Vedic Astrology — Glossary & Reference

A plain-language reference for Jyotish (Vedic / sidereal astrology): the lunar mansions, the houses, and the vocabulary of a chart reading.

Open the Jyotish app to cast your own birth chart and get daily, weekly, monthly, and annual readings.

The 27 Nakshatras (lunar mansions)

Ashwini: Ashwini — the first nakshatra, symbolized by a horse’s head; ruled by Ketu and the Ashwini Kumaras, divine healers. Themes: speed, healing, and fresh starts.
Bharani: Bharani — the womb (yoni); ruled by Venus and presided by Yama, lord of death. Themes: bearing, restraint, transformation, and discipline.
Krittika: Krittika — the “cutter”, a flame or razor; ruled by the Sun and the fire-god Agni. Themes: sharpness, purification, and ambition.
Rohini: Rohini — a chariot or ox-cart; ruled by the Moon and Brahma. Themes: growth, fertility, beauty, and material abundance.
Mrigashira: Mrigashira — the “deer’s head”, a searching star; ruled by Mars and the Moon-god Soma. Themes: seeking, curiosity, and gentleness.
Ardra: Ardra — the teardrop; ruled by Rahu and the storm-god Rudra. Themes: upheaval, emotional intensity, and renewal after storms.
Punarvasu: Punarvasu — “return of the light”; ruled by Jupiter and the mother-goddess Aditi. Themes: renewal, safety, and fresh beginnings.
Pushya: Pushya — the most auspicious nakshatra, a flower or cow’s udder; ruled by Saturn and Brihaspati. Themes: nourishment, devotion, and spirituality.
Ashlesha: Ashlesha — the coiled serpent; ruled by Mercury and the Nagas. Themes: mysticism, hypnotic charm, insight, and cunning.
Magha: Magha — the royal throne; ruled by Ketu and the Pitris (ancestors). Themes: heritage, authority, tradition, and honor.
Purva Phalguni: Purva Phalguni — the “front of the bed”; ruled by Venus and Bhaga, god of delight. Themes: pleasure, romance, rest, and creativity.
Uttara Phalguni: Uttara Phalguni — the “back of the bed”; ruled by the Sun and Aryaman, patron of unions. Themes: friendship, patronage, and generosity.
Hasta: Hasta — the open hand; ruled by the Moon and the sun-god Savitar. Themes: skill, craft, dexterity, and healing hands.
Chitra: Chitra — the bright jewel; ruled by Mars and Tvashtar, the cosmic architect. Themes: beauty, design, brilliance, and craftsmanship.
Swati: Swati — a young shoot in the wind; ruled by Rahu and the wind-god Vayu. Themes: independence, movement, flexibility, and trade.
Vishakha: Vishakha — the triumphal archway; ruled by Jupiter and Indra-Agni. Themes: determination, goal-focus, and ambition.
Anuradha: Anuradha — the lotus; ruled by Saturn and Mitra, god of friendship. Themes: devotion, cooperation, and success among friends.
Jyeshtha: Jyeshtha — “the eldest”; ruled by Mercury and Indra, king of the gods. Themes: seniority, protection, courage, and power.
Mula: Mula — “the root”, a bundle of tied roots; ruled by Ketu and Nirriti, goddess of dissolution. Themes: getting to the core, investigation, and renewal through endings.
Purva Ashadha: Purva Ashadha — “the invincible”; ruled by Venus and the cosmic waters (Apas). Themes: undefeated ambition, purification, and confidence.
Uttara Ashadha: Uttara Ashadha — “the universal victor”; ruled by the Sun and the Vishvadevas. Themes: lasting victory, integrity, and leadership.
Shravana: Shravana — the listening ear; ruled by the Moon and Vishnu. Themes: listening, learning, knowledge, and connection.
Dhanishta: Dhanishta — the drum; ruled by Mars and the Vasus, gods of abundance. Themes: music, rhythm, wealth, and fame.
Shatabhisha: Shatabhisha — “the hundred healers”, an empty circle; ruled by Rahu and Varuna, god of cosmic waters. Themes: healing, mysticism, secrecy, and solitude.
