adhama - The lowest or bad, used in combination with other words, such as naradhama which means ‘the lowest of persons’, or nara.

adhimas - These are lunar leap months which occur every once in a while in order to adjust the lunar calendar. These leap months have names such as Purushottam Adhimas. They are found interjected into the regular lunar months on Indian calendars knwon as "panchangas".

adhimitra - ‘original friend’. Refers to the natural friendly relationships of planets (not based on their temporary positions in a chart). For example, Jupiter and Mars are naturally friends and are therefore called adhimitras.

adi - ‘the beginning’ or ‘original’. It is used in conjunction with many other words, such as ‘adi purusha’ which means the ‘original lord’.

adi purusha - ‘original lord’.

adipati - ‘original lord’. In astrology it refers to the owner of a sign. Sample usage: karma-dharma-adi-pati-yoga.

Afflicted - A planet that is aspected by or is associated with malefics.

affliction - Adverse aspects between planets or between a planet and a cusp (house) Planets getting debilitated or conjoined with evils are also said to be afflicted.

agni - ‘fire’. Agnideva, the god of fire is one of the most primeval demigods in creation and is referred to throughout the Vedic scriptures. He is the lord over certain nakshatras and shastiamshas.

Airy - Gemini, Libra and Aquarius.

akash - This refers to space or ether; a mystical element difficult to describe in material terms. Often it is said that revelation comes to us through the akash.

akshavedamsha - Literally meaning forty-five parts, it refers to the forty-five part varga or divisional chart. This chart is used for fine tuning general indications and studying the morals and ethics of the subject. Best results will be obtained from having exact time of event.

amatyakaraka - This is the second of the seven karakas that the planets create depending on their advancement through the signs in a chart. The amatyakaraka refers to the second-most important karaka which means ‘the minister’ or ‘the mind’.

amavasya - Refers to the new Moon- when the Moon is conjunct with the Sun and is not visible to our eyes. The end of Krishna paksha or the dark half of the Moon’s cycle. The beginning of shukla paksha or the bright half.

amsa - ‘Part’ or ‘division’ or ‘limb’. Similar to the word ‘anga’ which has the same definition.

anartha - This refers to unnecessary or unwanted things. Artha means necessities, and anartha means things which are unnecessary such as negative habits or misconceptions which cover clear perception and which therefore are unwanted or unnecessary. Used in spiritual Vedic scriptures to refer to the unnecessary materialistic possessions of deluded society. One of the stages of progress in spiritual life is referred to as "anartha nivritti", or freedom from all unwanted habits and acquisitions which stand between the soul and perfection.

angavidya - The science or ‘knowledge of the parts’ of the body; i.e., reading the parts of the body to know about a person. In the Vedas, the rajalakshanas or most auspicious markings of the human form are defined. The Supreme lord Shri Krishna has all of the rajalakshanas in perfection. Humans have them to some degree. Complete absence of these beautiful formations of each part of the body renders a person completely ugly.

ANGLES - Houses 1, 4, 7 and 10 are said to be the angular houses. Hindus call them as Kendra-sthanas.

animal signs - Refers to the animal signs which are: Aries, Taurus, Leo, the second half of Sagittarius and all of Capricorn.

antardasha - This refers the sub-period of a dasha. It is also known as ‘bhukti’. The maha-dasha is the main period.

anuradha - One of the 27 nakshatras, ruled by Saturn.

apachaya - Refers to the following houses in a chart: first, second, fourth, seventh and eighth.

aparadha - ‘offending another’. Usually used in combination with other words. For example, vaishnava-aparadha means to commit an offense or sin against a devotee of Vishnu, whereas guru-aparadha means to offend one’s own guru. Aparadhas or offenses are the greatest stumbling blocks on the path of perfection.

APHELION - Every planet has its own orbit. That area in the orbit which is farthest from the Sun is called Aphelion.

apoklima - These are the cadent houses: third, sixth, ninth and twelfth. These are the four houses which are twelfth to the angle houses, not so good for material happiness.

Apoklimas - The 3rd, 6th, 9th and 12th.

APPLICATION - The approach of one planet to another planet to the exact degree to form an aspect or the approach of a planet to the cusp of a house.

