Knowledge desk · Astrology glossary
Learn astrology with context
Lagna, nakshatra, mahadasha and panchang — each term explained with its meaning, context and place in a birth chart.
A clear, example-led glossary for readers starting with Vedic astrology.
Lagna
लग्न
The ascendant sign — the zodiac sign rising on the eastern horizon at the exact moment and place of birth.
Full definition →Vedic astrologyJanma Rashi
जन्म राशि
Moon sign — the zodiac sign the Moon was in at the moment of birth.
Full definition →Vedic astrologyNakshatra
नक्षत्र
Lunar mansions — the 27 equal divisions of the zodiac (13°20′ each) used in Vedic astrology.
Full definition →Vedic astrologyMahadasha
महादशा
Major planetary period — one of the 9 planetary periods in the Vimshottari Dasha system, each ruling a phase of life.
Full definition →PanchangPanchang
पंचांग
The Vedic almanac — a five-element daily calendar (Tithi, Vara, Nakshatra, Yoga, Karana) used for auspicious timing.
Full definition →Vedic astrologyNavamsa
नवांश
The 9th divisional chart (D9) — the most important chart after the birth chart, showing the deeper soul purpose and dharma.
Full definition →Vedic astrologyAtmakaraka
आत्मकारक
The planet with the highest degrees in the birth chart — the 'soul significator' that represents your deepest karmic lesson.
Full definition →Vedic astrologyAntardasha
अंतर्दशा
The sub-period within a Mahadasha — the second planetary period layer in the Vimshottari Dasha system.
Full definition →Vedic astrologyKundli
कुंडली
The Vedic birth chart — a map of the sky at the moment of birth showing all planetary positions and house placements.
Full definition →Vedic astrologySade Sati
साढ़े साती
The 7.5-year Saturn transit — the most closely watched planetary period in Vedic astrology.
Full definition →Vedic astrologyTransit (Gochara)
गोचर
The real-time movement of planets through the zodiac signs, affecting all individuals based on their natal chart positions.
Full definition →Vedic astrologyYoga
योग (ज्योतिष)
A planetary combination or configuration in the birth chart that produces a specific quality of life experience — positive or negative.
Full definition →Vedic astrologyAshtakavarga
अष्टकवर्ग
A system of numerical scoring (0–8 bindus per house) that quantifies a planet's or house's overall strength based on contributions from all planets and the Lagna.
Full definition →Vedic astrologyDasha (Vimshottari)
दशा
The Vedic planetary period system: 9 planets rule sequential life periods (totaling 120 years) based on the Moon's nakshatra at birth.
Full definition →Vedic astrologyCombustion (Astangata / Moudyami)
अस्तंगत / मौड्यमी
When a planet comes too close to the Sun in the zodiac, its individual qualities are said to be 'burnt away' by solar heat — temporarily weakening its significations.
Full definition →PanchangTithi
तिथि
A lunar day in the Hindu calendar — the time taken for the Moon to advance 12° from the Sun. There are 30 tithis in each lunar month.
Full definition →Vedic astrologyKaraka
कारक
A significator — a planet that naturally represents a specific area of life. Each planet is the Karaka for specific life domains.
Full definition →Vedic astrologyYogakaraka
योगकारक
The most beneficial planet for a given ascendant — one that owns both a trikona (1st, 5th, 9th) and a kendra (1st, 4th, 7th, 10th) house simultaneously.
Full definition →Vedic astrologyVimshottari Dasha
विंशोत्तरी दशा
The 120-year planetary period system used in Vedic astrology — the most widely used predictive tool, based on the Moon's Nakshatra at birth.
Full definition →Vedic astrologyUpachaya Houses
उपचय
The growing houses (3rd, 6th, 10th, 11th) — malefic planets improve here with time; these are positions where struggle becomes strength and effort accumulates into lasting gain.
Full definition →Vedic astrologyBhava
भाव
A house in the Vedic birth chart — there are 12 bhavas, each governing a specific domain of life.
Full definition →Vedic astrologyVargottama
वर्गोत्तम
A planet occupying the same sign in both the natal chart (D1) and the Navamsa chart (D9), greatly strengthening that planet.
Full definition →Vedic astrologyShadbala
षड्बल
The six-fold strength system that quantifies a planet's total power in the birth chart, used to assess which planets are strong enough to give their promised results.
Full definition →Vedic astrologyDig Bala
दिग् बल
Directional strength — each planet is strongest when positioned in a specific house (direction) in the birth chart.
Full definition →Vedic astrologyBadhaka
बाधक
The 'obstructing' planet — the lord of a specific house that creates hidden obstacles for each ascendant, linked to past-life karma.
Full definition →Vedic astrologyRahu–Ketu Axis
राहु–केतु अक्ष
The nodal axis — Rahu and Ketu are always in exactly opposite signs, creating a karmic polarity that defines the soul's evolutionary direction in this lifetime.
Full definition →Vedic astrologyPlanetary Combustion (Asta)
अस्त
A planet is combust (Asta) when it is too close to the Sun, its light obscured, weakening its ability to deliver results.
Full definition →Vedic astrologyParivartana Yoga
परिवर्तन योग
A mutual exchange of signs between two planets — each occupying the sign ruled by the other — creating a powerful bond between the two planets and their houses.
Full definition →Vedic astrologyGraha Drishti (Planetary Aspect)
ग्रह दृष्टि
Planetary aspects in Vedic astrology — each planet casts a full sight (drishti) on the house 7th from it; Mars, Jupiter, and Saturn have additional special aspects.
Full definition →Vedic astrologyHora Chart (D2)
होरा
The second divisional chart (D2) — divides each sign into two halves, used specifically to assess wealth, financial potential, and material accumulation.
Full definition →Vedic astrologyExaltation (Uchcha)
उच्च
A planet in its exaltation sign is at its strongest — producing results with maximum effectiveness and grace.
Full definition →Vedic astrologyDebilitation (Neecha)
नीच
A planet in its debilitation sign is at its weakest — struggling to deliver its significations, though Neecha Bhanga can reverse this into exceptional power.
Full definition →Vedic astrologyRetrograde (Vakri)
वक्री
A planet appears to move backward in the zodiac from Earth's perspective — in Vedic astrology, Vakri planets are considered unusually powerful and inward-focused.
Full definition →Vedic astrologyKendra Houses
केन्द्र
The four angular houses (1st, 4th, 7th, 10th) — the pillars of the chart; planets here are powerfully positioned and deliver their results with maximum strength.
Full definition →Vedic astrologyTrikona Houses
त्रिकोण
The three auspicious trine houses (1st, 5th, 9th) — associated with dharma, Lakshmi energy, past-life merit, and divine grace; the most spiritually beneficial positions.
Full definition →Vedic astrologyConjunction (Yuti)
युति
Two or more planets in the same house — their energies blend, creating a complex composite influence on the significations of both planets and the shared house.
Full definition →Vedic astrologyDusthana Houses
दुःस्थान
The inauspicious houses (6th, 8th, 12th) — associated with obstacles, transformation, and dissolution; though planets here can give material struggle, spiritual depth often compensates.
Full definition →See these terms in your birth chart
Open a free kundli to see planets, houses, nakshatra and dasha from your birth details.
Open a free kundli