Vedic astrology glossary
A reference of the Sanskrit terms you'll see across Brihaspati AI. Short definitions — no padding. Use the page anchors to link directly to a term.
Kundaliकुण्डली
Sanskrit word for natal chart — the snapshot of the sky at the moment of birth, from the latitude of the birthplace. Brihaspati builds one as a JSON object from your birth date, time, and place.
Rashiराशि
One of the 12 zodiac signs, each 30° wide. Vedic astrology uses the sidereal zodiac, anchored to the fixed stars rather than the seasons.
Bhavaभाव
A house — one of 12 life domains anchored to the Lagna. Whole-Sign assigns one whole sign per Bhava; Placidus carves cusps based on diurnal motion at the birth latitude.
Lagna (Ascendant)लग्न
The sign rising on the eastern horizon at the moment of birth — the 1st house cusp. It defines self, body, and broad life trajectory.
See also · Chandra Lagna · Surya Lagna
Nakshatraनक्षत्र
One of the 27 lunar mansions, each 13°20' wide. The Moon's nakshatra at birth sets the Vimshottari dasha; each nakshatra has a ruling graha and a mythic theme.
Padaपाद
A quarter of a nakshatra (3°20'). The pada the Moon occupies further specifies its tone — useful for D9 (Navamsa) calculation and dasha sub-period start.
Grahaग्रह
A 'grasper' — the 9 celestial bodies used in Vedic astrology: Sun, Moon, Mars, Mercury, Jupiter, Venus, Saturn, Rahu (north node), Ketu (south node).
Ayanamsaअयनांश
The angular gap between the tropical and sidereal zodiac, accumulating about 50.3″ per year. Lahiri ayanamsa (default) is the Government of India standard.
Vimshottari Dashaविंशोत्तरी दशा
A 120-year life cycle of 9 Mahadashas, each ruled by a graha, with starting lord determined by the Moon's birth nakshatra. The most widely used dasha in modern Vedic practice.
See also · Yogini · Ashtottari · Chara
Antardashaअंतर्दशा
A sub-period within a Mahadasha, ruled by another graha in the Vimshottari sequence. Each Mahadasha contains 9 Antardashas proportionally sized to the same 120-year cycle.
Yoga (planetary)योग
A 'union' of planetary placements producing a recognisable effect — Raja yoga (royal), Dhana yoga (wealth), Gajakesari (lion-elephant), Panch Mahapurusha (5 great-persons), etc.
Doshaदोष
An affliction — a planetary configuration that needs awareness or remediation. Common ones: Manglik (Mars), Kaal Sarp (nodes), Sade Sati (Saturn over Moon), Pitru (ancestral).
Karakaकारक
A 'doer' / significator. Char Karakas (Jaimini) are the 7 grahas ranked by degree-within-sign — Atmakaraka (soul), Amatyakaraka (career), etc.
Shadbalaषड्बल
'Six strengths' — Sthana (positional), Dig (directional), Kala (temporal), Cheshta (motional), Naisargika (natural), and Drik (aspectual) — combined to measure graha strength in rupas.
Ashtakavargaअष्टकवर्ग
An 'eight-fold' bindu (point) table for each graha, used to assess transit results. The 'Sarva' (sum) Ashtakavarga across 12 houses gives a quick read of which houses are well-supported.
Panchangपञ्चाङ्ग
The 'five limbs' of Vedic time — Tithi (lunar day), Vara (weekday), Nakshatra, Yoga (panchang), Karana (half-tithi). Used for choosing auspicious days.
Adhik Maasअधिक मास
An intercalary lunar month inserted approximately every 32-33 months to keep the lunar calendar (354 days) aligned with the solar year (365 days). Detected astronomically as a lunar month with no Sankranti (Sun-sign transit) during it. Most festivals are observed in the Nija (regular) month, not in the Adhik. Recent examples: Adhik Jyeshtha 2018, Adhik Ashvin 2020, Adhik Shravana 2023, Adhik Jyeshtha 2026.