ARC - The distance measured along a circle.

ardra - This is one of the 27 principle stars or nakshatras and this one is ruled by Rahu.

argala - This is an obstruction or an augmenting aspect upon a planet. It is discussed especially in regard to transits and in other more obscure sections of Vedic Astrology.

arishta - This means evil or danger. For example, balarishta-yoga is a combination of the words bala and arishta which means ‘danger to children’. arishtabhanga-yoga means that the arishtas or evils in the chart are bhanga or broken. It is interested to note that the word bhanga seems to have become bungle which means to mess up or break.

arishtabhanga - This is a general yoga which gives protection to the chart because it ‘breaks the evils’. Arishtabhanga means to break the evils within a chart. This yoga is formed by having very good planets or very good lords in the angles or trines of the chart.

artha - ‘necessities’; one’s necessities in life. Refers to the process of doing business or acquiring finances to meet one’s necessities. See also anartha.

artha trikona - Literally means the triangular houses of economic or material necessity issues. It refers to the tenth, second and sixth houses, because these are the houses which form the triangular or trikona formation from the tenth house.

arudha - As in ‘arudhapada-lagna’. This refers to that sign which is the same distance from the lord as the lord is from it’s own house. For example, if the lord of the first is in the fifth, then the ninth house is the arudha of the first lord, because it is fifth from where the lord of the first is posited in the fifth.

ASCENDANT - The part that rises in the east at the time of the birth of a child or commencement of an event. It is also called ,’Lagna’,

ASCENSIONS - Though each sign is 30x, some signs take a longer duration to rise in the east and some signs a shorter period.

ashlesha - This is one of the 27 nakshatras and is ruled by Mercury.

ashta - the number eight.

ashtakavarga - literally means the divisions of eight dots; refers to the process of judging the strengths of the planets and the houses in relation to transits. Described in a number of classics, it is a system which can be used to judge the strengths of the planets as well as make predictions, especially regarding counting various things in life such as numbers of children and how benefic or malefic transits will be over one’s chart.

ashtami - This is the eighth lunar day or eighth tithi.

ashubha - Refers to ‘not good’ or inauspicious. The opposite of shu, meaning auspicious.

ashvini - This is the first of the 27 nakshatras and is ruled by Ketu. Within this nakshatra is the exaltation degree of the Sun. Ashvini literally means a female horse or a mare. It is the name of the wife of the Sun-god when she took the form of a mare to perform austerities on the earth. At that time, she gave birth to twin boys known as the Ashvini Kumaras: the demigods in charge of this nakshatra.

Aspects - All planets aspect the 7th house powerfully. Sani, Guru and Kuja have special aspects or Visesha Drishti, viz., Saturn the 3rd and 10th, Jupiter the 5th and 9th. and Mars the 4th and 8th.

asura - This is the opposite of sura, or godly person. An asura is an ungodly or demoniac person. Rahu, prior to being beheaded by Vishnu, was an asura or demon.

atma karaka - This is the principle or first significator amongst the seven planets. It is the planet with the highest degrees of all in the chart. It literally means the significator of the self. The atma karaka planet, or the one having the most degrees in any sign, somewhat represents the person whose chart it is in.

avaroha - This means the descent or the setting of the planet. It also refers to the planet approaching it’s debilitation point.

avasthas - Literally means states or situations and refers to the condition surrounding a planetary placement. The avastha of a planet refers to which sign and house it is in, whether that planet is exalted or debilitated, etc.

ayanabala - This is one of the six strengths which comprise the shadbala or six strengths of the planets. This strength comes from the planets’ relationship with it’s Northern or Southern course above and below the equator.

ayanamsa - the distance of zodiac arc or measure of 360o which differentiates the actual zodiac from the tropical or relative seasonal zodiac. Currently the ayanamsa or difference between the actual start of the zodiac and the springtime tropical start of the zodiac is roughly around 23o. The exact ayanamsa is not known, therefore there are a number of ayanamsas put forth to the world by various astronomers and well known astrologers.

ayurveda - This is the vedic science of medicine which literally translates as "The knowledge for increasing the span of life".

ayus - Longevity; length of life-span, as in the word ayurdaya: the astrological practice of determining the life-span. This is also the root word of ayurveda.

badhakasthana - This literally means the ‘house of obstruction’. These are bad houses. For Aries, Cancer, Libra and Capricorn rising signs, the eleventh house is the badhakasthana. For the rising signs of Taurus, Leo, Scorpio and Aquarius, it is the ninth house. For Gemini, Virgo, Sagittarius and Pisces, it is the seventh house.

badhakgraha - This is the lord of the badhakasthana or obstruction house. These lords cause bad results in their sub-periods according to some classics. But this principle is generally not used by modern vedic astrologers.

bal - Infantile or young.

bala - Strength or power.

balarishta - Evils affecting children. Refers to a group of yogas that deal with the death of infants.

benefic - Refers to a planet which is beneficial, given the particular rising sign of the chart. In general, the most benefic planets are the lords of the trikona houses: the first, fifth and ninth. The lords of the kendra houses, the fourth, seventh and tenth are also benefic, but may become malefics under certain rules.

