Glossary of Jyotish terms

Abhijit muhurta is the eighth of the fifteen daytime muhurtas, the period of about 48 minutes centred on local noon. It is widely held auspicious for beginning work, though many avoid it on Wednesdays. Abhijit is also a 28th nakshatra, from 276 degrees 40 minutes to about 280 degrees 53 minutes, used in some muhurta charts.

Also: abhijit muhurta, abhijeet, abhijit muhurat, abhijit nakshatra

See: Muhurta , Nakshatra , Panchanga

Sources: Regional matching and muhurta practice (Ashtakoota and porutham)

The amatyakaraka, the planet with the second-highest degree, is read as the significator of career, counsel and the means by which the native works in the world.

Also: amatya karaka, amk

See: Chara karakas

In Jaimini astrology, planets in the 2nd, 4th and 11th from a house or planet "intervene" in its affairs (argala), with the 5th as a secondary argala. Planets in the 12th, 10th and 3rd respectively obstruct that intervention (virodha argala), and the stronger side prevails.

Also: virodha argala, argala yoga, jaimini argala

See: Chara karakas , Arudha lagna and arudha padas

Sources: Jaimini Upadesa Sutras

An arudha pada is the reflection of a house, found by counting from the house to its lord and the same distance again. The arudha lagna (AL) describes public image, the upapada (UL) marriage, and the A10 how the career is perceived.

Also: arudha, arudha pada, al, upapada, ul, a10

See: Bhava

Ashtakavarga (BPHS ch. 66-72) is a point system: each of the seven planets and the lagna give a benefic point (bindu) to set houses counted from each planet. A planet's own table has up to eight points per sign; the seven tables add up to the sarvashtakavarga, 337 points in all, about 28 per sign. Transits through signs with many points are read as more favourable.

Also: ashtakvarga, ashtaka varga, sarvashtakavarga, bhinnashtakavarga, ashtakavarga points, bindus

See: Gochara , Shadbala

Sources: Brihat Parashara Hora Shastra

Ashtakoota matching, common in North India, compares the two Moon nakshatras across eight kootas worth 36 points: varna (1), vashya (2), tara (3), yoni (4), graha maitri (5), gana (6), bhakoot (7) and nadi (8). A total of 18 or more is the usual traditional threshold, and nadi and bhakoot are given particular weight.

Also: guna milan, kundli milan, 36 gunas, ashta koota, gun milan, guna matching

See: Nakshatra , Porutham , Nadi dosha , Bhakoot

Ashtama Shani is Saturn's transit through the 8th sign from the natal Moon, about two and a half years that the tradition reads as demanding. Kantaka Shani is Saturn's transit through the 4th, 7th or 10th sign from the Moon, and the 4th is also called ardhashtama Shani. In North India the 4th and 8th are called dhaiya (small panoti). Like Sade Sati, these are read with the running dasha and the rest of the chart, not on their own.

Also: ashtama shani, ashtam shani, ashtama sani, kantaka shani, kantak shani, ardhashtama shani

See: Sade Sati , Gochara

Sources: Regional matching and muhurta practice (Ashtakoota and porutham)

The atmakaraka is the planet with the highest degree in its sign and is read as the significator of the self and the soul's main lessons.

Also: atma karaka, ak

See: Chara karakas

Classical texts describe a planet's "state" in several schemes. The best known, the baladi avasthas, divide a sign into five parts of six degrees: infant (bala), youth (kumara), adult (yuva), old (vriddha) and dead (mrita), in that order in odd signs and in reverse in even signs. A planet in the adult state is read as giving its results most fully. BPHS also lists the jagradadi (awake, dreaming, sleeping) and lajjitadi states.

Also: avasthas, baladi avastha, baladi avasthas, planetary states, planetary avastha

See: Dignity , Shadbala

Sources: Brihat Parashara Hora Shastra

The ayanamsa is the angle between the tropical and sidereal zodiacs, about 24 degrees today. Vedic astrology uses the sidereal zodiac; Lahiri (Chitrapaksha) is the most widely used ayanamsa in India, and other choices shift every position slightly, which can change signs near a boundary.

