Vedic Astrology Glossary
Plain-English definitions of the Sanskrit and Hindi terms you will meet in a Vedic astrology reading.
- Ayanamsa
- The angular difference (about 24°) between the tropical and sidereal zodiacs. Lahiri is the most widely used value.
- Bhava
- A house of the birth chart. There are twelve, each linked to areas of life such as career, marriage or home.
- Dasha
- A planetary period. The Vimshottari system divides life into planetary periods totalling 120 years. Each major period is a Mahadasha and its sub-periods are Antardashas.
- Dosha
- A traditional term for an unfavourable chart condition, for example Manglik Dosh. Its strength depends on the whole chart.
- Gochar
- Transit: the current movement of the planets through the zodiac, read against your birth chart.
- Graha
- A planet or planetary influence. Jyotish uses nine: Sun, Moon, Mars, Mercury, Jupiter, Venus, Saturn, Rahu and Ketu.
- Guna Milan
- The traditional 36-point system of matching two charts for marriage compatibility.
- Jyotish
- The Sanskrit name for Vedic astrology, meaning 'science of light'.
- Kundli (Janam Kundli)
- A birth chart, calculated from your date, time and place of birth.
- Lagna
- The Rising sign (ascendant): the sign on the eastern horizon at birth. It sets the twelve houses.
- Manglik Dosh
- A chart condition when Mars is in certain houses (commonly 1, 4, 7, 8 or 12). Often considered in marriage matching.
- Mantra
- A sacred syllable or phrase repeated as a spiritual practice. Sometimes suggested as an optional remedy.
- Muhurat
- An auspicious time window chosen for an important event such as a wedding, house entry or business launch.
- Nakshatra
- One of the 27 lunar mansions of the sidereal zodiac, each divided into four padas.
- Panchang
- The Hindu almanac, listing tithi, weekday, nakshatra, yoga and karana for each day.
- Pandit
- A traditional Indian title for a learned scholar. 'Panditji' adds the respectful '-ji'.
- Puja
- A ritual of worship or offering, sometimes performed as a remedy or for an occasion.
- Rahu and Ketu
- The lunar nodes: points where the Moon's orbit crosses the Sun's path. Treated as shadow planets in Jyotish.
- Rashi (Moon sign)
- The zodiac sign the Moon occupied at birth. Central to Vedic interpretation.
- Sade Sati
- The roughly 7.5-year period when Saturn passes through the signs around your Moon sign.
- Varshaphal
- An annual forecast, based on the chart cast for each birthday.
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