Purva Bhadrapada: Purva Bhadrapada — the “front funeral cot”; ruled by Jupiter and Aja Ekapada, the one-footed serpent. Themes: idealism, spiritual fire, and intensity.
Uttara Bhadrapada: Uttara Bhadrapada — the “back funeral cot”; ruled by Saturn and Ahir Budhnya, serpent of the deep. Themes: depth, wisdom, calm, and spirituality.
Revati: Revati — the nourishing star, a fish; ruled by Mercury and Pushan, protector of travellers. Themes: nourishment, safe journeys, and completion.

The 12 Houses (Bhavas)

1. Tanu — Self & body: Your body, appearance, temperament, vitality, and outlook — the lens the whole chart is read through.
2. Dhana — Wealth & speech: Money and possessions, speech, food, and immediate family.
3. Sahaja — Courage & siblings: Courage, effort, skills, communication, siblings, and short journeys.
4. Sukha — Home & heart: Mother, home and property, vehicles, schooling, and inner peace.
5. Putra — Creativity & children: Children, creativity, romance, intelligence, and past-life merit (purva punya).
6. Ari — Work & health: Health and illness, daily work and service, debts, obstacles, and rivals.
7. Yuvati — Partnership: Marriage and committed partnerships, business partners, and “the other”.
8. Randhra — Transformation: Longevity, upheaval and sudden change, inheritance and shared resources, the hidden and occult.
9. Dharma — Fortune & meaning: Luck and grace, higher learning, philosophy and beliefs, the teacher (guru), father, and long journeys.
10. Karma — Career & standing: Career, public standing, reputation, and action in the world.
11. Labha — Gains & networks: Income and gains, friends and networks, hopes and aspirations.
12. Vyaya — Release & liberation: Loss and expenditure, rest and sleep, foreign lands, retreat, and spiritual liberation (moksha).

Glossary of Terms

Amavasya: Amavasya — the New Moon (15th of the dark fortnight). A quiet, inward day for honoring ancestors and closing things out.
Antardasha: A sub-period inside a Mahadasha, ruled by a second planet. It fine-tunes the themes of the larger period, month to month.
Anuradha: Anuradha — the lotus; ruled by Saturn and Mitra, god of friendship. Themes: devotion, cooperation, and success among friends.
Aquarius: Aquarius (Kumbha) — an original, humane air sign ruled by Saturn. Independent, inventive, and community-minded.
Ardra: Ardra — the teardrop; ruled by Rahu and the storm-god Rudra. Themes: upheaval, emotional intensity, and renewal after storms.
Aries: Aries (Mesha) — a bold, pioneering fire sign ruled by Mars. Energetic, direct, and quick to begin things.
Ascendant: The zodiac sign that was rising on the eastern horizon at your birth (also called the Lagna). It anchors your whole chart and shapes how you meet the world.
Ashlesha: Ashlesha — the coiled serpent; ruled by Mercury and the Nagas. Themes: mysticism, hypnotic charm, insight, and cunning.
Ashtakavarga: A point-based strength system: each sign earns 0–8 "bindus" per planet. It reveals which signs (and transits through them) are strong or weak for you personally.
Ashtama Shani: Ashtama Shani — the Dhaiya formed when Saturn transits the 8th sign from your birth Moon, a testing, transformative passage.
Ashtami: Ashtami — the 8th tithi (a Jaya day). Suited to gathering strength and confrontation; handle conflict with care.
Ashwini: Ashwini — the first nakshatra, symbolized by a horse’s head; ruled by Ketu and the Ashwini Kumaras, divine healers. Themes: speed, healing, and fresh starts.
Avastha: A planet’s "life-stage" by its degree within a sign — Bala (infant), Kumara (youth), Yuva (adult), Vriddha (old), Mrita (dead) — Yuva being the most potent.
Ayanamsa: The slowly growing offset (about 24° today) between the season-based Western zodiac and the fixed-star sidereal zodiac of Vedic astrology.
Balava: Balava — a studious, devotional karana. Good for learning, worship, and quiet, steady progress.