Also: lahiri, lahiri ayanamsa, chitrapaksha, sidereal correction, true pushya

See: Kundali

Bhakoot is the 7-point koota based on the distance between the two Moon signs. Sign pairs that are 2-12, 5-9 or 6-8 from each other score zero.

Also: bhakut, rasi koota, bhakoot dosha

See: Ashtakoota

The twelve bhavas divide life into areas, from the self (1st) through family and wealth (2nd), siblings (3rd), home (4th), intelligence and children (5th), effort and service (6th), partnership (7th), longevity and transformation (8th), fortune and teachers (9th), career (10th), gains (11th) to expenses and withdrawal (12th). JyotishiVani counts houses as whole signs from the lagna.

Also: house, houses, bhavas

See: Kendra houses , Trikona houses , Dusthana houses , Lagna

Budhaditya yoga is the Sun and Mercury in the same sign. Mercury is never more than about 28 degrees from the Sun, so the two share a sign in a large share of charts; astrologers usually weigh it only when Mercury is not combust and the sign and house are strong.

Also: budhaditya yoga, budha aditya, budh aditya, budhaditya, nipuna yoga

See: Combustion , Yoga

Chara karakas are significators assigned by degree within the sign: the planet with the highest degree is the atmakaraka (soul), then the amatyakaraka (career, advisers), down to the darakaraka (spouse). They come from Jaimini astrology and are also used by many Parashari astrologers.

Also: jaimini karakas, chara karaka

See: Atmakaraka , Amatyakaraka , Darakaraka

A planet is combust when it is within a set number of degrees of the Sun, for example 17 degrees for Mars and 15 for Saturn. Combustion is read as the planet's significations being overshadowed.

Also: combust, asta, astangata

See: Graha

The darakaraka, the planet with the lowest degree among the karakas, is read as the significator of the spouse and partnerships.

Also: dara karaka, dk

See: Chara karakas

The dasamsa divides each sign into ten parts and is consulted for career, status and public life. Its lagna changes every few minutes, so it is only reliable with an exact birth time.

Also: d10, dashamsha, dasamsha

See: Varga

Dashas divide life into periods ruled by planets. The major period (mahadasha) is subdivided into sub-periods (antardasha or bhukti) and further levels. A period is read as bringing forward the significations of its ruling planet as placed in the birth chart.

Also: dasa, dhasa, mahadasha, antardasha, bhukti, planetary period

See: Vimsottari dasha , Yogini dasha

Dasha sandhi is the junction between two dasha periods, above all two mahadashas. It is read as a time of transition, when the outgoing lord's results fade and the incoming lord's begin; many astrologers allow a few months on either side of the change.

Also: dasa sandhi, dasha chhidra, dasha junction, junction of dashas

See: Dasha , Vimsottari dasha

Dhana yogas link the lords of wealth houses (2nd, 11th, 5th and 9th) with each other or with the lagna lord. They are read as supporting the accumulation of resources.

Also: dhanayoga, wealth yoga

See: Yoga

Dignity describes how comfortable a planet is in a sign: exalted (uchcha), moolatrikona, own sign, a friend's sign, neutral, an enemy's sign, or debilitated (neecha). The Sun is exalted in Aries, the Moon in Taurus, Mars in Capricorn, Mercury in Virgo, Jupiter in Cancer, Venus in Pisces and Saturn in Libra; each is debilitated in the opposite sign (the Sun in Libra, the Moon in Scorpio, Mars in Cancer, Mercury in Pisces, Jupiter in Capricorn, Venus in Virgo, Saturn in Aries). Stronger dignity is read as the planet giving its significations more fully.

Also: exalted, exaltation, debilitated, debilitation, own sign, moolatrikona

See: Graha , Neecha Bhanga Raja Yoga

The double transit is a timing method associated with K. N. Rao: an event connected with a house is read as more likely when transiting Jupiter and transiting Saturn both influence that house (or its lord) at the same time, by occupying it or by their aspects, while a related dasha period is running.

