A–Z reference
Vedic Astrology Glossary.
Every Sanskrit and Jyotish term you’ll encounter — defined in plain English. Tap a letter to jump.
A
- AntardashaAntardaśātiming
- The sub-period within a mahadasha. Each mahadasha is divided into 9 antardashas proportional to the Vimshottari years of each graha.
- AshtakavargaAṣṭakavargatechnique
- A classical strength-scoring system that assigns bindus (points) to each planet in each house. Sarvashtakavarga totals indicate the overall strength of a house.
- AtmakarakaĀtmakārakaconcept
- The planet with the highest degree in the chart (among the seven physical grahas). Represents the soul's principal purpose in this lifetime.
- AyanamsaAyanāṁśaconcept
- The precessional correction between tropical and sidereal zodiacs. Lahiri ayanamsa (officially used in India) is approximately 24°10′ in 2026.
B
- BhavaBhāvahouse
- House. A Vedic kundali has 12 bhavas, each governing specific life areas.
- Bija MantraBīja Mantraremedy
- Single-syllable seed mantras used for planetary propitiation — e.g. "Hrāṁ" for Sun, "Śrāṁ" for Moon.
C
- ChandraCandraplanet
- Moon. Karaka of mind, mother, emotions, and the public. Runs a 10-year mahadasha.
- Chhaya GrahaChāyā Grahaplanet
- Shadow planets — Rahu and Ketu — which are mathematical lunar nodes rather than physical bodies.
D
- DashaDaśātiming
- A planetary ruling period. Vimshottari is the most-used dasha system with a 120-year cycle across all nine grahas.
- DebilitationNīcaconcept
- The sign in which a planet is weakest. Sun in Libra, Moon in Scorpio, Mars in Cancer, Mercury in Pisces, Jupiter in Capricorn, Venus in Virgo, Saturn in Aries.
- DusthanaDuḥsthānahouse
- Difficult houses — 6th, 8th, 12th. Considered weak positions but also houses of transformation.
E
- ExaltationUccaconcept
- The sign in which a planet is strongest. Sun in Aries 10°, Moon in Taurus 3°, Mars in Capricorn 28°, Mercury in Virgo 15°, Jupiter in Cancer 5°, Venus in Pisces 27°, Saturn in Libra 20°.
G
- GocharaGocaratiming
- Transit. The current real-time movement of a planet through the zodiac, analysed against the natal chart.
- GrahaGrahaplanet
- Planet. Literally means "to seize" — a graha seizes the native through its significations. There are 9 in Vedic astrology.
- Guna MilanGuṇa Milantechnique
- The 36-point compatibility matching system (Ashtakoota) used before marriage. Based on nakshatra of bride and groom.
- GunasGuṇaconcept
- The three primal qualities: Sattva (harmony), Rajas (activity), Tamas (inertia). Every graha is assigned a dominant guna.
- GuruGuruplanet
- Jupiter. Karaka of wisdom, children, husband (in female chart), teachers and wealth-through-dharma. 16-year mahadasha.
J
- Janma KundaliJanma Kuṇḍaliconcept
- Birth chart. The snapshot of planetary positions at the exact moment of birth, used for all Vedic astrological analysis.
- JyotishJyotiṣaconcept
- Vedic astrology — literally "the science of light". One of the six vedangas (limbs of the Vedas).
K
- Kaal SarpKāla Sarpaconcept
- A chart condition where all seven physical grahas are hemmed between Rahu and Ketu. Classical Jyotish lists 12 types.
- KarakaKārakaconcept
- Significator. Each planet is the natural karaka of specific life areas (e.g. Jupiter is karaka of children).
- KendraKendrahouse
- Angular houses — 1st, 4th, 7th, 10th. The four pillars of the chart; planets here are strong.
- KetuKetuplanet
- South lunar node. Karaka of moksha, detachment, occult, past-life mastery. 7-year mahadasha.
L
- LagnaLagnaconcept
- Ascendant. The sign rising on the eastern horizon at birth. Defines the 1st house and the entire chart orientation.
M
- MahadashaMahādaśātiming
- Major planetary period in the Vimshottari dasha system. Durations: Sun 6y, Moon 10y, Mars 7y, Rahu 18y, Jupiter 16y, Saturn 19y, Mercury 17y, Ketu 7y, Venus 20y.
- MangalMaṅgalaplanet
- Mars. Karaka of courage, younger siblings, land, energy, and the warrior spirit. 7-year mahadasha.