Bava: Bava — the first and most auspicious movable karana. Favorable for beginnings and nourishing, constructive work.
Benefic: A naturally gentle, supportive planet — classically Jupiter, Venus, a well-placed Moon, or Mercury.
Bharani: Bharani — the womb (yoni); ruled by Venus and presided by Yama, lord of death. Themes: bearing, restraint, transformation, and discipline.
Bindu: A benefic point in ashtakavarga. The more bindus a sign holds, the more readily planets transiting it deliver results.
Bindus: Benefic points in ashtakavarga. A sign with 30+ Sarvashtakavarga bindus is strong; below 25 is weak.
Brahma: Brahma — the creator god who brings the universe into being; presiding deity of Jupiter.
Budha-Aditya: The yoga of Sun and Mercury together in one sign — sharp intellect, clear communication, and capable judgment.
Cancer: Cancer (Karka) — a nurturing, intuitive water sign ruled by the Moon. Emotional, protective, and home-loving.
Capricorn: Capricorn (Makara) — a disciplined, ambitious earth sign ruled by Saturn. Hardworking, patient, and goal-driven.
Chandra Bala: The “strength of the Moon”: which house the transiting Moon occupies counted from your natal Moon sign. Houses 1, 3, 6, 7, 10, and 11 are supportive; 4, 8, and 12 ask for a gentler pace.
Chandrashtama: The roughly 2¼ days each month when the transiting Moon crosses the 8th sign from your natal Moon — traditionally the most delicate days of the cycle, best kept light and routine.
Chara: Chara Dasha — Jaimini astrology’s sign-based dasha, where each zodiac sign (rather than a planet) rules a period of life.
Chaturdashi: Chaturdashi — the 14th tithi (a Rikta “empty” day). Fierce and aggressive; reserved for bold or forceful acts, with caution.
Chaturthi: Chaturthi — the 4th tithi (a Rikta “empty” day, sacred to Ganesha). Good for removing obstacles and endings, less so for new starts.
Chitra: Chitra — the bright jewel; ruled by Mars and Tvashtar, the cosmic architect. Themes: beauty, design, brilliance, and craftsmanship.
Combust: When a planet sits too close to the Sun (asta), its light is "burnt up" — its significations can feel weakened or hidden for a time.
Conjunction: When two or more planets sit together in the same sign, blending and amplifying their energies.
Dasamsa: The D10 divisional chart — each sign split into ten parts. Read for career, profession, status, and achievement in the world.
Dasha: A planetary time-period. Vedic astrology times life events by tracking which planet’s dasha is currently running.
Dashami: Dashami — the 10th tithi (a Purna day). Auspicious for virtuous, righteous, and success-oriented actions.
Dashas: Planetary time-periods. Vedic astrology times life events by tracking which planet’s dasha is currently running.
Debilitated: A planet in the sign opposite its exaltation, where it is weakest and its themes can feel strained.
Debilitation: The sign opposite a planet’s exaltation, where it is weakest.
Dhaiya: Dhaiya (or Small Panoti) — a roughly 2½-year period when Saturn transits the 4th or 8th sign from your birth Moon; a lighter cousin of Sade Sati.
Dhana Yoga: A "wealth" combination — usually the lords of the wealth houses (2nd and 11th) linking — that supports income and accumulation.
Dhanishta: Dhanishta — the drum; ruled by Mars and the Vasus, gods of abundance. Themes: music, rhythm, wealth, and fame.
Dignified: A planet placed in a sign it rules or favors, where it feels “at home” and works comfortably.
Dignity: How comfortable a planet is in its sign: exalted (strongest), in its own sign (strong), debilitated (weakest), or neutral. Shapes how freely it can act.
Divisional: A divisional (varga) chart that subdivides each sign to focus on one area of life — marriage, career, children, wealth, and more.
Drishti: Graha drishti — the "glance" a planet casts across the chart. Every planet aspects the 7th from itself; Mars, Jupiter, and Saturn have extra special aspects.
Durga: Durga — the fierce, protective mother goddess who conquers darkness; presiding deity of Rahu.
