RBSE VU Jyotish Shastra key terms

The angular gap between the sidereal zodiac used in Jyotish and the tropical zodiac tied to the equinoxes. Because of precession this gap slowly grows, so a value must be chosen when converting positions.

The fixed-star zodiac measured from a chosen sidereal zero point rather than from the vernal equinox. Jyotish works in this frame, so planetary longitudes are reduced by the ayanamsa before rashis are assigned.

The five-limbed Hindu almanac: tithi, vara, nakshatra, yoga and karana. Each limb is computed for a given moment and together they guide festival dates, muhurta selection and daily practice.

The lunar day, defined as the time the Moon gains twelve degrees on the Sun. A lunar month holds thirty tithis, and each is classified as auspicious or otherwise for ceremonies.

Half of a tithi, so sixty karana make a lunar month. Eleven karana types repeat in a fixed cycle, and several are judged unsuitable for beginning important work.

The computed true or mean longitudes of the planets for a chosen moment, expressed in rashi, degree, minute and second. These corrected positions, not rough estimates, are what the kundali is drawn from.

One of twelve equal thirty-degree divisions of the sidereal zodiac, each with a ruling planet, element and temperament. A planet's rashi shows the field of life through which it acts.

One of twelve houses of the chart, counted from the ascendant, each governing a sphere of life such as body, wealth, marriage or liberation. Houses are calculated from time and place, unlike fixed signs.

The ascendant: the degree of the zodiac rising on the eastern horizon at the birth moment. It fixes the first house and is the primary reference for reading the whole chart.

The birth chart, a diagram placing planets in signs and houses for a given time and place. North Indian, South Indian and East Indian formats differ in layout but carry the same data.

The midpoint or cusp of a house, used in some house systems to define house boundaries. Planets near a cusp are judged by proximity to it when deciding which house they influence.

One of twenty-seven lunar mansions of 13 degrees 20 minutes each, grouped in four padas. Each has a ruling planet, deity and character, and the Moon's nakshatra anchors the dasha sequence.

A quarter of a nakshatra, spanning 3 degrees 20 minutes, also called a navamsha division. Padas refine nakshatra interpretation and map onto the navamsha chart.

The ninth-harmonic divisional chart, each sign divided into nine parts. It is examined for marriage, dharma and the inner strength of planets, and is often called the fruit of the chart.

Any divisional chart produced by dividing a sign into equal parts, such as the navamsha or dashamsha. Vargas test the strength of a promise made in the birth chart.

A planet or nodal point treated as a conscious agent in Jyotish. The nine grahas are Sun, Moon, Mars, Mercury, Jupiter, Venus, Saturn, Rahu and Ketu.

The ascending lunar node, a shadow planet without a physical body. It signifies obsession, foreign elements, illusion and sudden amplification of the house and planet it contacts.

The descending lunar node, the other shadow planet. It indicates detachment, loss, spiritual insight and past-life residue, and behaves unlike the visible planets.

The six-fold strength scheme measuring positional, temporal, motional, natural, directional and aspectual power of a planet. Scores are compared in rupas to decide which planet can deliver its promise.

The state or condition of a planet, judged from its degree and placement, such as infancy, youth, old age or death. It modifies how strongly and how gracefully a planet acts.

The natural friendship and enmity scheme among planets, fixed by classical texts and independent of the chart. It is combined with temporary friendship to judge how planets treat each other.

Friendship arising from a planet's position in the chart, typically planets two, three, four, ten, eleven or twelve signs apart being temporary friends. It is blended with natural friendship for a final verdict.

Planetary war: two planets occupying the same degree of a sign within one degree of each other. The loser is judged weakened, and the outcome is read from latitude and brightness.

The 120-year cycle of planetary periods beginning from the Moon's nakshatra. Each mahadasha is subdivided into bhuktis and further antaras, giving the timeline of events.

The sub-period within a mahadasha, ruled by one planet for a proportional share of the major period. Bhukti lords are read together with the mahadasha lord to time specific events.

The third-level period inside a bhukti, also called antara or pratyantardasha when further divided. It narrows timing to weeks or days and is used for precise event prediction.

A planetary combination producing a specific result, either benefic like a raja yoga or difficult like a dosha. Yogas require the participating planets to be strong enough to deliver their promise.

A flaw or affliction in the chart that obstructs a house or planet, such as mangal dosha or kala sarpa. Remedies and cancellation conditions are assessed before declaring the flaw effective.

A marriage affliction caused by Mars in the first, second, fourth, seventh, eighth or twelfth house from the ascendant or Moon. Classical texts differ on the list and on cancellation rules.

A difficult combination where no planet occupies the second or twelfth house from the Moon, leaving it unsupported. It is cancelled if a planet joins the Moon or aspects it strongly.

A combination granting authority and status, classically formed by association between lords of kendra and trikona houses. Strength, affliction and dasha timing decide whether it actually fructifies.

Horary astrology, in which a chart is cast for the moment a question is asked rather than for a birth. The ascendant and its lord are read as the querent, the relevant house as the matter.

Electional astrology: choosing an auspicious moment for an action such as marriage or travel. The panchanga limbs, the ascendant and the strength of the Moon are weighed together.

Omens and portents observed at the start of an undertaking, such as sounds, animal behaviour or meeting certain persons. They are read as confirming or warning signs alongside the chosen muhurta.

The classical Indian science of architecture and spatial arrangement, prescribing directions, proportions and room placement. Jyotish correlates its directions with planets and signs for harmonious buildings.

Directional strength, granted to a planet in a specific house: Jupiter and Mercury in the east, Sun and Mars in the south, Saturn in the west, Moon and Venus in the north. It links chart strength with spatial direction.

Two traditional schools of astronomical computation, one using memorised verse tables and the other observed or modern ephemerides. The choice changes planetary positions slightly and must be stated.