- Mangal DoshaMaṅgala Doṣaconcept
- Manglik. Mars in 1/2/4/7/8/12 from Lagna, Moon or Venus — said to cause marital challenges. Has classical cancellation rules.
- MoolatrikonaMūlatrikoṇaconcept
- A dignity state stronger than own sign but weaker than exaltation. Each planet has a specific moolatrikona range in its own sign.
- MuhurtaMuhūrtatiming
- Auspicious timing. A 48-minute window selected for starting important activities (marriage, business, travel).
N
- NakshatraNakṣatranakshatra
- Lunar mansion. The zodiac is divided into 27 nakshatras of 13°20′ each. Your birth nakshatra (Janma Nakshatra) is the one containing your natal Moon.
- NavamsaNavāṁśatechnique
- The 9th divisional chart (D9). Most important for marriage, dharma, and long-term fruition of planetary promises.
P
- PanchangPañcāṅgatiming
- The Vedic almanac of five limbs — tithi (lunar day), vara (weekday), nakshatra, yoga, karana. Used for daily timing decisions.
- ParivartanaParivartanatechnique
- Sign exchange between two planets — each sits in the other's ruling sign. A powerful combining yoga.
- Pitra DoshaPitṛ Doṣaconcept
- Ancestral dosha. Indicated by Sun afflicted by Rahu/Ketu/Saturn, or a debilitated 9th lord. Pacified through Shraddha rituals.
- Pratyantar DashaPratyantardaśātiming
- The sub-sub-period within an antardasha. Used for fine-grained timing (months to weeks).
R
- RahuRāhuplanet
- North lunar node. Karaka of ambition, obsession, foreign lands, unconventional fame. 18-year mahadasha.
- Raja YogaRāja Yogaconcept
- Royal yoga. Formed by a Kendra-lord and Trikona-lord combining. Marker of authority, rise, recognition.
- RashiRāśisign
- Zodiac sign. There are 12 rashis of 30° each, starting with Aries (Mesha) at 0°.
- RetrogradeVakriconcept
- Apparent backward motion of a planet from Earth's perspective. Retrograde planets gain strength in Jyotish.
S
- Sade SatiSāḍhe Sātitiming
- Saturn's 7.5-year transit over the 12th, 1st, and 2nd houses from natal Moon. Occurs roughly once every 30 years.
- SaptamsaSaptāṁśatechnique
- The 7th divisional chart (D7). Read for children and lineage.
- ShaniŚaniplanet
- Saturn. Karaka of discipline, longevity, karma, service, elders, and detachment. 19-year mahadasha.
- ShastiamsaṢaṣṭyaṁśatechnique
- The 60th divisional chart (D60). In Jaimini and advanced Parashari Jyotish, considered the "final fruit" chart.
- ShukraŚukraplanet
- Venus. Karaka of love, marriage, art, luxury, and the spouse (in male chart). 20-year mahadasha — the longest.
- SuryaSūryaplanet
- Sun. Karaka of soul, father, authority, ego, and dharma. 6-year mahadasha — the shortest.
T
- TithiTithitiming
- Lunar day. The time it takes the Moon to travel 12° ahead of the Sun. There are 30 tithis in a lunar month.
- TrikonaTrikoṇahouse
- Trine houses — 1st, 5th, 9th. The three dharma houses; most auspicious positions.
U
- UpachayaUpacayahouse
- Growth houses — 3rd, 6th, 10th, 11th. Houses where effort compounds; malefics do well here.
- UpayaUpāyaremedy
- Remedy. Classical remedies include mantra, yantra, gemstone (ratna), donation (daan), and service (seva).
V
- VargottamaVargottamaconcept
- A planet in the same sign in D1 (rashi) and D9 (navamsa). A dignity state that strengthens the planet considerably.
- Vimshottari DashaViṁśottarī Daśātiming
- The 120-year dasha cycle through all nine grahas, starting from the birth nakshatra lord. The most-used timing system in Indian Jyotish.
- Viparita Raja YogaViparīta Rāja Yogaconcept
- Reverse royal yoga. Formed when a dusthana lord (6/8/12) sits in another dusthana. Produces unexpected greatness from adversity.
Y
- YogaYogaconcept
- In Jyotish, a specific combination of planets, signs, or houses that produces a defined result. Hundreds are described in classical texts.
- YogakarakaYogakārakaconcept
- A planet that simultaneously rules a Kendra and a Trikona for a given Lagna — automatically forms Raja Yoga by itself. E.g. Mars for Cancer and Leo Lagna.
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