Learn Vedic astrology, in plain words

Every page is written and checked against the classical texts, and every point carries its source.

This is a library of Vedic astrology in plain words: 27 nakshatras, 12 rashis, 9 planets, 12 houses, 16 divisional charts, dasha, yogas, doshas, panchang, sanskars, festivals and remedies. Every page names its sources, and with a saved chart, your own placement shows on the page itself.

332 pages

Learn by touch

The mahadasha "life river" →

The dasha-balance slider →

India's chart: 15 August 1947 →

Astrology glossary →

Nakshatras · 27 pages

Nakshatras

Ashwini Nakshatra: lord, deity, nature and name syllables

Ashwini is the first of the 27 nakshatras and lies wholly in Mesha. Its lord is Ketu and its deities are the Ashvini Kumaras; tradition link...

Nakshatras

Bharani Nakshatra: lord, deity, nature and name syllables

Bharani is the second of the 27 nakshatras and lies wholly in Mesha. Its lord is Venus and its deity is Dharmaraja (Yama); tradition links i...

Nakshatras

Krittika Nakshatra: lord, deity, nature and name syllables

Krittika is the third of the 27 nakshatras; its first pada is in Mesha and the other three in Vrishabha. Its lord is the Sun and its deity i...

Nakshatras

Rohini Nakshatra: lord, deity, nature and name syllables

Rohini is the fourth of the 27 nakshatras and lies wholly in Vrishabha. Its lord is the Moon and its deity is Brahma (Prajapati); tradition...

Nakshatras

Mrigashira Nakshatra: lord, deity, nature and name syllables

Mrigashira is the fifth of the 27 nakshatras; its first two padas are in Vrishabha and the last two in Mithuna. Its lord is Mars and its dei...

Nakshatras

Ardra Nakshatra: lord, deity, nature and name syllables

Ardra is the sixth of the 27 nakshatras and lies wholly in Mithuna. Its lord is Rahu and its deity is Rudra; tradition links it with deep th...

All 27 pages →

Rashis (signs) · 12 pages

Rashis (signs)

Mesha rashi: nature, nakshatras and name syllables

Mesha is the first sign of the zodiac, ruled by Mars, with the fire element. This page covers its nature as tradition sees it, its nakshatra...

Rashis (signs)

Vrishabha rashi: nature, nakshatras and name syllables

Vrishabha is the second sign of the zodiac, ruled by Venus, with the earth element. This page covers its nature as tradition sees it, its na...

Rashis (signs)

Mithuna rashi: nature, nakshatras and name syllables

Mithuna is the third sign of the zodiac, ruled by Mercury, with the air element. This page covers its nature as tradition sees it, its naksh...

Rashis (signs)

Karka rashi: nature, nakshatras and name syllables

Karka is the fourth sign of the zodiac, ruled by Moon, with the water element. This page covers its nature as tradition sees it, its nakshat...

Rashis (signs)

Simha rashi: nature, nakshatras and name syllables

Simha is the fifth sign of the zodiac, ruled by Sun, with the fire element. This page covers its nature as tradition sees it, its nakshatras...

Rashis (signs)

Kanya rashi: nature, nakshatras and name syllables

Kanya is the sixth sign of the zodiac, ruled by Mercury, with the earth element. This page covers its nature as tradition sees it, its naksh...

All 12 pages →

Grahas (planets) · 9 pages

Grahas (planets)

Surya: the planet of light and self-confidence

The Sun is the centre of the nine grahas. Tradition links it with self-confidence, the father, authority and the light of life. This page co...

Grahas (planets)

Chandra: the planet of the mind and feelings

The sign the Moon occupies is your Moon sign, and its nakshatra is your birth nakshatra. Tradition links the Moon with the mind, the mother...

Grahas (planets)

Mangal: the planet of courage and energy

Tradition links Mars with courage, energy, initiative and siblings. This page looks at Mars as a planet: its signs, aspects, shadbala and ma...

Grahas (planets)

Budh: the planet of intellect and speech

Tradition links Mercury with intellect, speech, numbers and learning. This page covers its signs, shadbala and its 17-year mahadasha in plai...

Grahas (planets)

Guru (Brihaspati): the planet of wisdom and guidance

Tradition links Guru, also called Brihaspati, with wisdom, dharma, teachers and children. This page covers its signs, aspects, shadbala and...

Grahas (planets)

Shukra: the planet of love, art and beauty

Tradition links Venus with love, art, beauty and the comforts of life. Its mahadasha lasts 20 years, the longest of the nine.

All 9 pages →

Bhavas (houses) · 12 pages

Bhavas (houses)

The 1st house: the Lagna, or Tanu bhava

The 1st house, the Lagna or Tanu bhava, is the starting point of the chart. Tradition links it to temperament, the way a person meets the wo...

