Glossary

Vedic Astrology, defined

29 core terms — from ayanamsa to yoga — written in plain language and marked up with schema.org DefinedTerm so any AI assistant can quote the definition cleanly.

Spotted an error or a missing term? Open an issue on GitHub.

A

Antardashaalso: Bhukti · Sub-period#: A sub-period inside a Mahadasha in the Vimshottari Dasha system. Each Mahadasha is divided into nine Antardashas — one per planet — proportional to that planet's share of the 120-year cycle. Antardashas typically last months to a few years.
Ashtakootaalso: Guna Milan · Ashta-Koota · Kundli Matching#: The classical eight-factor compatibility framework used in Vedic kundli matching. Two birth Moons are scored across eight kootas — Varna, Vashya, Tara, Yoni, Graha Maitri, Gana, Bhakoot and Nadi — for a maximum of 36 Guna points.
Ayanamsaalso: Ayanāṃśa · Precession offset#: The angular offset between the tropical and sidereal zodiacs, caused by the precession of Earth's rotational axis. Vedic astrology subtracts the ayanamsa from tropical longitudes to get sidereal positions. Currently ~24°.

B

Bhakootalso: Bhakuta#: The sixth koota in Ashtakoota matching. Compares the distance between the two birth Moon signs. Specific distances (6-8, 9-5, 12-2) form Bhakoot Dosha, traditionally seen as inauspicious for marriage compatibility.

C

Combustalso: Asta · Combustion#: A planet is combust (asta) when it is too close to the Sun in longitude and burned by its glare. Combustion weakens a planet's significations. Each planet has its own combustion orb — Mercury at 12°, Venus at 8°, Mars at 17°, etc.

D

Dashaalso: Daśā · Planetary period#: A planetary period in Vedic astrology during which one planet governs the unfolding of life events. The most widely used system is Vimshottari, a 120-year cycle of nine planetary periods anchored to the birth Moon's nakshatra.
Debilitationalso: Neecha#: A planet is debilitated (neecha) when placed in the zodiac sign opposite its exaltation, where it performs at its weakest. Examples: Sun in Libra, Moon in Scorpio, Saturn in Aries.
Dhana Yoga#: A wealth-conferring planetary combination. Formed when the lords of houses 2, 5, 9 or 11 connect through conjunction, mutual aspect, or exchange. Indicates accumulated wealth, savings and recurring income streams.

E

Exaltationalso: Uchcha#: A planet is exalted (uchcha) when placed in its strongest zodiac sign. Examples: Sun at 10° Aries, Moon at 3° Taurus, Jupiter at 5° Cancer, Saturn at 20° Libra. The exact degree is the deep exaltation point.

G

Gana#: The sixth attribute in Ashtakoota matching. Classifies each of the 27 nakshatras into one of three temperaments: Deva (divine), Manushya (human) or Rakshasa (demonic). Matching ganas score higher in compatibility.
Guna Milanalso: Kundli Milan · Guna matching#: The Vedic kundli matching ritual that scores a couple's compatibility on the Ashtakoota framework out of 36 Guna points. 18+ is considered acceptable, 24+ very good, 32+ excellent. Bhakoot and Nadi doshas can override the raw score.

L

Lagnaalso: Ascendant · Rising sign#: The rising sign or Ascendant — the zodiac sign rising on the eastern horizon at the moment of birth. In Whole Sign houses, the Lagna's sign becomes the first house. Lagna shifts approximately every two hours.
Lahiri Ayanamsaalso: Chitra Paksha ayanamsa#: The Chitra Paksha ayanamsa adopted by the Indian government's Calendar Reform Committee in 1955. Pins the fixed star Chitra (Spica) to 0° sidereal Libra. The most widely used ayanamsa across South Asian Vedic astrology.