Benefics - The waxing Moon, well-associated Mercury, Jupiter and Venus. These are the "natural benefics" whereas, depending on the rising sign in a chart there are "temporary benefics" given to any of the planets due to their lording over good houses.

bhadra - One of the lunar solar months of the Indian calendar.

bhadra yoga - One of the panch-mahapurush yogas, which means five great person yogas. Bhadra yoga is the mahapurush yoga caused by Mercury when Mercury is in it’s own sign or sign of exaltation in either an angle or trikonal house.

bhaga chumban - Bhaga is the female genital and chumban refers to oral contact.

bhagya - Refers to fate or destiny.

bhamsha - Literally meaning twenty-seven parts, it refers to the twenty-seven part varga or divisional chart. Used for the fine-tuning of general judgments.

bharani - The second of the 27 nakshatras, ruled by Venus. Bharan means maintenance.

bhava bala - Literally means the strengths of the houses in the chart. Described in a number of the classics, it is a complex mathematical process for arriving at the relative strengths of the houses in a chart. The overall use is that the stronger a house, the more it will be able to give it’s best results. The weaker each house is will be an indicator of weakened or malefic results.

bhava - Literally means ‘house’, as in the houses of the horoscope.

bhava - Refers to the houses of a horoscope. Literal meaning: house.

bhavachakra - This refers to the chart of houses as opposed to the rasi chakra which is the chart of signs. Bhava chakra means exactly the same thing as chalitchakra.

bhavamadhya - This is the middle of a house. Madhya means middle, bhava means house.

bhavasandhi - This refers to the very end or very beginning of a house or the junction of two houses. Planets lose their strength when in the bhavasandhi or junction of houses.

bhavat bhavam - This is a principle in vedic astrology which means that the house that is as far away from a house as the house is from the ascendant also signifies those same things in a harmonic sort of way. For example, the third house is the eighth from the eighth house and is therefore similar to the eighth house and should be looked at when judging the affairs of the eighth house. This principle applies to all houses and is referred to regularly in astrological works as the bhavat bhavam principle.

bhinnashtakavarga - This is the ashtakavarga of each planet spelled out individually and separately in a grid-like chart and is used in a number of predictive techniques described in various classic jyotish books.

bhoga - Refers to pleasure or enjoyment; also foodstuffs and other items which have not yet been offered to one’s deity or offered to the Lord. Esoterically refers to that which is yet to be enjoyed by the Lord. Bhoga, or unoffered items are not to be taken by the humans. Only prasad, or those items which have been offered to the Lord already are to be enjoyed by humans. Prasad means mercy or remnants, and is the opposite of bhoga or unoffered sacrificial items.

bhratru - brother

bhratru karaka - The significator of the brother. One of the planetary significators defined in the Parashara Hora Shastra.

bhu (Bhurloka) - This is the name of the earth. Refers literally to the name of Bhumi, who is the mother goddess of the earth. Her planet is part of what is called Bhurloka. It should be noted that the earth is not the only part of Bhurloka or the earthly plane. What we see of as the earth ball in space is only a part of the earth plane or Bhurloka, which in it’s real form as a vast expanse is hidden from our vision, controlled by the demigods. In other words we see only what we are meant to see. For the rest of the truth we have to see through the revealed scriptures.

bhukti - This is the second level in the dasha system. It is the sub-period after the main period of the current dasha.

bindus - Literally: dot. Refers to the number of positive points in a particular sign in the ashtaka varga system of strength judgment as described in a number of the classics. A planet has from one to eight bindus in it’s ashtaka varga chart. The more bindus, the better.

BIRTH TIME - The exact moment when the whole body of the child gets separated from the mother.

Blind - Aries, Taurus, Leo are day-blind; Gemini, Cancer and Virgo are night-blind.