Bhavas (houses)

The 2nd house: Dhana bhava

The 2nd house, Dhana bhava, is linked by tradition to savings, family, speech and food. Tradition sees it as the house of what one keeps, no...

Bhavas (houses)

The 3rd house: Sahaja or Parakrama bhava

The 3rd house, Sahaja or Parakrama bhava, is linked by tradition to courage, one's own effort, younger siblings and communication. It is an...

Bhavas (houses)

The 4th house: Sukha or Bandhu bhava

The 4th house, Sukha or Bandhu bhava, is linked by tradition to home, mother, land and property, vehicles and peace of mind. It is a kendra,...

Bhavas (houses)

The 5th house: Putra or Vidya bhava

The 5th house, Putra or Vidya bhava, is linked by tradition to children, intelligence, learning, creativity and past merit. It is a trikona,...

Bhavas (houses)

The 6th house: service, debt and competition

Tradition links the 6th house with service, daily routine, debts and competition. Its old name is Ripu bhava, but its real meaning is facing...

All 12 pages →

Divisional charts · 16 pages

Divisional charts

Akshavedamsha (D45): all matters, and the paternal line in later tradition

Akshavedamsha (D45) splits each sign into forty-five parts of 40′. Parāśara links it to all matters in general, and later tradition reads th...

Divisional charts

Chaturthamsha (D4): the varga of home, property and fortune

Chaturthamsha (D4) splits each sign into four parts of 7°30′. They go to the same sign and the 4th, 7th and 10th from it, and tradition link...

Divisional charts

Chaturvimshamsha (D24): the varga of learning

Chaturvimshamsha (D24), also called siddhamsha, splits each sign into twenty-four parts of 1°15′. Tradition links it to learning, education...

Divisional charts

Dashamsha (D10): the varga of work and career

Dashamsha (D10) splits each sign into ten parts of 3°. Tradition links it to work, career and standing in society, and reads it together wit...

Divisional charts

Drekkana (D3): the varga of siblings and courage

Drekkana (D3) splits each sign into three parts of 10°. In Parāśara's method these go to the same sign, the 5th and the 9th from it, and tra...

Divisional charts

Dwadashamsha (D12): the varga of parents

Dwadashamsha (D12) splits each sign into twelve parts of 2°30′, running in order from the same sign. Tradition links it to parents and what...

All 16 pages →

Mahadasha and antardasha · 81 pages

Mahadasha and antardasha

Ketu antardasha in Ketu mahadasha

The Ketu antardasha within the Ketu mahadasha is also written Ketu–Ketu.

Mahadasha and antardasha

Venus antardasha in Ketu mahadasha

The Venus antardasha within the Ketu mahadasha is also written Ketu–Venus.

Mahadasha and antardasha

Sun antardasha in Ketu mahadasha

The Sun antardasha within the Ketu mahadasha is also written Ketu–Sun.

Mahadasha and antardasha

Moon antardasha in Ketu mahadasha

The Moon antardasha within the Ketu mahadasha is also written Ketu–Moon.

Mahadasha and antardasha

Mars antardasha in Ketu mahadasha

The Mars antardasha within the Ketu mahadasha is also written Ketu–Mars.

Mahadasha and antardasha

Rahu antardasha in Ketu mahadasha

The Rahu antardasha within the Ketu mahadasha is also written Ketu–Rahu.

All 81 pages →

Nakshatra padas · 108 pages

Nakshatra padas

Ashwini nakshatra, pada 1: degrees, navamsa and syllable

Pada 1 of Ashwini runs from Mesha 0°00′ to Mesha 3°20′ (3°20′ in all).

Nakshatra padas

Ashwini nakshatra, pada 2: degrees, navamsa and syllable

Pada 2 of Ashwini runs from Mesha 3°20′ to Mesha 6°40′ (3°20′ in all).

Nakshatra padas

Ashwini nakshatra, pada 3: degrees, navamsa and syllable

Pada 3 of Ashwini runs from Mesha 6°40′ to Mesha 10°00′ (3°20′ in all).

Nakshatra padas

Ashwini nakshatra, pada 4: degrees, navamsa and syllable

Pada 4 of Ashwini runs from Mesha 10°00′ to Mesha 13°20′ (3°20′ in all).

Nakshatra padas

Bharani nakshatra, pada 1: degrees, navamsa and syllable

Pada 1 of Bharani runs from Mesha 13°20′ to Mesha 16°40′ (3°20′ in all).

Nakshatra padas

Bharani nakshatra, pada 2: degrees, navamsa and syllable

Pada 2 of Bharani runs from Mesha 16°40′ to Mesha 20°00′ (3°20′ in all).

All 108 pages →

Concepts · 26 pages

Concepts

What is ashtakavarga and how are its numbers read?

Ashtakavarga is a counting system: each of seven grahas has its own table (bhinnashtakavarga) giving every sign 0 to 8 bindus, and their sum...

Concepts

How does kundli matching work?