Also: double transit, dual transit

See: Gochara , Dasha , Graha drishti

The dusthanas are the 6th, 8th and 12th houses, associated with obstacles, upheaval and loss or withdrawal. A house lord placed in a dusthana is traditionally read as having its results reduced or redirected, weighed against its dignity.

Also: dusthanas, trik houses, evil houses

See: Bhava

A Tajika yoga in which the faster planet has already passed the exact aspect with the slower one and is moving away within orb. In prashna it is read as the opportunity having passed or slipping away.

Also: isharaph, eesarapha, ishrafa, separating aspect

See: Ithasala , Prashna

Sources: Tajika Neelakanthi

Jyotisha reads the birth chart as a map of tendencies brought from past action (karma), not as a fixed script. The tradition distinguishes firm karma (dridha), which is hard to change, from karma that responds to effort (adridha), and holds that present effort (purushartha) shapes how the indications work out. A reading describes inclinations and periods to prepare for; it does not decide your choices.

Also: free will, destiny, fate, karma and free will, is everything fixed

See: Kundali , Dasha

Lordship decides how a planet acts for a given lagna. Lords of the trikonas (1st, 5th, 9th) are functional benefics; lords of the 3rd, 6th and 11th act as malefics; natural benefics that rule kendras lose some of their goodness (kendradhipati dosha); the 8th lord is generally adverse. A planet ruling both a kendra and a trikona is a yogakaraka: Saturn for Taurus and Libra lagnas, Mars for Cancer and Leo, Venus for Capricorn and Aquarius.

Also: functional benefic, functional malefic, functional benefics, functional malefics, yogakaraka, yoga karaka

See: Kendra houses , Trikona houses , Dusthana houses , Raja yoga

Sources: Brihat Parashara Hora Shastra

In its common form, Gaja Kesari yoga is Jupiter in a kendra (1st, 4th, 7th or 10th house) from the Moon. Stricter versions also require Jupiter to be aspected or joined by a benefic and not debilitated, combust or in an enemy's sign. It is read as wisdom, reputation and the support of others.

Also: gajakesari, gaja kesari yoga, gajakesari yoga

See: Yoga , Kendra houses

Gandanta is the junction where a water sign ends and a fire sign begins: Cancer and Leo, Scorpio and Sagittarius, Pisces and Aries. These are also nakshatra junctions (Ashlesha and Magha, Jyeshtha and Mula, Revati and Ashwini), and the last pada before and the first pada after each one are traditionally treated as sensitive. Births in those six nakshatras are called ganda moola, for which the tradition prescribes a pacifying rite.

Also: gandant, gandanta nakshatra, ganda moola, gandmool, gand mool, ganda mula

See: Nakshatra

Sources: Brihat Parashara Hora Shastra; Regional matching and muhurta practice (Ashtakoota and porutham)

Gochara is the reading of planets' current positions relative to the natal chart, counted by sign from the natal Moon and, in many modern practices, from the lagna. Slow planets matter most: Jupiter stays about a year in a sign, Saturn about two and a half years, and Rahu and Ketu about eighteen months. Texts read transits together with the running dasha period rather than on their own.

Also: transit, transits, gochar

See: Sade Sati , Dasha , Double transit

Jyotisha uses nine grahas: the Sun, Moon, Mars, Mercury, Jupiter, Venus and Saturn, and the lunar nodes Rahu and Ketu. Each rules signs, signifies people and themes (karakatva) and has natural friends and enemies.

Also: grahas, planets, navagraha

See: Kundali , Dignity

In Parashari astrology every planet aspects the 7th house from itself. Mars also aspects the 4th and 8th, Jupiter the 5th and 9th, and Saturn the 3rd and 10th houses from itself. An aspected house or planet is read as coloured by the aspecting planet.

Also: aspect, aspects, drishti

See: Graha

The hora lagna is a special lagna that starts from the Sun's position at sunrise and advances one sign every hour, so it moves twice as fast as the bhava lagna. It is read for wealth and status. It is not the lagna of the hora (D2) chart.