Body Parts Rulers - Aries-Head; Taurus-Face; Gemini-Neck; Cancer-Chest; Leo-Stomach; Virgo-Waist; Libra-Sexual Organ; Scorpio-Belly; Sagittarius-Thighs; Capricorn-Knees; Aquarius-Buttocks; Pisces-Feet.

brahma - The name of the highest demigod in this creation. He is born on a lotus flower which sprouts from the navel of Lord Vishnu. He has four heads. During his day, the creation exists, and during his night it is absorbed within him. His day lasts for 1,000 chatur yugas, or 1,000 cycles of four periods: Satya yuga, Treta yuga, Dvapara yuga and Kali yuga. As a demigod, he rules over some of the nakshatras as well as some of the shastiamshas used in vedic astrology. He is beholden only to Vishnu, Sada Shiva and Krishna. All other demigods in this creation are under Brahma, including such great personalities and demigods as Indra, Agni, Surya, Chandra, etc. The incarnations of the lord that appear on earth by Their own sweet will are above Brahma. This includes Shri Krishna, Shri Ramachandra, Shri Narasimha, and Shri Chaitanya to name a few.

brahman - A person who belongs to the first class or caste of human beings. A person who studies the vedas diligently and imbibes all the good qualities recommended therein. A person who knows the science of spirit, religion, liberation, astrology, literature, medicine, etc.- a first class human being. This is not something that can be inherited by birth. It must be earned individually and it is subject to reversal at any time by falldown from the brahminical qualities. The word also refers to spirit in general- the all pervading aspect of Supreme Divinity that pervades every atom in all time and all space. A brahmana is a knower of brahman or spirit, which is also absolute truth.

brihaspati - This is the sanskrit name for Thursday, but really it is the name for the demigod who rules Jupiter. Brihaspati is a great personality referred to in many of the puranic scriptures of ancient India. He is the guru of all the demigods. In other words, he is the great sage who the demigods under Brahma listen to for daily advice. As the ruler of the planet Jupiter, he is the personality behind all the aspects and functions of the Jupiter planet. So his other name is guru. In understanding the actions and ways of Brihaspati, who is a real person living on higher planets within this universe which are relayed to us through the Puranas such as the Bhagavat Purana or Shrimad Bhagavatam. We can come to understand the true functionality and ways of behavior of the Jupiter planet.

brihat - Literally means great.

budha - This is the name of the planet Mercury in sanskrit. Budha is a demigod who is a yuvaraj to the rulership of the Sun. Yuvaraj means the crowned prince or successor to the throne. It is the nature of Budha which gives Mercury it’s functionality and nature.

budhi - Intelligence; that which flows from Budha or the planet Mercury, the controller and significator of our finer thinking capacity or intelligence which is known as Budhi. This word is used throughout sanskrit philosophical literature, such as in the verse in the Bhagavad gita spoken by Lord Krishna which begins: "vyavasayatmika budhi ekeha kuru nandana", which refers to the one-pointed intelligence of those who are devoted to Krishna.

CADENT - Houses 3, 6, 9 and 12 are called Cadent Houses.

CARDINAL - Aries, Cancer, Libra and Capricorn are Cardinal signs.

chakra - This word has a number of meanings. Amongst them, a spinning circle, a diagram formed more or less in the shape of a circle, a center of energy radiating from a central point within the body and also a cycle or procession of events that recurs in a circular fashion. This is also the word used to describe a chart such as in the two word combination of rasi chakra which means the chart or circular formation of the signs of the zodiac. The best single word for defining chakra is circle.

chalitchakra - This refers to the chart of houses as opposed to the rasi chakra which is the chart of signs. Chalitchakra means exactly the same thing as bhavachakra.

chamara - A white or light gray fluffy whisk fan made out of a yak tail, used in ceremonial worship of the Supreme Lord or His representative.

chandala - This is the name of one of the lowest rungs of human society. It means persons who have no discretion and would even engage in what the vedas consider to be a most abominable activity- that of eating small animals such as dogs and cats.

chandra mangala yoga - This refers to a combination between the Moon and Mars. Chandra is the Moon and mangala means Mars. Chandra mangala yoga fires up the mind. The Moon rules the mind.

chandra - This is the Moon and also the name of the demigod who rules the Moon, Chandradeva. He is one of the primeval demigods in this creationary cycle. This is what the Moon is called in India, as well as by Indian or Hindu astrologers.

chandrashtama - This is when the Moon transits in the eighth sign from a person’s rising sign and is not considered good at all. This word is primarily formed by combining the two words chandra and ashta which mean Moon and Eighth respectively.

chandrodaya - Moonrise. It is also the name of the very large temple constructed in the city of Mayapura by Bhaktivedanta Swami to commemorate the birthplace of the most recent incarnation of Krishna on earth known as Shri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu, who is likened to the rising Moon due to his lighting and giving cooling rays to the earth. Therefore, Bhaktivedanta Swami named his massive temple in Mayapura on the Ganges river in India the Chandrodaya Mandira, or Temple of the rising Moon.

chara dasha - Refers to the dasha system propounded by Sage Jaimini. This dasha system is the subject of a book by Mr. K.N. Rao. This system is based on the signs rather than the planets.

