Vedic Astrology Glossary
Plain-language definitions for every term your AI uses after installing Kundali Chart MCP. Use this page as a reference — feel free to share with your AI as context.
- Ascendant (Lagna)
- The zodiac sign rising on the eastern horizon at the exact time and place of birth. Sets the 12-house layout of the chart.
- Vimshottari Dasha
- The 120-year planetary period system attributed to Parashara. The most widely used dasha in Vedic astrology; divides life into major and sub periods by planet.
- Yogini Dasha
- An 8-planet 36-year dasha system based on the natal nakshatra. Often used alongside Vimshottari for triangulation.
- Char Dasha (Jaimini)
- A sign-based dasha system attributed to Jaimini. Uses the sign and Rashi lord rather than the nakshatra.
- Maha Dasha
- The major dasha period (e.g., Jupiter, Venus, Saturn) lasting 6–20 years depending on the planet and system.
- Antardasha
- The sub-period inside a Maha Dasha. Each Maha Dasha contains 9 Antardashas.
- Pratyantardasha
- The sub-sub-period inside an Antardasha. The finest commonly-used dasha resolution.
- Nakshatra
- One of 27 lunar mansions used in Vedic astrology. Each spans 13°20' of the zodiac and has ruler, deity, symbol, and gender.
- Pada
- The quarter-division of a nakshatra. Each nakshatra has 4 padas of 3°20' each.
- Rashi
- The zodiac sign. There are 12 Rashis: Mesha (Aries) through Meena (Pisces).
- Ashta Koot
- The 8-fold marriage compatibility system. Total gunas score out of 36; 18+ is generally considered acceptable.
- Manglik / Mangal Dosha
- A condition where Mars occupies the 1st, 2nd, 4th, 7th, 8th, or 12th house. Considered impactful on marriage compatibility.
- Bhakoot Dosh
- A specific koot in Ashta Koot that arises when the Moon signs of two people form a 6/8 or 2/12 relationship.
- Nadi Dosh
- The most weighted koot in Ashta Koot (8 points). Caused when both partners share the same Nadi (energy channel).
- Rajju Dosh
- A compatibility fault occurring when the Rajju (rope) category of the Moon sign matches between partners.
- Vedha Dosh
- A counterpart to Rajju; considered to cancel Rajju in specific combinations.
- Gana Koota
- Each nakshatra belongs to Deva (divine), Manushya (human), or Rakshasa (demon) gana. Match between partners is scored.
- Yoga
- A specific combination of planets producing a definable result — e.g., Raj Yoga (power), Dhana Yoga (wealth), Gaja Kesari Yoga (fame).
- Dosha
- A planetary affliction or combination considered to bring challenges — e.g., Kemadruma Dosha, Kala Sarpa Dosha, Shakat Yoga.
- Kemadruma Dosha
- Formed when no planet is in the 2nd or 12th from the Moon and Moon has no conjunction or aspect.
- Kala Sarpa Yoga
- When all planets are hemmed between Rahu and Ketu on one side.
- Kartari Yoga
- When both sides of a planet or house are hemmed by malefics — analogous to a 'pincer'.
- Nabhasha Yoga
- Pattern-formed yogas that arise from specific whole-chart configurations.
- Gandanta
- The 3 junctions between water and fire signs (Pisces-Aries, Cancer-Leo, Scorpio-Sagittarius) where planetary strengths flip.
- Upagraha
- Shadow or sub-planets in Vedic astrology — e.g., Gulika, Mandi, Rahu's sub-divisions.
- Navamsha (D-9)
- The 9-division chart used for marriage, dharma, and inner strength. The most important divisional chart.
- Divisional Chart
- A chart derived by dividing each Rashi into equal parts. D-1 to D-60 are classical; each governs a specific life domain.
- D-10 (Dasamsha)
- Career and professional standing divisional chart.
- D-12 (Dwadashamsha)
- Parents divisional chart.
- D-60 (Shashtyamsha)
- The finest division — used for past-life karma analysis.
- Shadbala
- 6-fold strength calculation for each planet: positional, directional, temporal, natural, motional, and aspect-based.
- Ashtakavarga
- A 8-point per-house scoring system totaling 337 points maximum. Used for transit analysis and timing.
- Dig Bala
- Directional strength — a planet gains strength at its house of directional advantage (e.g., Jupiter and Mercury in 1st, Sun in 10th).