Also: hora lagna, horalagna, hora lagnam

See: Lagna , Arudha lagna and arudha padas

Sources: Brihat Parashara Hora Shastra

A Tajika yoga in which a faster planet, a few degrees behind a slower one, is moving to complete an aspect with it within their combined orbs (deeptamsa). In prashna, ithasala between the lagna lord and the lord of the matter is read as the matter coming about; friendly aspects (3rd, 5th, 9th, 11th) ease it, inimical ones (4th, 7th, 10th) bring effort.

Also: itthasala, ithasala yoga, applying aspect

See: Easarapha , Prashna

Sources: Tajika Neelakanthi

Kala Sarpa describes all seven planets falling on one side of the Rahu and Ketu axis. It is a later concept not found in the major classical texts, and astrologers disagree about its significance.

Also: kaal sarp dosh, kalsarp, kala sarpa yoga, kaal sarp

See: Graha

The karakamsa is the sign the atmakaraka occupies in the navamsa (D9). Jaimini astrology reads the karakamsa, and the houses counted from it, for the soul's inclinations, work and spiritual path.

Also: karakamsha, karakansh, karakamsa lagna

See: Atmakaraka , Navamsa , Chara karakas

Sources: Jaimini Upadesa Sutras

A karana is half a tithi: the time the Moon takes to gain 6 degrees on the Sun, so each lunar day has two. There are eleven karanas: seven movable ones (Bava, Balava, Kaulava, Taitila, Garaja, Vanija and Vishti) that repeat eight times a month, and four fixed ones (Shakuni, Chatushpada, Naga and Kimstughna) around the new Moon. Vishti, also called Bhadra, is avoided for auspicious work.

Also: karanas, karan, vishti, bhadra karana

See: Tithi , Panchanga , Muhurta

Sources: Regional matching and muhurta practice (Ashtakoota and porutham)

In prashna, the house that rules the subject of the question: the 10th for a job, the 7th for marriage or a partner, the 5th for children or exams, the 2nd and 11th for money, the 4th for property or home. Its lord is the karyesha, the lord of the matter.

Also: karya, karyesha, karya lord, house of the matter

See: Prashna , Bhava

Sources: Prashna Marga

Kemadruma yoga forms when no planet other than the Sun occupies the 2nd or 12th house from the Moon. Classical texts describe it as unfavourable, but they also list many cancellations, such as planets in kendras from the lagna or Moon, so it is rarely read in isolation.

Also: kemadruma yoga, kemdrum

See: Yoga

The kendras are the 1st, 4th, 7th and 10th houses. Planets and house lords placed in kendras are traditionally considered prominent and able to give results.

Also: kendras, angular houses, quadrants

See: Bhava , Trikona houses

In Krishnamurti Paddhati horary, the asker names a number from 1 to 249. The zodiac is divided into 249 arcs by sign, nakshatra and sub-lord, and the chosen arc fixes the lagna of the question chart; the planets are taken for the moment of the question.

Also: kp number, kp horary, krishnamurti horary, 249 number

See: Prashna , Lagna

Sources: KP Readers (Krishnamurti Paddhati), horary volume

A kundali is the map of the sidereal zodiac at the moment and place of birth: the lagna (rising sign), the twelve houses counted from it, and the positions of the nine grahas (Sun, Moon, Mars, Mercury, Jupiter, Venus, Saturn, Rahu and Ketu).

Also: kundli, janam kundli, janma kundali, horoscope, birth chart, natal chart

See: Lagna , Bhava , Graha , Ayanamsa

Sources: Brihat Parashara Hora Shastra

The lagna is the zodiac sign rising on the eastern horizon at birth. It fixes the first house, so every house in the chart is counted from it. Because the lagna changes about every two hours, it depends on an accurate birth time.

Also: ascendant, rising sign, lagnam

See: Bhava , Kundali , Lagna lord

The lagna lord is the planet that rules the rising sign. Its house, dignity and associations are read as describing the native's general direction, vitality and self-expression.