Dwadashi: Dwadashi — the 12th tithi (a Bhadra day). Favorable for religious acts, charity, and breaking a fast.
Dwitiya: Dwitiya — the 2nd tithi (a Bhadra “well-being” day). Favorable for building, laying groundwork, and acquiring things.
Ekadashi: Ekadashi — the 11th tithi (a Nanda day, sacred to Vishnu). Ideal for fasting, devotion, charity, and spiritual practice.
Exaltation: The sign where a planet is strongest and expresses its best qualities.
Exalted: A planet sitting in the sign where it is strongest and most able to express its best qualities.
Gaja Kesari: A yoga formed when Jupiter sits in an angle (1/4/7/10) from the Moon — bestowing intelligence, good repute, and lasting respect.
Ganesha: Ganesha — the elephant-headed remover of obstacles and lord of beginnings; presiding deity of Ketu.
Garaja: Garaja — an earthy karana. Good for farming, groundwork, construction, and material effort.
Gemini: Gemini (Mithuna) — a curious, communicative air sign ruled by Mercury. Versatile, witty, and quick-minded.
Gochar: The Sanskrit word for transits — where the planets are actually moving in the sky right now, read against your birth chart.
Gochara: Transits — the current, real-time positions of the planets read against your birth chart (also spelled Gochar). Classically judged from the natal Moon.
Graha Drishti: The aspect or "glance" a planet casts onto other houses and planets, influencing them from a distance. All planets aspect the 7th house from themselves.
Hasta: Hasta — the open hand; ruled by the Moon and the sun-god Savitar. Themes: skill, craft, dexterity, and healing hands.
Hora: A planetary "hour" — daylight (and night) is split into segments each ruled by a planet. Horas of Jupiter, Venus, Mercury, and the Moon are gentle windows for starting things.
Horas: Planetary "hours" — each segment of the day is ruled by a planet. The benefic horas (Jupiter, Venus, Mercury, Moon) are favorable windows for beginnings.
House: One of 12 divisions of your chart, each governing an area of life — self, money, home, career, relationships, and so on.
Houses: The 12 divisions of your chart, each governing an area of life — self, money, home, career, relationships, and so on.
Ingress: The moment a planet crosses from one zodiac sign into the next, shifting its focus to a new area of your chart.
Ingresses: Moments when planets cross from one zodiac sign into the next, shifting focus to new areas of your chart.
Jaimini: A school of Vedic astrology, attributed to the sage Jaimini, that emphasizes sign-based dashas and aspects rather than the planet-based methods of Parashara.
Janma: The first tara — the day’s Moon touches your own birth star. Emotionally vivid but tender; a day for self-care rather than bold launches.
Janma Nakshatra: Your birth star — the nakshatra the Moon occupied at birth. It shapes temperament and, crucially, sets where your Vimshottari dasha timeline begins: the sequence opens with the dasha of your janma nakshatra’s ruling planet.
Jupiter: Jupiter (Guru) — the “great benefic”: wisdom, growth, luck, faith, and generosity; also teachers and children. Its presiding deity is Brahma.
Jyeshtha: Jyeshtha — “the eldest”; ruled by Mercury and Indra, king of the gods. Themes: seniority, protection, courage, and power.
Kaal Sarpa: A configuration where all seven classical planets fall on one side of the Rahu–Ketu axis. Traditionally read as karmic intensity funneled through the nodes; modern astrology treats it as a call to conscious effort, not a curse.
Kantaka Shani: Kantaka Shani — the Dhaiya formed when Saturn transits the 4th sign from your birth Moon, said to pinch comfort, home, and peace of mind.
Karana: Half of a tithi — one of the smaller daily time-divisions in the Vedic almanac.
Kartikeya: Kartikeya (Skanda / Murugan) — the warrior god and commander of the gods’ armies; presiding deity of Mars.
Kaulava: Kaulava — a sociable karana. Favorable for friendship, alliances, partnership, and relationships.
Kendra: An angular house — the 1st, 4th, 7th, or 10th. The strongest, most action-oriented houses of the chart.
