Lagna (Ascendant)
The zodiac sign rising on the eastern horizon at the moment of birth. It becomes the 1st house, and every other house is counted from it.
Glossary of Vedic
astrology terms
Short explanations of the words used in the yoga descriptions on this site.
Kendra
The angular houses: 1st, 4th, 7th and 10th. Planets here are considered prominent and able to act strongly.
Trikona
The trinal houses (1st, 5th and 9th), associated with fortune, merit and intelligence.
Dusthana / Trik houses
The 6th, 8th and 12th houses, linked with obstacles, loss and hidden matters.
Upachaya
Houses of growth: 3rd, 6th, 10th and 11th. Malefics are often said to do well here (the 3rd, 6th and 11th are also called Trishadaya).
Panaphara & Apoklima
Panaphara are the 2nd, 5th, 8th and 11th houses; Apoklima are the 3rd, 6th, 9th and 12th.
House lord
The planet that rules the sign on a house. "Lord of the 9th" means the ruler of the sign falling in the 9th house.
Benefic
Naturally helpful planets: Jupiter, Venus, a waxing Moon, and Mercury when not joined by malefics.
Malefic
Naturally harsh planets: Sun, Mars, Saturn, Rahu, Ketu, a waning Moon, and Mercury joined by malefics.
Exaltation (Uchcha)
The sign where a planet is strongest: Sun in Aries, Moon in Taurus, Mars in Capricorn, Mercury in Virgo, Jupiter in Cancer, Venus in Pisces, Saturn in Libra. "Deep exaltation" is its exact peak degree.
trikonaUchcha
Debilitation (Neecha)
The sign opposite a planet's exaltation, where it is weakest, for example Sun in Libra or Jupiter in Capricorn.
trikonaUchcha
Own sign (Swakshetra)
A sign ruled by the planet itself, such as Mars in Aries or Scorpio. A planet here is comfortable and strong.
trikonaUchcha
Moolatrikona
A specific portion of one sign where a planet works almost as well as in exaltation, for example Sun in Leo 0–20°.
trikonaUchcha
Friend's and enemy's signs
Planets have natural friendships and enmities. A planet in a sign ruled by a friend is supported; in an enemy's sign it is uneasy.
trikonaUchcha
Aspect (Drishti)
A planet's glance on another house. Every planet aspects the 7th house from itself; Mars also the 4th and 8th, Jupiter the 5th and 9th, Saturn the 3rd and 10th.
Conjunction
Two or more planets in the same sign (and so the same house).
Exchange (Parivartana)
Two planets each occupying the other's sign, for example Mars in Taurus and Venus in Aries. It links the houses they rule.
Movable, fixed and dual signs
Movable (Chara): Aries, Cancer, Libra, Capricorn. Fixed (Sthira): Taurus, Leo, Scorpio, Aquarius. Dual (Dvisvabhava): Gemini, Virgo, Sagittarius, Pisces.
Navamsha (D9)
The ninth-division chart. Each sign is split into nine parts of 3°20′; the Navamsha shows the deeper strength of each planet and is key for marriage.
Vargottama
A planet occupying the same sign in the birth chart and the Navamsha, a mark of strength.
Drekkana (D3)
The third-division chart; each sign is split into three parts of 10°.
Other divisional charts
Finer divisions of each sign, such as Saptamsha (D7, children), Trimshamsha (D30, misfortune) and Shashtiamsha (D60, past karma). "Good" and "cruel" Shashtiamshas are listed in the classics.
Vaisheshikamsha
Grades of dignity earned when a planet is in its own or exaltation sign across several of the ten main divisional charts: 2 = Parijata, 3 = Uttama, 4 = Gopura, 5 = Simhasana, 6 = Paravata, 7 = Devaloka, 8 = Brahmaloka, 9 = Airavata, 10 = Sridhama.
Rahu and Ketu
The Moon's north and south nodes. These shadow planets are always opposite each other and are treated as malefics.
Combustion
A planet too close to the Sun loses strength; it is "burnt" by the Sun's rays.
Retrograde
A planet that appears to move backwards from Earth. Classical texts often treat it as strong.
Chara karakas
Significators chosen by degree: the planet with the highest degree in its sign is the Atmakaraka (soul), the next the Amatyakaraka (career), and so on. Karakamsha is the Atmakaraka's Navamsha sign.
Gulika and Mandi
Sensitive points calculated from Saturn's portion of the day or night; they behave like strong malefics.
Hora Lagna
A special ascendant that moves one sign per hour from sunrise; used for wealth.
Paksha (lunar phase)
Shukla Paksha is the waxing half of the lunar month; Krishna Paksha is the waning half.
Arudha and Upapada
Arudha Lagna is the image of the ascendant, found by counting from the Lagna lord; Upapada is the Arudha of the 12th house, used for marriage.
Day and night birth
A day birth is between sunrise and sunset. The Vedic weekday also begins at sunrise, not midnight.