Also: ascendant lord, lord of the first house

See: Lagna , Dignity

Manglik dosha is traditionally said to arise when Mars occupies certain houses, commonly the 2nd, 4th, 7th, 8th or 12th from the lagna (some regions also use the 1st, or count from the Moon or Venus). Texts list many exceptions that cancel or reduce it, and matching practice usually compares it with the partner's chart.

Also: mangal dosha, kuja dosha, manglik dosha, mangalik, chevvai dosham, angarak dosha

See: Ashtakoota

Maraka means "one that kills". Classical texts name the 2nd and 7th houses from the lagna, and their lords, as maraka, and use them in longevity calculations together with the dashas. JyotishiVani explains the term but does not use it to predict death, illness or lifespan.

Also: marak, maraka planet, maraka graha, marakesh, marakas

See: Bhava , Dasha

Sources: Brihat Parashara Hora Shastra

Muhurta is the choice of an auspicious time for an event such as a wedding or a housewarming, using the panchanga, the birth stars of the people involved and rules specific to the event. JyotishiVani shows daily panchanga factors but does not yet select or rank muhurtas.

Also: muhurat, muhurtham, auspicious time, auspicious date

See: Panchanga

The 32 nabhasa yogas of BPHS and Saravali describe the pattern of planets across the chart rather than particular planets: ashraya (by the type of signs occupied), dala, akriti (shapes such as yava, kamala and chakra) and sankhya (by how many signs are occupied, from Vallaki with seven to Gola with one).

Also: nabhasa yoga, nabhasa yogas, akriti yoga, sankhya yoga, ashraya yoga

See: Yoga

Sources: Brihat Parashara Hora Shastra; Saravali

Nadi is the 8-point koota. When both nakshatras share the same nadi it scores zero, which matching tradition calls nadi dosha and treats as significant, with some recognised exceptions.

Also: nadi, naadi dosha, nadi koota

See: Ashtakoota

The zodiac is divided into 27 nakshatras of 13 degrees 20 minutes each, each split into four padas. The Moon's nakshatra at birth (the birth star) sets the starting point of the Vimsottari dasha and is used in marriage matching.

Also: nakshatras, lunar mansion, birth star, janma nakshatra, star

See: Vimsottari dasha , Ashtakoota

The navamsa divides each sign into nine parts of 3 degrees 20 minutes. It is the most widely used divisional chart, consulted for marriage, the deeper strength of planets and dharma. A planet in the same sign in D1 and D9 is called vargottama and is considered strengthened.

Also: d9, navamsha, navamsam, navansh

See: Varga , Vargottama

Neecha bhanga means cancellation of debilitation. Classical texts list conditions, for example the lord of the debilitation sign being in a kendra from the lagna or Moon, under which a debilitated planet's weakness is cancelled and can even produce a raja yoga. Texts differ on which conditions count, so readings vary.

Also: neecha bhanga, cancellation of debilitation, neechabhanga

See: Dignity , Raja yoga

The five Mahapurusha yogas form when Mars (Ruchaka), Mercury (Bhadra), Jupiter (Hamsa), Venus (Malavya) or Saturn (Sasa) is in its own or exaltation sign in a kendra from the lagna. Each is read as giving the qualities of that planet prominence.

Also: mahapurusha yoga, ruchaka, bhadra, hamsa, malavya, sasa

See: Yoga , Kendra houses , Dignity

The panchanga ("five limbs") describes a day by its tithi (lunar day), vara (weekday), nakshatra, yoga and karana, usually as in force at local sunrise, and lists daily periods such as Rahu kalam.

Also: panchang, panchangam, almanac

See: Tithi , Rahu kalam , Nakshatra

Two planets each in a sign owned by the other form a parivartana, a sign exchange that links their two houses as if each lord sat in its own sign. Phaladeepika names three kinds: Maha (between the lords of good houses), Khala (involving the 3rd lord) and Dainya (involving the lord of the 6th, 8th or 12th).