Ketu: The Moon’s south node — a shadow point linked to detachment, spirituality, and letting go of the past. Its presiding deity is Ganesha.
Krishna: Krishna Paksha — the dark, waning fortnight from full to new moon. A releasing, winding-down phase better for completion than fresh starts.
Krittika: Krittika — the “cutter”, a flame or razor; ruled by the Sun and the fire-god Agni. Themes: sharpness, purification, and ambition.
Kshema: The fourth tara — the star of well-being and safety. Supportive for health, home, and steady, nourishing progress.
Lagna: Another name for the ascendant — the sign rising at your birth, which sets the framework of your chart.
Lagnesha: The ruling planet of your ascendant sign — the “chart lord”. As ruler of the 1st house (self, body, vitality), it’s one of the most important planets in your chart; its condition and placement color your whole life.
Lahiri: Lahiri (Chitrapaksha) — the most widely used ayanamsa, and the official standard for sidereal calculations in India. All positions in this app use it.
Lakshmi: Lakshmi — goddess of wealth, beauty, fortune, and abundance; presiding deity of Venus.
Leo: Leo (Simha) — a warm, confident fire sign ruled by the Sun. Generous, proud, and naturally expressive.
Libra: Libra (Tula) — a harmonious, relational air sign ruled by Venus. Fair-minded, charming, and partnership-oriented.
Lunar Node: Rahu or Ketu — a point where the Moon’s path crosses the Sun’s, marking karmic themes.
Lunar Nodes: Rahu and Ketu — the two points where the Moon’s path crosses the Sun’s, marking karmic themes.
Magha: Magha — the royal throne; ruled by Ketu and the Pitris (ancestors). Themes: heritage, authority, tradition, and honor.
Mahadasha: A major planetary period, lasting several years, ruled by one planet. It colors the broad chapter of life you are currently living.
Malefic: A naturally demanding, challenging planet — classically Saturn, Mars, Rahu, or Ketu.
Mangal Dosha: Mangal dosha (also Manglik or Kuja dosha) — Mars placed in the 1st, 2nd, 4th, 7th, 8th, or 12th house from the Lagna or Moon, traditionally said to stress marriage. Commonly canceled when both partners have it, or softened when Mars is strong (in its own sign or exalted).
Manglik: Manglik — a person who has Mangal dosha. Traditionally matched with another Manglik, or the dosha is addressed with remedies.
Mars: Mars (Mangala) — energy, courage, drive, and assertiveness; also discipline, competition, and physical strength. Its presiding deity is Kartikeya.
Mercury: Mercury (Budha) — intellect, communication, and commerce; how you think, learn, speak, and trade. Its presiding deity is Vishnu.
Mitra: The eighth tara — the friendly star. Warm for relationships, alliances, collaborations, and asking for help.
Moon: The Moon (Chandra) — the mind, emotions, and instincts; also mother and comfort. One of the most important points in a Vedic chart. Its presiding deity is Parvati.
Mrigashira: Mrigashira — the “deer’s head”, a searching star; ruled by Mars and the Moon-god Soma. Themes: seeking, curiosity, and gentleness.
Muhurta: Electional astrology — the art of choosing an auspicious moment to begin something, using factors like tara bala, chandra bala, and the panchang.
Mula: Mula — “the root”, a bundle of tied roots; ruled by Ketu and Nirriti, goddess of dissolution. Themes: getting to the core, investigation, and renewal through endings.
Muntha: A sensitive point in the annual (Varshaphal) chart that starts on your birth ascendant and advances one whole sign each year — its house shows where the year’s focus falls.
Naidhana: The seventh and most delicate tara — traditionally inauspicious. Postpone what can wait; choose rest, routine, and review.
Nakshatra: One of the 27 “lunar mansions” — equal slices of the zodiac the Moon passes through, each with its own distinct flavor.
Nakshatras: The 27 “lunar mansions” — equal slices of the zodiac the Moon passes through, each with its own distinct flavor.
Navami: Navami — the 9th tithi (a Rikta “empty” day, linked to Durga). Fierce energy; avoid important new beginnings.
