Basics of Vedic Astrology Series

न हि कश्चित्क्षणमपि जातु तिष्ठत्यकर्मकृत् ⁠।

कार्यते ह्यवशः कर्म सर्वः प्रकृतिजैर्गुणैः ⁠।⁠।

There is no one who can remain without action even for a moment. Indeed, all beings are compelled to act by their qualities born of material nature (the three guṇas).

ShrimadBagvatGeeta

The Chart in Vedic Astrology:

The Cosmic Blueprint of Individual

कालज्ञानं ग्रहाधीनं ग्रहा: कर्मफलप्रदा:॥ (बृह.सं.)

Vedic Astrology (Jyotish) is an ancient Indian system that offers profound insights into an individual's life by interpreting the positions of planets (& Constellations) at the moment of birth.

In Vedic astrology (Jyotish) the chart is called a Janma Kundali, Janma Patrika or Janma Patri, is the foremost tool used to understand an individual’s (Jatak’s) blueprint of current life. This Blueprint reveals both worldly experiences and soul-level lessons. This chart acts as a unique karmic map, reflecting one's past, present, and potential future life trajectory.

The chart in Vedic astrology is far more than a personality profile. It is a spiritual guide to understanding life’s purpose, challenges, and opportunities. Rooted in ancient wisdom, the Janma Kundali offers insight into both worldly success and inner growth. By studying this chart, Vedic astrology seeks to illuminate the path toward harmony, self-awareness, and liberation

The Chart and Karma

‘अवश्यमेव भोक्तव्यं कृतं कर्म शुभाशुभम्’

In Vedic astrology, the chart is seen as a reflection of Prarabdha karma allotted to this life from past lives. Favourable placements & interactions in the chart indicate blessings earned through past actions, while challenging placements point to lessons that must be addressed in this lifetime. Remedies such as mantras, gemstones, charity, and spiritual practices are often recommended as kriyaman karmas to balance planetary energies as well as one’s karmas.

करम प्रधान बिस्व करि राखा।

जो जस करइ सो तस फलु चाखा॥

The Foundation of the Chart: Birth Data

Creating an accurate Vedic chart is an exercise in precision. It requires three critical pieces of information:

Ø Date of Birth: The specific day the individual was born.

Ø Time of Birth: The exact time, as even a few minutes can change the entire chart structure.

Ø Place of Birth: The geographical location (latitude and longitude) to determine the Ascendant & houses.

These details are used to calculate the precise longitudinal positions of the planets and the rising sign on the eastern horizon, which determines the foundation of the entire chart.

Vedic astrology uses the sidereal zodiac, which is aligned with the actual constellations.

Structure of the Vedic Chart

Vedic charts are traditionally drawn in square or diamond shapes. There are two popular styles:

Ø North Indian chart – houses are fixed, signs move

Ø South Indian chart – signs are fixed, houses move

Regardless of style, the meaning and interpretation remain the same. The Kundali or chart is a complex interplay of three main elements: the Signs, the Houses and the Planets.

Key Elements of the Vedic Chart

1. Rashis (Signs)

Twelve divisions of zodiac (the zodiac is a wide belt of 8/9 degrees around the Earth) are represented as Rashis. The 12 Rashis represent different qualities of nature and consciousness. Rashis are comprises of constellations (Nakshatras). The 12 Rashis occupy the houses and describe the nature or flavour of the house's themes.

The sign rising at birth becomes the Lagna or Ascendant, which sets the foundation of the entire chart.

Names of 12 Rashis (signs) are:

1.Mesha (Aries) ♈

2.Vrishabha (Taurus) ♉

3.Mithuna (Gemini) ♊

4.Karka (Cancer) ♋

5.Simha (Leo) ♌

6.Kanya (Virgo) ♍

7.Tula (Libra) ♎

8.Vrischika (Scorpio) ♏

9.Dhanu (Sagittarius) ♐

10.Makara (Capricorn) ♑

11.Kumbha (Aquarius) ♒

12.Meena (Pisces) ♓

2. Bhavas (Houses)

The chart is divided into 12 Houses (Bhava), each representing some specific areas of life.
The twelve Bhavas represent different life areas, such as personality, wealth, siblings, education, marriage, career, and liberation. Each house shows how planetary energies manifest in specific aspects of life.

The ruling planet of the sign is named the Lord of the house/bhava, viz., Bhavesh.

Ø Lord of the sign in first house (Lagna) is referred to as Lagnesh.

Ø Lord of the sign in second (Dwitiya) house as Dwitiyesh and Dhanesh.

Ø Third House is called Tritiyesh, Parakramesh.

Ø Lord of Fourth House is called Chaturthesh, Sukhesh.

Ø Lord of Fifth House is called Panchatnesh, Vidya Bhavesh, Putra Bhavesh.

Ø Lord of Sixth House is called Shashtesh, Rogesh.

Ø Lord of Seventh House is called Saptamesh, Kalatra Bhavesh.

Ø Lord of Eighth House is called Ashtamesh, Ayurbhavesh.

Ø Lord of Ninth House is called Navamesh, Bhagyesh.

Ø Lord of Tenth House is called Dashamesh, Karmesh.

Ø Lord of Eleventh House is called Ekadashesh, Labhesh, Aayesh.

Ø Lord of Twelfth House is called Dwadashesh, Vyayesh.

3. Planets (Grahas)

‘गृह्णन्ति इति ग्रहा:’

Vedic astrology uses 9 Grahas in calculation (in which two are mathematical points hence called as Shadow planets yet extremely important). These 9 Planets (Grahas) are the most dynamic forces in the chart. They are the "actors" that influence the areas of life represented by the houses they occupy and the signs they transit through.