Also: parivartana yoga, parivartan yog, sign exchange, exchange of signs, mutual exchange, maha parivartana

See: Yoga , Dusthana houses , Functional benefics and malefics

Sources: Phaladeepika

A popular term for combinations read as an ancestral obligation, usually the Sun (the father) or the 9th house (ancestors) joined by Rahu, Ketu or Saturn. The classical texts do not define it under this name and astrologers' definitions vary widely; it is traditionally linked to shraddha rites, not read as a curse or a prediction of harm.

Also: pitra dosh, pitru dosh, pitra dosha, pitri dosha, ancestral dosha

See: Kala Sarpa dosha

South Indian matching checks ten poruthams, including dina, gana, mahendra, stree deergha, yoni, rasi, rasi adhipathi, vasya, rajju and vedha. Rajju is usually treated as essential.

Also: poruthams, 10 porutham, thirumana porutham

See: Ashtakoota

Prashna answers a specific question from the chart of the moment it is asked, at the place of the asker, instead of the birth chart. The lagna stands for the asker and the house that rules the matter (karya bhava) for what is asked; their lords, the Moon and the aspects between them decide how the question leans.

Also: prasna, prashan, prashna kundli, horary, horary chart, question chart

See: Karya bhava , Ithasala , Easarapha , KP prashna number , Lagna

Sources: Prashna Marga

Jupiter is the natural significator (karaka) of children in Parashari astrology, so its strength and its relation to the 5th house are read alongside the 5th house and its lord.

Also: putra karaka, putrakaraka

See: Graha , Bhava

Rahu kalam is a period of about 90 minutes each day, one-eighth of the time from sunrise to sunset, that is traditionally avoided for starting new ventures. Yamaganda and Gulika kalam are similar daily periods.

Also: rahu kaal, rahukalam, rahu kalam, yamaganda, gulika

See: Panchanga

A raja yoga is formed when lords of kendra and trikona houses combine, for example by conjunction, mutual aspect or exchange of signs. It is read as supporting status and achievement, especially during the periods of the planets involved.

Also: rajayoga, raj yoga

See: Kendra houses , Trikona houses , Yoga

A planet is retrograde when, seen from Earth, it appears to move backwards through the zodiac. Rahu and Ketu are always treated as retrograde. Traditions differ on how retrogression changes a planet's results; many read it as strengthening the planet's expression.

Also: vakri, vakra, retrograde planet

See: Graha

Sade Sati is the roughly seven-and-a-half-year period when Saturn transits the 12th, 1st and 2nd signs from the natal Moon, in three phases of about two and a half years each (rising, peak and setting). It is traditionally read as a time of responsibility and steady effort. Saturn in the 8th sign from the Moon (ashtama Shani) is read in a similar way.

Also: sadesati, sade sati, saade saati, elarai sani

See: Gochara

The saptamsa is the divisional chart formed by dividing each sign into seven parts. Parashari texts read it for children and creativity, alongside the 5th house of the birth chart.

Also: d7, saptamsha, saptamamsa

See: Varga

Shadbala measures a planet's strength from six sources: position (sthana), direction (dig), time (kaala), motion (cheshta), natural strength (naisargika) and aspects (drik). It is expressed in rupas and compared with a classical minimum for each planet.

Also: six fold strength, planetary strength, shad bala

See: Dignity

The shashtiamsa divides each sign into sixty parts of half a degree. BPHS gives it the greatest weight among the vargas, but its lagna changes about every two minutes of birth time, so it is meaningful only when the birth time is known to the minute.

Also: d60, d-60, shashtyamsa, shashtiamsha, shastiamsa

See: Varga , Navamsa

Sources: Brihat Parashara Hora Shastra

Lunar yogas formed by planets in the signs beside the Moon. Mars, Mercury, Jupiter, Venus or Saturn in the 2nd from the Moon forms Sunapha, in the 12th Anapha, and on both sides Durudhara. The Sun, Rahu and Ketu are not counted. With none of these planets on either side, the chart has Kemadruma yoga instead.

