashis.
- Taurus (Vrishabha)Taurus, or Vrishabha, is the 2nd of the 12 rashis.
- Gemini (Mithuna)The 3rd rashi is Gemini (Mithuna).
- Cancer (Karka)Cancer (Karka) is sign 4 of the 12 rashis.
- Leo (Simha)Leo, or Simha, is the 5th of the 12 rashis.
- Virgo (Kanya)The 6th rashi is Virgo (Kanya).
- Libra (Tula)Libra (Tula) is sign 7 of the 12 rashis.
- Scorpio (Vrishchika)Scorpio, or Vrishchika, is the 8th of the 12 rashis.
- Sagittarius (Dhanu)The 9th rashi is Sagittarius (Dhanu).
- Capricorn (Makara)Capricorn (Makara) is sign 10 of the 12 rashis.
- Aquarius (Kumbha)Aquarius, or Kumbha, is the 11th of the 12 rashis.
- Pisces (Meena)The 12th rashi is Pisces (Meena).
Free tools
See these terms in a real chart
Ten free tools run on our APIs. Enter a birth date, time and place, or a name and a birth date, and see the answer in your browser.
Free kundli
Your Vedic birth chart: the rising sign and all nine planets, with sign, house and nakshatra.
Make my kundliKundli matching
The 36-point guna milan score, the manglik check and a plain verdict for two people.
Match two chartsToday's panchang
Tithi (lunar day), nakshatra, sunrise, rahu kaal and the choghadiya (good and bad parts of the day) for your own city.
See today's panchangManglik dosha check
Whether Mars makes a chart manglik, counted three ways, with any exceptions.
Check for manglik doshaSade sati check
Whether sade sati, Saturn's 7.5-year pass around your Moon sign, is running for you, which phase, and the dates.
Check my sade satiNakshatra finder
Your birth star: the Moon's nakshatra, its quarter (pada), its ruler and your Moon sign.
Find my nakshatraNumerology calculator
Your mulank, bhagyank and name number from a name and a birth date.
Find my numbersLife path number calculator
Your life path number with master numbers kept, plus your expression, soul urge and personality numbers.
Find my life pathName numerology calculator
A name's Chaldean and Pythagorean numbers, with other spellings compared against your birth date.
Check my nameLo Shu grid calculator
The Lo Shu grid from a birth date, with missing and repeated numbers and full and empty lines.
Draw my Lo Shu grid
Astrology API
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John Doe, New York
POST /v1/planets200 OK
- RisingVirgoHast
- SunCancerAshlesha
- MoonTaurusMrigashira
- MarsAriesKrittika
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