Sun (Surya) ‘सूर्य आत्मा जगतस्तस्थुषश्च’

Moon (Chandra) ‘चन्द्रमा मनसो जात:’

Mars (Mangala) ‘धरणीगर्भसम्भूतं विद्युत्कान्तिसमप्रभम्’

Mercury (Budha) ‘प्रियङ्गुकलिकाश्यामं रूपेणाप्रतिमं बुधम्’

Jupiter (Guru) ‘देवानां च ऋषीणां च गुरुं काञ्चनसंनिभम्’

Venus (Shukra) ‘हिमकुन्दमृणालाभं दैत्यानां परमं गुरुम्’

Saturn (Shani) ‘नीलाञ्जनसमाभासं रविपुत्रं यमाग्रजम्’

Rahu (North Lunar Node)

Ketu (South Lunar Node)

Each Graha has a unique role and karmic significance, influencing both material and spiritual dimensions of life. Shadow planets represent karmic desires and liberation, respectively.

Essential Keys to open Chart's Lock of Destiny:

Ø Nakshatras

नक्षत्राणि ग्रहाश्चैव शुभाशुभनिवेदका:।

मानवानां महाभागे न तु कर्मकरा: स्वयम्॥

(महा०अनुशासन०)

A distinctive feature of Vedic astrology is the use of Nakshatras, or lunar mansions. The zodiac is divided into 27 Nakshatras, each representing a specific energy, deity, and psychological pattern.

The Moon’s Nakshatra at birth is especially important, shaping emotional nature, mindset, and life direction.

Each Nakshatra spans 13°20′ of the zodiac. Here is the complete list of the 27 Nakshatras in order, with their signs:

1. Ashwini – Aries ♈

2. Bharani – Aries ♈

3. Krittika – Aries ♈ / Taurus ♉

4. Rohini – Taurus ♉

5. Mrigashira – Taurus ♉ / Gemini ♊

6. Ardra – Gemini ♊

7. Punarvasu – Gemini ♊ / Cancer ♋

8. Pushya – Cancer ♋

9. Ashlesha – Cancer ♋

10. Magha – Leo ♌

11. Purva Phalguni – Leo ♌

12. Uttara Phalguni – Leo ♌ / Virgo ♍

13. Hasta – Virgo ♍

14. Chitra – Virgo ♍ / Libra ♎

15. Swati – Libra ♎

16. Vishakha – Libra ♎ / Scorpio ♏

17. Anuradha – Scorpio ♏

18. Jyeshtha – Scorpio ♏

19. Mula – Sagittarius ♐

20. Purva Ashadha – Sagittarius ♐

21. Uttara Ashadha – Sagittarius♐/Capricorn ♑

22. Shravana – Capricorn ♑

23. Dhanishta – Capricorn ♑ / Aquarius ♒

24. Shatabhisha – Aquarius ♒

25. Purva Bhadrapada – Aquarius ♒ / Pisces ♓

26. Uttara Bhadrapada – Pisces ♓

27. Revati – Pisces ♓

Nakshatras are used to determine personality traits, behavior, compatibility, and timing (Muhurat) in Vedic astrology.

Ø Dashas: Timing of Life Events

सुखस्य दु:खस्य न कोऽपि दाता परो ददातीति कुबुद्धिरेषा।

अहं करोमीति वृथाभिमान: स्वकर्मसूत्रग्रथितो हि लोक:॥

(अध्यात्मरामायण )

One of the most powerful tools in Vedic astrology is the Dasha system, particularly the Vimshottari Dasha. Dashas reveal planetary periods that indicate when certain karmic themes and life events are likely to unfold.

While the birth chart shows what can happen, Dashas explain when it may happen.

Ø The Divisional Charts (Vargas)

A unique and powerful feature of Vedic Astrology is the use of Divisional Charts (Vargas).

While the main chart (the D-1 or Rashi Kundali) shows the overall life, the Vargas are mathematically derived by dividing each zodiac sign into smaller portions to analyse specific life areas in minute detail. The most important of these is the Navamsha Chart (D-9), which is considered the chart of destiny and marriage—often seen as the "fruit" of the main chart.

Ø Transit of Planets (Gochar)

The birth chart remains fixed for the whole life. The positions of planets in the birth chart are referred to as radical or natal positions. So we have radical or natal Sun, radical or natal Moon, and so on. But the planets in space keep moving in orbits. They keep transiting through different signs in the zodiac, and hence through different houses in the birth chart. The Sanskrit word for transit is Gochar. These positions of planets at any particular time in life are, therefore, referred to as their transit or Gochar positions in the chart.

‘शं नो ग्रहाश्चान्द्रमसा: शमादित्यश्च राहुणा।’

‘शं नो मित्र: शं वरुण: शं विवस्वांछमन्तक:।’

‘आ रेवती चाश्वयुजौ भगं म आ मे रयिं भरण्य आ वहन्तु।

Hence As we can conclude that the Vedic Astrology Chart is a snapshot of the heavens at the moment you took your first breath, offering a detailed blueprint of your individual karma.

By meticulously analyzing the placement and interaction of the Houses, Signs, and Planets, especially in conjunction with the various Divisional Charts, a Jyotish practitioner can decode the inherent strengths, challenges, and opportune timings of life, guiding the individual toward a deeper understanding of their purpose and potential.

न मां कर्माणि लिम्पन्ति न मे कर्मफले स्पृहा ⁠।

इति मां योऽभिजानाति कर्मभिर्न स बध्यते ⁠।⁠।

Activities do not taint Me, nor do I desire the fruits of action. One who knows Me in this way is never bound by the karmic reactions of work.

ShrimadBagvatGeeta

Rashmi Mimamsa