Also: sunapha, anapha, durudhara, sunaphaa, anaphaa, duradhara

See: Kemadruma yoga , Yoga

Sources: Brihat Parashara Hora Shastra; Saravali; Phaladeepika

Tajaka is the system of annual charts cast for the moment the Sun returns to its natal position each year, with its own aspects, year lord and muntha.

Also: varshaphal, varshphal, annual chart, solar return

See: Kundali

Tarabala is the strength of a day's nakshatra counted from the birth nakshatra. Counting inclusively, the remainder after dividing by nine gives the tara: Janma (1), Sampat (2), Vipat (3), Kshema (4), Pratyak (5), Sadhana (6), Naidhana (7), Mitra (8) and Parama Mitra (9, or 0). Vipat, Pratyak and Naidhana are avoided in muhurta; the same count gives the tara koota in marriage matching.

Also: tara bala, taras, nine taras, janma tara

See: Nakshatra , Muhurta , Ashtakoota

Sources: Regional matching and muhurta practice (Ashtakoota and porutham)

A tithi is the time it takes the Moon to gain 12 degrees on the Sun. There are 30 tithis in a lunar month, from Shukla Pratipada to Purnima (full Moon) and from Krishna Pratipada to Amavasya (new Moon).

Also: lunar day, tithis, ekadashi, amavasya, purnima, pradosham

See: Panchanga

The trikonas are the 1st, 5th and 9th houses, associated with dharma, merit and fortune. Their lords are counted among the most auspicious in Parashari reading.

Also: trikonas, trines, trine houses

See: Kendra houses , Raja yoga

Vargas divide each sign into smaller parts to give finer charts for specific themes, such as the navamsa (D9) for marriage and inner strength, the dasamsa (D10) for career and the chaturvimsamsa (D24) for education. Higher vargas need an accurate birth time.

Also: divisional chart, divisional charts, vargas, d chart

See: Navamsa , Dasamsa

A planet is vargottama when it occupies the same sign in the birth chart and the navamsa. Texts read this as giving the planet steadiness and strength.

Also: vargottam

See: Navamsa

Vimsopaka bala is a strength score out of 20 that combines a planet's dignity across a group of divisional charts (six, seven, ten or sixteen vargas), each varga carrying its own weight. A high score means the planet is well placed across the vargas, not only in the birth chart.

Also: vimsopaka bala, vimshopaka, vimsopaka strength, vimshopaka bala

See: Varga , Dignity , Shadbala

Sources: Brihat Parashara Hora Shastra

Vimsottari is the most widely used dasha system, a 120-year cycle of periods ruled by Ketu (7 years), Venus (20), Sun (6), Moon (10), Mars (7), Rahu (18), Jupiter (16), Saturn (19) and Mercury (17). The starting period and its balance at birth come from the Moon's nakshatra.

Also: vimshottari, vimsottari, 120 year dasha

See: Dasha , Nakshatra

When the lords of the dusthanas (the 6th, 8th and 12th houses) occupy dusthanas, the "reversed" raja yoga is said to bring gains through adversity or the setbacks of rivals. Its three named forms are Harsha (the 6th lord), Sarala (the 8th lord) and Vimala (the 12th lord).

Also: viparita raja yoga, vipreet raj yoga, vipareeta raja yoga, viparit raj yog, harsha yoga, sarala yoga

See: Dusthana houses , Raja yoga

Sources: Phaladeepika

In a horoscope, a yoga is a named combination of placements, such as a planet in a kendra from the Moon or lords of good houses together. Classical texts describe hundreds of yogas, and they are always weighed against the strength of the planets that form them.

Also: yogas, yogam, combination

See: Raja yoga , Dhana yoga , Gaja Kesari yoga

Yogini dasha is a 36-year cycle of eight yoginis (Mangala, Pingala, Dhanya, Bhramari, Bhadrika, Ulka, Siddha and Sankata), each linked to a planet. It is often used to confirm Vimsottari timing.

Also: yogini

See: Dasha