- Avastha
- The state of a planet — e.g., infantile, youthful, old, defeated, glorified. Modifies effective strength.
- Panchanga
- The 5-fold almanac: Tithi (lunar day), Vara (weekday), Nakshatra (lunar mansion), Yoga (tithi + nakshatra combination), Karana (half-tithi).
- Muhurta
- An auspicious time window. Classical texts catalogue specific muhurtas for marriage, travel, business, education, etc.
- Tajaka / Varshaphal
- Annual chart computed for the solar return. Used for year-ahead predictions layered over the natal chart.
- Lunar Return
- The moment the Moon returns to its natal position. Used for month-ahead emotional and personal forecasts.
- Gochara (Transit)
- Planets moving through houses of the natal chart — the basis for current-period predictions.
- Jaimini Sutras
- The Jaimini school of Jyotish — emphasizes Chara Karakas, Karakamsha, Arudha Padas, and sign-based dasas.
- Arudha Padas
- Mirror-images of houses computed by Jaimini rules. Used for public image, social standing, and material perception.
- Kurma Chakra / Sudarshana Chakra
- Special chart wheels used in Jaimini / Parashari analysis. They reveal hidden patterns in planetary relationships.
- Hora
- Planetary hours. Each day is divided into 12 planetary hours; the planet of the hour carries that energy. Used in prashna (horary) and muhurta.
- Panchanga
- (also) The Hindu almanac. Good/bad times of day, festivals, eclipses, and tithis.
- Mantra
- Sacred sound formula for a specific deity or planet. Specific count (e.g., 108, 125,000) and timing (sunrise, hora) matter.
- Rudraksha
- Beads from the Rudraksha tree, classified by the number of facets (mukhi). Each mukhi corresponds to a deity or planetary influence.
- Yantra
- Geometric diagram inscribed on metal or paper for invoking a specific deity's energy. Used in worship and meditation.
- Gemstone (Ratna)
- Precious stones associated with the Navagrahas. Wearing procedure is chart-specific — wrong stone can backfire.
- Vastu
- The Vedic science of architectural directionality and spatial energy applied to homes, offices, and rooms.
- Ashta Koot
- (also) See Ashta Koot above.
- Gana
- The temperament classification of a nakshatra — Deva (divine), Manushya (human), or Rakshasa (demon). Important in compatibility.
- Sade Sati
- The 7.5-year transit of Saturn over natal Moon and the 12th/1st from it. Considered a major life-shaping period.
- Burning Planet
- A planet in the last degrees of a sign (combust-like hypersensitivity). Especially relevant for Sun and Moon.
- Combust
- A planet within the Sun's orb (typically <8°). Loses its independent strength.
- Planetary War (Graha Yuddha)
- When two planets occupy the same sign within 1° of each other — they 'war'; rules decide outcome.
- Planetary Aspect (Drishti)
- Each planet has specific aspects (gaze) on houses. Mars: 4th, 7th, 8th. Jupiter: 5th, 7th, 9th. Saturn: 3rd, 7th, 10th.
- Yoga Karaka
- A planet that is both lord of a kendra (1/4/7/10) and a trikona (1/5/9) — considered a powerful benefactor in the chart.
- Maraka
- Houses 2 and 7 considered significators of death-like events in a dasha context. Not literal death.
- Badhak
- The 11th house (the house of obstacles). Its lord and occupants are considered in longevity analysis.
- Longevity (Ayurdaya)
- Classical analysis of life span based on lagna lord, Moon lord, and their karakatvas.
- Bhava (House)
- The 12 divisions of the chart, each governing a life area: self, wealth, siblings, mother, education, enemies, partnerships, etc.
- Chalit Chart
- A chart variant that moves planets into the actual houses they occupy at the degrees level, even if the rashi hasn't changed.
- Bhava Chalit
- Refined version of Chalit used for cusp-accurate house readings.
Why this glossary exists
A normal AI does not know what a Yogini Dasha is, how Shadbala is computed, or why Mangal Dosha matters for house 1, 2, 4, 7, 8, 12 specifically. With Kundali Chart MCP installed, the AI computes the answer in real-time using 54+ Vedic tools. This glossary exists so you can ask follow-up questions and understand the AI's responses — and so any model (even a small one) can answer “what is Nakshatra” with confidence.