Vedic Astrology Glossary

Sanskrit for 'planet' — but the Vedic 9 Grahas include the lunar nodes Rahu and Ketu (not actual celestial bodies but mathematical points). The 9 Grahas are: Sun, Moon, Mars, Mercury, Jupiter, Venus, Saturn, Rahu, Ketu.

A Vedic birth chart — the diagram of planetary positions at the moment and place of a person's birth. Used as the foundational document for every interpretation in Vedic astrology.

The ascendant — the zodiac sign rising on the eastern horizon at birth. Determines the orientation of the house diagram and is treated as the most personal of the three primary axes (Lagna / Moon / Sun).

One of 27 lunar mansions — finer-grained subdivision of the zodiac than Rashi. The Moon's Nakshatra at birth governs the structure of the Vimshottari Dasha system and is read as a strong indicator of personality and disposition.

One of 4 quarters of a Nakshatra. Each Pada associates with a Rashi via the Navamsa division and adds nuance to the Nakshatra reading.

Zodiac sign (1 of 12). The Moon's Rashi at birth is the conventional 'sign' a Vedic astrologer asks for first; the Sun's Rashi is closer to the Western convention.

A 'sub-period' inside a Mahadasha — same 9 lord rotation, scaled to the Mahadasha's duration. Adds finer timing inside the Mahadasha.

Generic term for any timing period (Mahadasha / Antardasha / Pratyantardasha). The Vimshottari Dasha is the most-used; other systems (Yogini, Kalachakra) exist but appear less in modern practice.

A 'major period' — the planetary lord whose influence dominates a span of years in the Vimshottari Dasha cycle. The 9 grahas each get a Mahadasha; the cycle totals 120 years. The current Mahadasha is the single most consulted operative timing tool in Vedic astrology.

A 'sub-sub-period' inside an Antardasha. Used for month-level timing in advanced practice.

The 120-year planetary period system originating in the Brihat Parashara Hora Shastra. The default Dasha system in modern Vedic practice; calculated from the Moon's Nakshatra at birth.

A 10-fold subdivision (D-10) used primarily for career and profession timing.

A 9-fold subdivision of each Rashi. The Navamsa chart (D-9) is the most consulted divisional chart, especially for marriage and dharma readings.

A specific planetary configuration with a named effect — e.g. Gaja Kesari Yoga (Jupiter-Moon angular), Budhaditya Yoga (Mercury-Sun conjunction). The classics list hundreds; in practice 20-30 are widely consulted.

An Ashtakoot factor flagging a problematic relative-Rashi position between two charts (specifically positions 6/8 or 9/5 from each other). Modern practice considers many mitigants before treating it as disqualifying.

A condition where Mars (Mangal) sits in 1st / 4th / 7th / 8th / 12th house from Lagna. Classically associated with marital friction; modern practice considers many mitigating factors before declaring a real concern.

Saturn's 7.5-year transit through the sign before, on, and after the Moon's natal Rashi. Treated as a period of friction and discipline, not necessarily 'bad' — depends on Saturn's natal placement and the particular sign.

An 8-factor compatibility scoring system (Varna, Vashya, Tara, Yoni, Graha Maitri, Gana, Bhakoot, Nadi) used in Vedic Milan (matchmaking). Each factor scores 0-N points; total out of 36 is the headline number.