Vedic Astrology Glossary
Birth Chart / Natal Horoscope
Kundali (also spelled kundli or horoscope) is the Vedic birth chart — a diagram showing the exact positions of the Sun, Moon, and planets at the moment and place of your birth. It is the foundational tool of Jyotish, mapping personality, relationships, career, health, and timing across your entire life.
The word kundali derives from the Sanskrit kunda (bowl or pot) — originally referring to the circular or diamond-shaped chart diagram used in Indian astrology. In modern usage, kundali and kundli are used interchangeably across Hindi, Gujarati, Marathi, Bengali, and other South Asian languages to mean the complete birth horoscope.
What a kundali contains:
A complete kundali is not a single chart but a system of charts working together:
Lagna Chart (D1 — the natal chart) The primary chart. Shows the 12 houses from the ascendant, planetary positions in signs and houses, and planetary aspects. This is what most people refer to when they say 'kundali.'
Navamsha (D9 — the soul chart) The most important divisional chart, showing deeper character, spiritual nature, and the second half of life. Also used to assess marriage quality.
Dashamsha (D10 — career chart) Shows career trajectory, professional achievements, and status in society.
Saptamsha (D7 — children chart) Shows potential for children and creative legacy.
Trimsamsha (D30 — misfortune chart) Used to assess health challenges and major obstacles in life.
Beyond the physical chart itself, a complete kundali reading includes:
Kundali and marriage (Kundali Milan): In traditional Indian culture, kundali matching (kundali milan or kundali matching) is performed before marriage. A Vedic astrologer compares both partners' kundalis using the Ashta Kuta system — an 8-category compatibility score with a maximum of 36 points. Factors assessed include nakshatra compatibility, temperament match, emotional bonding potential, physical compatibility, and longevity of the relationship. A score of 18+ is generally considered acceptable; 28+ is considered excellent.
How to read your kundali: Reading a kundali begins with the lagna (ascendant), which sets the frame. Each house governs a life domain: 1st (self), 2nd (wealth), 3rd (courage), 4th (home), 5th (intelligence/children), 6th (health/enemies), 7th (marriage), 8th (transformation/longevity), 9th (fortune/dharma), 10th (career), 11th (gains), 12th (spirituality/losses). The sign each house falls in, which planets occupy it, and which planets aspect it from other houses — these three factors combine to interpret each life area.
Stellr generates your complete kundali instantly from your birth date, time, and place — using Swiss Ephemeris astronomical precision to calculate every planetary position, house cusp, and divisional chart.
A kundali is a Vedic birth chart — a diagram showing where the Sun, Moon, and all nine planets were positioned at the exact moment and location of your birth. It is used in Jyotish (Vedic astrology) to understand personality, life patterns, and timing. The kundali encodes 12 life domains (bhavas), planetary strengths, yogas (special combinations), and an inbuilt timing system (dasha) that maps life events across years and decades.
Kundali matching is the traditional Vedic practice of comparing two people's birth charts before marriage to assess compatibility. It uses the Ashta Kuta system — 8 categories of Moon-nakshatra compatibility scored out of 36 total points. Categories include Varna (nature), Vashya (dominance), Tara (birth star compatibility), Yoni (sexual compatibility), Graha Maitri (planetary friendship), Gana (temperament), Bhakut (mutual prosperity), and Nadi (health and child potential). A score of 18+ is considered acceptable for marriage; scores below 18 traditionally raise concerns.
In South Asian usage, 'kundali' and 'horoscope' are often used interchangeably to mean the birth chart. Technically, a kundali in Vedic astrology is a sidereal chart — calculated from the actual positions of constellations (not anchored to the equinoxes). A Western horoscope uses the tropical zodiac anchored to the spring equinox. This creates roughly a 23° difference between the two systems, meaning most people have a different sun sign, moon sign, and rising sign in their kundali versus their Western horoscope.
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