In North India, kundli matching uses the ashtakoot: eight kootas worth 36 points in all. ePandit first looks at the Nadi, Bhakoot, Gana and...

Concepts

What is the avakahada chakra?

The avakahada chakra is a small table printed with the birth chart, built from the Moon's sign and nakshatra: name syllable, varna, vashya,...

Concepts

What is bhakoot dosha, and what are its cancellations?

Bhakoot is the 7-point ashtakoot koota that comes from the distance between the two Moon signs. At 2–12, 5–9 or 6–8 it is called bhakoot dos...

Concepts

What is Budha-Aditya yoga?

Budha-Aditya yoga is taken to form when the Sun and Mercury are in the same sign. It is a very common placement; Raman adds that Mercury sho...

Concepts

What is the bhava chalit chart?

The bhava chalit chart divides the houses by the actual degrees of the lagna and the midheaven, not by sign boundaries. It shows whether a p...

All 26 pages →

Panchang · 12 pages

Panchang

Abhijit muhurta: the quiet window around noon

The Muhūrta-cintāmaṇi divides the day into 15 muhurtas, and the eighth is Abhijit, about 48 minutes around local noon. Tradition treats it a...

Panchang

Chandra bala: today's Moon, counted from your birth sign

Chandra bala counts today's Moon sign from your birth Moon sign. By the Muhūrta-cintāmaṇi the 1st, 3rd, 6th, 7th, 10th and 11th places are f...

Panchang

Choghadiya: the eight parts of the day

Choghadiya divides the day and the night into eight parts each and names every part Amrit, Shubh, Labh, Char, Udveg, Kaal or Rog. It is wide...

Panchang

Hora: the 24 hours of the day and their lords

A hora is an 'hour' of the day, and each hora has a planetary lord, in the order Sun, Venus, Mercury, Moon, Saturn, Jupiter, Mars. The Muhūr...

Panchang

Karana: the measure of half a tithi

Karana is the fifth limb of the panchang: one karana is half a tithi. There are 11 karanas, 4 fixed and 7 movable. The seventh movable karan...

Panchang

Muhurta: how a good time is chosen

Choosing a muhurta means reading the five limbs of the panchang (tithi, weekday, nakshatra, yoga, karana), the muhurta's lagna, and the pers...

All 12 pages →

Sanskars · 9 pages

Sanskars

Annaprashan: the baby's first bite

Annaprashan is the samskara in which a baby is first given a taste of grain. The Muhūrta-cintāmaṇi gives the 6th or 8th month for a boy and...

Sanskars

Jatakarma: a newborn's first samskara

Jatakarma is the samskara performed at a child's birth: the father's blessing, prayer, and the first feed in the mother's arms. In the old r...

Sanskars

Karnavedh: the ear-piercing samskara

In karnavedh a child's ears are pierced. The Muhūrta-cintāmaṇi gives the 6th to 8th month, or an odd year. In many communities it is done fo...

Sanskars

Mundan: a child's first haircut

In mundan (chūḍākarma) a child's birth hair is shaved for the first time. The Manusmṛti gives the first or third year, many families also us...

Sanskars

Naamkaran: the day a baby receives its name

Naamkaran is a baby's first big samskara, when the family gathers to give the child a name. Tradition holds it on the 11th or 12th day after...

Sanskars

Nishkraman: the baby's first outing

Nishkraman is the samskara in which a baby is taken out of the house for the first time to see the sun and the sky. The Muhūrta-cintāmaṇi gi...

All 9 pages →

Festivals · 20 pages

Festivals

Akshaya Tritiya: a day of giving and fresh starts

Akshaya Tritiya is Vaishakha Shukla Tritiya. Per Nirnaya Sindhu, the Tritiya taken is the one present in the forenoon, and if on both days,...

Festivals

Bhai Dooj: a brother's meal at his sister's home

Bhai Dooj (Yama Dvitiya) is Kartika Shukla Dvitiya, the fifth day of Diwali. Dharmasindhu gives its story: Yamuna fed her brother Yama at he...

Festivals

Chhath Puja: offerings to the setting and rising Sun

Chhath is the vrat of the Sun and Chhathi Maiya on Kartika Shukla Shashthi: four days, from nahay-khay to the dawn offering. The setting Sun...

Festivals

Dhanteras: the first lamp of Diwali

Dhanteras is the evening of Krishna Trayodashi, the first of Diwali's five days. The texts ask for a lamp in Yama's name outside the door th...

Festivals

Diwali: the new-moon night of lamps

Diwali is the new-moon night: the last night of Ashvina in amanta calendars and Kartika's in purnimanta ones. Lamps and Lakshmi puja belong...

Festivals

Vijayadashami: the day of victory

Vijayadashami or Dussehra is Ashvina Shukla Dashami, the day after Navratri. Per Dharmasindhu, the Dashami taken is the one present in the a...

All 20 pages →