See also · panchang
Kshaya Tithiक्षय तिथि
A tithi (lunar day) that begins after one sunrise and ends before the next, so no sunrise falls within it — making it 'lost' relative to the standard udaya-tithi rule. Drik Panchang handles kshaya tithi cases with festival-specific overrides (e.g. Vaishnava Ekadashi for Tulsi Vivah picks the day where Dwadashi is at sunrise).
See also · panchang
Udaya Tithiउदय तिथि
The tithi prevailing at SUNRISE — the default rule for naming a day's tithi in most Hindu almanacs. A few festivals override this with Madhyahna (midday), Aparahna (afternoon), Pradosh (twilight), or Nishita (midnight) presence rules.
Muhurtaमुहूर्त
An auspicious moment for an activity (marriage, business launch, travel). Selected by aligning Panchang + planetary positions + Choghadiya + Hora rules.
Choghadiyaचौघड़िया
16 slices of ~90 min each — 8 from sunrise to sunset, 8 from sunset to next sunrise. Each is labelled Amrit / Shubh / Labh (auspicious), Char (neutral), or Rog / Kaal / Udveg (inauspicious) based on its weekday-keyed planetary lord.
See also · muhurta
Abhijit Muhurtaअभिजित् मुहूर्त
The 8th of 15 day-muhurtas — roughly 48 minutes centred on solar noon. Classically the single most auspicious window of the day; works well for important meetings and starting new ventures (except funerals).
Brahma Muhurtaब्रह्म मुहूर्त
The pre-dawn window from 96 to 48 minutes before sunrise. Considered the ideal time for sadhana, meditation, study, and spiritual practice — the mind is least agitated and the atmosphere is sattvik.
Rahu Kaalराहु काल
One of eight equal slices of (sunrise → sunset), assigned per weekday. Universally avoided for starting new ventures, journeys, signings, and important conversations. Routine work is fine.
See also · yamaganda-kaal
Yamaganda Kaalयमगण्ड काल
Another 1/8 slice of the day, weekday-keyed. Less severe than Rahu Kaal but still avoided for important launches. Routine and continuing work isn't blocked.
Gulika Kaalगुलिक काल
The 1/8 slice associated with Saturn's son, Gulika. Particularly avoided for journeys and important meetings; less broad in scope than Rahu Kaal.
Dur Muhurtaदुर् मुहूर्त
The 'bad muhurtas' of the day — typically 1-2 specific 48-minute slots per weekday (per Hora Sara). Avoid new beginnings during them; otherwise continue with whatever you're doing.
Gochar (Transit)गोचर
The current position of planets in the sky, overlaid on the natal chart — used to read what's activating now. Saturn's gochar over the natal Moon initiates Sade Sati.
Varga / Divisionalवर्ग
Sub-charts derived from the main D1 by dividing each sign into N equal parts: D9 (marriage), D10 (career), D7 (children), D30 (afflictions), D60 (past karma), etc.
Sahamसहम
A computed sensitive point (Tajaka tradition, Arabic-influenced) such as Punya, Vidya, Karma — formed from arc-relationships between planets and the Ascendant.
Indu Lagnaइन्दु लग्न
'Moon Lagna' / Lakshmi Sthana — a sensitive point computed from Moon's lord and the 9th lord's kala. The sign indicates the seat of wealth and prosperity.
Varshaphalवर्षफल
Annual chart (Tajaka tradition) — cast for the moment the Sun returns to its natal longitude each year. Reveals the year's theme; Varshesha is the year-lord.
Guna Milanगुण मिलन
8-fold (Ashta Koota) compatibility scoring for marriage — Varna, Vasya, Tara, Yoni, Graha-Maitri, Gana, Bhakoot, Nadi. Max 36 points; 18+ considered compatible.
Lal Kitabलाल किताब
A Punjabi astrological tradition (Pandit Roop Chand Joshi, 1939–52) with its own house-significations and signature remedies. Detects six 'Rin' (debts): Pitri, Maatri, Stri, Karz, Bhratru, Putra.
Chara Dashaचर दशा
Jaimini's rashi-based dasha — each of the 12 signs gets a Mahadasha 1..12 years long, totalling roughly 144 years. Direction depends on Lagna's odd/even nature.