Understand the words before interpreting the chart.
Short, precise definitions with the calculation and tradition kept distinct. Select a term for a fuller explanation and related concepts.
Antardasha
A sub-period nested inside a Mahadasha.
Ayanāṃśa
The angular offset used to relate tropical and sidereal zodiacs.
Bhāva
One of twelve houses counted from Lagna.
Combustion
A graha state defined by proximity to the Sun.
D1 (Rāśi chart)
The foundational natal sign-and-house chart.
D10 (Daśāṃśa)
The tenth divisional chart.
D9 (Navāṃśa)
The ninth divisional chart.
Dasha
A symbolic planetary timing period.
Dignity
A graha's traditional relationship to its occupied sign.
Dispositor
The ruler of the sign occupied by a graha.
Dṛṣṭi
A rule-based astrological aspect or sight.
Ephemeris
Astronomical data used to calculate celestial positions.
Graha
One of the nine astrological factors in Jyotish.
House lord
The graha ruling the sign that occupies a house.
Ingress
The moment a moving graha enters a new sign.
Jyotish
A family of Indian astrological traditions.
Ketu
The descending lunar node.
Lagna
The sidereal Ascendant and first-house anchor.
Longitude
A position measured around the ecliptic from 0° to 360°.
Lunar node
An intersection of the Moon's orbital path with the ecliptic.
Mahadasha
The major period in a dasha sequence.
Nakshatra
One of 27 lunar mansions along the zodiac.
Navāṃśa
The Sanskrit name for the D9 division.
Pada
One quarter of a nakshatra.
Parāśara
A major classical rule tradition used in Jyotish.
Pratyantardasha
A third-level dasha period.
Rahu
The ascending lunar node.
Rāśi
One of twelve 30-degree zodiac signs.
Retrograde
Apparent backward motion as seen from Earth.
Sidereal zodiac
A zodiac referenced to the stars through an ayanāṃśa.
Transit
A graha's position at a selected date after birth.
Varga
A divisional chart derived from natal longitude.
Vimshottari dasha
A 120-year nine-graha timing sequence.
Whole-sign houses
A house system where each complete sign is one house.
Yoga
A named configuration defined by specific traditional conditions.
Yuti
A conjunction between grahas under a declared rule.