M

Mahadashaalso: Major period#: The major planetary period in the Vimshottari Dasha system. Each of the nine planets rules a Mahadasha of fixed length — Ketu 7, Venus 20, Sun 6, Moon 10, Mars 7, Rahu 18, Jupiter 16, Saturn 19, Mercury 17 years.
Mangal Doshaalso: Manglik · Kuja Dosha#: A condition where Mars is placed in the 1st, 2nd, 4th, 7th, 8th or 12th house from Lagna, Moon or Venus. Traditionally considered a marriage compatibility risk that requires matching with another Manglik chart or specific remedies.
Moon Signalso: Chandra Rashi · Janma Rashi#: The sidereal zodiac sign occupied by the Moon at birth. Also called Chandra Rashi or Janma Rashi. In Vedic astrology, Moon sign carries more weight than Sun sign — it governs the emotional self and is the anchor of the Dasha system.

N

Nakshatraalso: Lunar mansion · Asterism#: One of the 27 lunar mansions that divide the sidereal zodiac into segments of 13°20' each. Every planet's nakshatra placement matters more than its sign for many techniques. The Moon's nakshatra at birth anchors the Vimshottari Dasha.
Navamsaalso: D9 · Navamsha#: The 9th divisional chart (D9) in Vedic astrology. Each zodiac sign is split into nine 3°20' segments. Navamsa reveals the inner strength of planets and is the primary chart for marriage and dharmic outcomes.

P

Padaalso: Charana#: A quarter of a nakshatra spanning 3°20'. Each nakshatra has four padas; together the 108 padas tile the zodiac. Pada placements are used in Navamsa construction and in Naadi nakshatra techniques.
Pancha Mahapurusha Yoga#: Five 'great person' yogas formed when Mars, Mercury, Jupiter, Venus or Saturn is in its own or exaltation sign and placed in a kendra (angular house). The yogas are Ruchaka, Bhadra, Hamsa, Malavya and Shasha respectively.

R

Rahu and Ketualso: Lunar nodes#: The lunar nodes — the points where the Moon's orbit crosses the ecliptic. Rahu (north node) and Ketu (south node) are always 180° apart and move retrograde. Treated as shadow planets, they govern karma, obsession and detachment.
Raj Yoga#: A planetary combination indicating power, recognition and success. Classically formed when a kendra (1, 4, 7, 10) lord connects with a trikona (1, 5, 9) lord through conjunction, mutual aspect or sign exchange.
Rashialso: Zodiac sign · Rāśi#: A sidereal zodiac sign in Vedic astrology — one of the twelve 30° segments starting from Aries (Mesha) and ending in Pisces (Meena). Rashi placements use the sidereal zodiac, distinct from the tropical zodiac of Western astrology.
Retrogradealso: Vakri#: A planet is retrograde (vakri) when it appears to move backwards against the zodiac from Earth's perspective. Retrograde planets are interpreted as more introspective and often amplified in their effects.

T

Tarabalaalso: Tara Bala · 9-fold star strength#: A 9-fold strength rating that classifies any given day's nakshatra relative to your birth nakshatra. The nine taras range from auspicious (Sampat, Kshema, Sadhana, Mitra, Param Mitra) to challenging (Vipat, Pratyari, Vadha).

V

Vimshottari Dashaalso: Vimshottari · 120-year dasha#: The 120-year Mahadasha cycle most commonly used in Vedic astrology. Divides life into nine planetary periods totalling 120 years, in fixed proportions, starting from the lord of the Moon's birth nakshatra.

W

Whole Sign Housesalso: Whole Sign · Rāśi houses#: The classical Vedic house system where every zodiac sign equals exactly one house. The sign of the Lagna becomes the 1st house, the next sign the 2nd, and so on around the wheel. Used throughout the Brihat Parashara Hora Shastra.

Y

Yogaalso: Yog · Planetary combination#: A specific planetary combination in a Vedic chart that produces a recognised effect — wealth, power, learning, isolation, etc. Classical texts describe hundreds of yogas; detection is rule-based, not interpretive.
Yoni#: The fourth attribute in Ashtakoota matching. Each nakshatra has an animal symbol (Yoni). Two charts score on whether their Yonis are compatible — same yoni scores 4/4, friendly pairs 3, neutral 2, enemy 1, mortal enemy 0.

For deeper context on how these terms are computed, see the Methodology page.