Navamsa: The D9 divisional chart — each sign split into nine parts. The most important varga after the Rāśi, judging marriage, dharma, fortune, and a planet’s deeper strength.
Neecha Bhanga: Cancellation of debilitation — when a debilitated planet’s weakness is undone (e.g. its sign-lord sits in an angle), sometimes turning the flaw into strength.
Neptune: Neptune — a modern outer planet (not one of the nine classical grahas), associated with dreams, imagination, spirituality, and dissolution of boundaries. Shown on the chart for reference.
Node: Rahu or Ketu — the points where the Moon’s path crosses the Sun’s. They mark karmic, fated themes.
Nodes: Rahu and Ketu — the two points where the Moon’s path crosses the Sun’s. They mark karmic, fated themes.
Own Sign: A sign that a planet rules. A planet in its own sign is strong and steady, like being on home ground.
Pancha Mahapurusha: Five "great person" yogas — formed when Mars, Mercury, Jupiter, Venus, or Saturn is in its own or exaltation sign and in an angle — each stamping the chart with that planet’s strengths.
Panchami: Panchami — the 5th tithi (a Purna “full” day). Favorable for wealth, learning, medicine, and prosperous ventures.
Panchang: The Vedic almanac of the day: five time-elements (vara, tithi, nakshatra, yoga, karana) that together describe the day’s energy.
Parama Mitra: The ninth tara — the “best friend” star, the most broadly auspicious of all. A green light for almost any undertaking.
Parivartana: A mutual exchange — two planets each sitting in the other’s sign — tightly binding the affairs of their two houses together.
Parvati: Parvati — the mother goddess of love, devotion, and nurturing strength; presiding deity of the Moon.
Pisces: Pisces (Meena) — an imaginative, compassionate water sign ruled by Jupiter. Sensitive, dreamy, and spiritually inclined.
Pluto: Pluto — a modern outer planet (not one of the nine classical grahas), associated with deep transformation, power, and regeneration. Shown on the chart for reference.
Prashna: Horary astrology — a reading cast from the chart of the moment a question is asked, rather than from a birth chart. The Ascendant stands for the querent and the matter, the Moon for the mind, and the house ruling the question shows its unfolding.
Pratipada: Pratipada — the 1st tithi (a Nanda “joy” day). Good for foundations, new beginnings, and auspicious starts.
Pratyak: The fifth tara — the star of resistance. Friction and pushback come easily; patience serves better than force.
Pratyantardasha: The third and finest level of a dasha — a sub-sub-period inside an Antardasha, tuning the themes of the current weeks and months.
Punarvasu: Punarvasu — “return of the light”; ruled by Jupiter and the mother-goddess Aditi. Themes: renewal, safety, and fresh beginnings.
Purnima: Purnima — the Full Moon (15th of the bright fortnight, a Purna day). Auspicious for completion, fulfillment, and worship.
Purva Ashadha: Purva Ashadha — “the invincible”; ruled by Venus and the cosmic waters (Apas). Themes: undefeated ambition, purification, and confidence.
Purva Bhadrapada: Purva Bhadrapada — the “front funeral cot”; ruled by Jupiter and Aja Ekapada, the one-footed serpent. Themes: idealism, spiritual fire, and intensity.
Purva Phalguni: Purva Phalguni — the “front of the bed”; ruled by Venus and Bhaga, god of delight. Themes: pleasure, romance, rest, and creativity.
Pushya: Pushya — the most auspicious nakshatra, a flower or cow’s udder; ruled by Saturn and Brihaspati. Themes: nourishment, devotion, and spirituality.
Rahu: The Moon’s north node — a shadow point (not a physical planet) linked to ambition, desire, and unconventional paths. Its presiding deity is Durga.
Rahu Kalam: An inauspicious ~90-minute window that recurs daily (an eighth of the daylight, fixed by weekday). Traditionally avoided for starting anything important.
Raja Yoga: A "royal" combination — typically an angle-lord and a trine-lord joining — that lifts status, success, and rising fortune.
