Vedic Astrology Glossary
Lunar Mansion
A nakshatra is one of 27 lunar mansions that divide the zodiac into equal 13°20′ segments. The moon's placement in a nakshatra at birth reveals personality nuances, emotional rhythms, and karmic themes that the broader rashi (zodiac sign) cannot capture.
Where the 12 rashis give broad personality strokes, the 27 nakshatras paint the details. Each nakshatra has a ruling planet (called the nakshatra lord), a presiding deity, an animal symbol, a gender, a gana (temperament), and a specific set of qualities that color its expression.
The nakshatra of your natal moon (janma nakshatra) is perhaps the single most personal point in your chart. It governs your emotional instincts, subconscious patterns, and the starting dasha planet in Vimshottari - meaning it directly determines which planetary period you are born into.
The lagna nakshatra (nakshatra of your rising sign's degrees) and the sun's nakshatra add further layers. Compatibility in Vedic astrology heavily weights nakshatra compatibility (kuta matching) over sign compatibility.
The 27 nakshatras are: Ashwini, Bharani, Krittika, Rohini, Mrigashira, Ardra, Punarvasu, Pushya, Ashlesha, Magha, Purva Phalguni, Uttara Phalguni, Hasta, Chitra, Swati, Vishakha, Anuradha, Jyeshtha, Mula, Purva Ashadha, Uttara Ashadha, Shravana, Dhanishtha, Shatabhisha, Purva Bhadrapada, Uttara Bhadrapada, Revati.
Concept map
6 terms
Planetary Period System
A dasha is a planetary period in Vedic astrology that governs a specific phase of your life. Each planet rules a slice of the 120-year Vimshottari cycle. During its dasha, that planet's themes, strengths, and karmic patterns become the dominant story.
Vedic Zodiac Sign
Rashi is the Vedic term for zodiac sign. The 12 rashis are calculated using the sidereal zodiac (fixed stars), placing them approximately 23° behind their Western tropical counterparts. In Jyotish, the moon's rashi at birth is often considered more personally significant than the sun's rashi.
Ascendant / Rising Sign
Lagna is the degree of the zodiac rising on the eastern horizon at the exact moment of birth. It sets the first house of the chart, determines house rulerships, and acts as the chart's structural foundation - the body, self-expression, and life path.
Compatibility Chart Analysis
Synastry is the Vedic (and Western) practice of comparing two birth charts to assess relationship compatibility. In Jyotish, compatibility analysis (kundali matching) uses nakshatra-based kuta scoring and inter-chart planetary aspects to determine harmony, longevity, and growth potential in partnerships.
The Science of Light
Jyotish is the Sanskrit name for Vedic astrology - literally 'the science of light' (jyoti = light; isha = lord). It is one of the six Vedangas (limbs of the Vedas) and one of the oldest predictive sciences in continuous use. Jyotish combines astronomical observation with karmic philosophy to interpret birth charts, time life events, and understand the soul's trajectory.
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.
Your birth nakshatra (janma nakshatra) is the nakshatra the moon occupied at the moment of your birth. It requires knowing your birth date, time, and location to calculate accurately.
Vedic compatibility (kundali matching) uses a 36-point system called ashta kuta, which compares nakshatra placements of both partners across eight dimensions including temperament, instinct, and emotional compatibility.
A rashi is one of 12 zodiac signs spanning 30° each. A nakshatra is one of 27 lunar mansions spanning 13°20′ each. Multiple nakshatras overlap within a single rashi, giving more granular personality information.
Nakshatra Finder
Continue learning