Rashi: Your main birth chart, based on the Moon and signs (rāśi also simply means “zodiac sign”).
Retrograde: When a planet appears to move backward from Earth’s viewpoint — a time to review and revisit that planet’s themes rather than push ahead.
Revati: Revati — the nourishing star, a fish; ruled by Mercury and Pushan, protector of travellers. Themes: nourishment, safe journeys, and completion.
Rohini: Rohini — a chariot or ox-cart; ruled by the Moon and Brahma. Themes: growth, fertility, beauty, and material abundance.
Rupa: The unit of Shadbala strength (1 Rupa = 60 Virupas). A planet’s total Rupas show how much force it can bring to its significations.
Rupas: The unit of Shadbala strength (1 Rupa = 60 Virupas). Higher totals mean a planet acts more powerfully.
Sade Sati: A roughly 7½-year stretch when Saturn passes over the signs around your birth Moon — the 12th, then the Moon’s own sign, then the 2nd. Its three phases are often called rising, peak, and setting; traditionally a serious, maturing “grow-through-tests” period.
Sadhana: The sixth tara — the star of accomplishment. Excellent for focused, goal-directed work and getting important things done.
Sagittarius: Sagittarius (Dhanu) — an expansive, philosophical fire sign ruled by Jupiter. Optimistic, free-spirited, and truth-seeking.
Sampat: The second tara — the star of wealth and prosperity. One of the best days for beginnings, money matters, and asking for what you want.
Saptami: Saptami — the 7th tithi (a Bhadra day). Favorable for travel, movement, and friendly, cooperative endeavors.
Saptamsa: The D7 divisional chart — each sign split into seven parts. Read for children, progeny, and creative output.
Sarvashtakavarga: The combined ashtakavarga — every planet’s bindus summed per sign (0–56), giving each sign of your chart an overall strength score. Totals 337 across the zodiac.
Saturn: Saturn (Shani) — discipline, responsibility, patience, and time. It brings limits and hard lessons, but lasting rewards through steady effort. Its presiding deity is Yama.
Scorpio: Scorpio (Vrishchika) — an intense, probing water sign ruled by Mars. Passionate, private, and transformative.
Shadbala: The “six strengths” — a system weighing each planet by positional, directional, temporal, motional, natural, and aspectual strength to judge how powerfully it can act.
Shashthi: Shashthi — the 6th tithi (a Nanda day, linked to Kartikeya). Good for energy, victory over rivals, and celebrations.
Shatabhisha: Shatabhisha — “the hundred healers”, an empty circle; ruled by Rahu and Varuna, god of cosmic waters. Themes: healing, mysticism, secrecy, and solitude.
Shiva: Shiva — the great destroyer-ascetic, lord of time, transformation, and release; presiding deity of the Sun.
Shravana: Shravana — the listening ear; ruled by the Moon and Vishnu. Themes: listening, learning, knowledge, and connection.
Shukla: Shukla Paksha — the bright, waxing fortnight from new to full moon. A growing, building phase favored for new undertakings.
Sidereal: Measured against the fixed stars — the zodiac system Vedic astrology uses. Sidereal positions differ from Western (tropical) ones by the ayanamsa, currently about 24°.
Sun: The Sun (Surya) — the soul, ego, vitality, and confidence; also father and authority. It shows where you seek to shine. Its presiding deity is Shiva.
Swati: Swati — a young shoot in the wind; ruled by Rahu and the wind-god Vayu. Themes: independence, movement, flexibility, and trade.
Taitila: Taitila — a practical karana. Suited to housework, property, and steady, material tasks.
Tara: One of the nine positions in the tara bala cycle — the count of the day’s Moon-nakshatra from your own birth star, used to rate the day’s favorability for you.
Tara Bala: The “strength of the star”: the transiting Moon’s nakshatra counted from your birth star, repeating in cycles of nine taras — some supportive, some delicate. A core tool for choosing good days.
Taras: The nine positions of the tara bala cycle — counts of the Moon’s nakshatra from your birth star, used to rate each day’s favorability for you personally.
Taurus: Taurus (Vrishabha) — a steady, sensual earth sign ruled by Venus. Patient, grounded, and comfort-loving.
Tithi: A lunar day in the Vedic almanac — the time the Moon takes to gain 12° on the Sun. There are 30 in a lunar month.
Transit: A planet’s current position in the moving sky as it passes over the houses of your birth chart.
Transits: Planets’ current positions in the moving sky as they pass over the houses of your birth chart.
Trayodashi: Trayodashi — the 13th tithi (a Jaya day). Good for friendship, pleasure, and ventures aimed at winning.
Trikona: A trine house — the 1st, 5th, or 9th. The most auspicious, fortune-bearing houses of the chart.
Tritiya: Tritiya — the 3rd tithi (a Jaya “victory” day). Auspicious for most undertakings, cutting/trimming, and decisive action.
Upaya: A remedial measure — mantra, gemstone, charity, fasting, or ritual — traditionally used to strengthen a weak planet or soften a difficult one.
Upayas: Remedial measures — mantras, gemstones, charity, and rituals — traditionally used to harmonize the planets in a chart.
Uranus: Uranus — a modern outer planet (not one of the nine classical grahas), associated with sudden change, innovation, rebellion, and awakening. Shown on the chart for reference.
Uttara Ashadha: Uttara Ashadha — “the universal victor”; ruled by the Sun and the Vishvadevas. Themes: lasting victory, integrity, and leadership.
Uttara Bhadrapada: Uttara Bhadrapada — the “back funeral cot”; ruled by Saturn and Ahir Budhnya, serpent of the deep. Themes: depth, wisdom, calm, and spirituality.
Uttara Phalguni: Uttara Phalguni — the “back of the bed”; ruled by the Sun and Aryaman, patron of unions. Themes: friendship, patronage, and generosity.
Vanija: Vanija — the merchant’s karana. Favorable for trade, buying and selling, and negotiation.
Vara: The weekday in the Vedic almanac, each ruled by a particular planet.
Varga: A divisional chart — each zodiac sign is subdivided and re-mapped to magnify one area of life. The Rāśi (D1) is the whole; each varga zooms into a specific theme.
Vargas: Divisional charts — each subdivides the signs to magnify one area of life (D9 marriage, D10 career, D7 children, and so on).
Vargottama: A planet occupying the same sign in both the Rāśi (D1) and Navamsa (D9) charts — a classical mark of extra strength and steadiness.
Varshaphal: The annual solar-return chart (Tajika system): a chart cast for the exact moment each year when the Sun returns to its birth position, read for the year ahead.
Venus: Venus (Shukra) — love, beauty, pleasure, art, and relationships; comfort, luxury, and what attracts us. Its presiding deity is Lakshmi.
Vimshottari: The most widely used 120-year cycle of planetary periods (dashas) in Vedic astrology, based on the Moon’s position at birth.
Vipat: The third tara — the star of obstacles and mishap. A day to keep stakes low, double-check details, and avoid avoidable risks.
Vipreet Raja Yoga: A combination where the lords of the difficult houses (6/8/12) fall into difficult houses — read as adversity converting into eventual success and resilience.
Virgo: Virgo (Kanya) — a discerning, practical earth sign ruled by Mercury. Analytical, helpful, and precise.
Vishakha: Vishakha — the triumphal archway; ruled by Jupiter and Indra-Agni. Themes: determination, goal-focus, and ambition.
Vishnu: Vishnu — the preserver who sustains and protects the cosmic order; presiding deity of Mercury.
Vishti: Vishti (Bhadra) — the one inauspicious movable karana. Pause major launches until it passes.
Yama: Yama — lord of time, death, justice, and cosmic law; presiding deity of Saturn.
Yoga: In the daily almanac, one of 27 Sun–Moon combinations, each lending the day a certain quality.
Yogas: Special planetary combinations — by placement, conjunction, aspect, or lordship — that classical Jyotish singles out as strongly shaping a chart.
Yogini: Yogini Dasha — an alternative 36-year cycle of eight “yoginis,” each ruled by a planet, used alongside Vimshottari for timing.