chara - This means movable and is often used in combination with rasi to indicate the movable signs: Aries, Cancer, Libra and Capricorn.

chatur - Four.

chaturdasi - This is the fourteenth tithi or lunar day.

chaturmas - Literally means the four months of winter. During this period many yogis and devotees practice more strict austerities to help them in their spiritual advancement.

chaturtamsha - Literally means four parts and refers to the four-part divisional or varga chart. The chaturtamsha chart fills in more information than the fourth house about one’s home, happiness and matters relating to the fourth house.

chaturthi - This is a combination of the two words chatur and tithi and therefore refers to the fourth lunar day of both the dark and bright halves of the lunar month.

chatuspada - This refers to a four-footed animal such as a cow or a horse. There are signs which are called chatuspada signs, because they are animal signs such as Aries and Capricorn, the second half of Sagittarius, Leo and Taurus.

chaya graha - Chaya means shadow and graha means planet; referring to Rahu and Ketu, the nodes of the Moon. These do not have physical mass but are shadowy points in space.

cheshta - Motion; chesta bala refers to motional strength.

Combustion of Planets - Planets situated within distances mentioned from the Sun become combust, The Moon within 12x, Mars-17x, Mercury-14x, Jupiter-11x, Venus-10x, Saturn-15x

Common - Gemini, Virgo, Sagittarius and Pisces.

conjunction - When two planets are together in one house.

CONSTELLATION - Means a star covering 1 3 deg. 20 min. the Zodiac is divided into 27 equal parts also called Nakshatras or Lunar Mansions.

CUSP - The exact point where a house ends or begins or the middle of the house, depending on which philosophy of houses you are following.

daivajna - Astrologer. One who has divine vision or vision of reality beyond our immediate senses.

danda - Stick or rod. Refers to the staff carried by those in the renounced order, the sannyasins.

dara - Wife.

darakaraka - The significator for wife. One of the seven Jaimini karakas.

daridra yoga - Refers to a planetary combination which causes poverty or difficulty in life.

dasha - Literally means periods. Refers to the mathematical process of defining the planetary control periods within a lifetime. Although there are a number of dasha systems, the vimshottari dasha system is by far the most used and trusted amongst all vedic astrologers. The vimshottari dasha system is a mathematical calculation starting from the exact degree of the Moon in a particular Nakshatra.

dashamsa - The name of the varga chart created by ten divisions. Dasha means ten and amsa means divisions.

dashmi - The tenth tithi or lunar day.

dashsamsha - Literally meaning ten parts, it refers to the ten part varga or divisional chart. The ten part chart gives more detail than the tenth house about one’s career, profession, status and rise in life.

Deaf - Libra and Scorpio cannot hear in the morning. Sagittarius and Capricorn become deaf in the evening. Cancer and Virgo are deaf at midday.

debilitation - This is called Nicha in sanskrit and refers to the weakest point in the zodiac for a particular planet. See also Nicha.

decanat - The one-third division of a sign.

DEGREE - The Zodiac (360 deg.) is divided into 12 equal parts of 30 deg. each. A degree contains 60 minutes and every minute contains 60 seconds of longitude.

deity - A name for a divine statue. For example, the Vaishnavas worship the deity or form of Krishna. A reverent way of referring to a statue of a god.

demon - One who is opposed to spirituality and is on the contrary attached to an irreligious and harmful way of life.

descendant - This is the opposite of the ascendant. The descendant is the western horizon or the spot in the zodiac which is setting at any given moment in the seventh house.

deva - The literal translation is God or godly. The devas or demigods, although mortal live a very long time. They rule various aspects of the material creation. For example, Agnideva means ‘fire-god’. It is also a name for the fifth house which has some bearing on the gods that we worship.

devarshi - A compound of the words deva and rishi, meaning ‘godly sage’. For example, this is an affectionate and respectful title given to the great sage Narada for his special qualifications.

devotee - One who is devoted to guru and god.

dhana - The literal translation is wealth. It is also the name for the second house because the second house rules wealth. There are also a number of yogas called dhana yogas or combinations that indicate wealth.

dhanishta - This is one of the 27 nakshatras and is ruled by Mars.

dhanus - Literally means bow as in bow and arrow. It is the name of the ninth sign of the zodiac also known as Sagittarius, whose symbol is an arrow being shot from a bow.

dharma - Refers to religion or activities regulated by religion; one’s faith; one’s spiritual path in life. Also in the lowest sense it refers to the duties one is compelled to perform in vedic culture based on their stage in life and family in which they were born. In other words there is both a mundane and spiritual conception or definition of this word.

dharmasthana - Also called the dharma bhava, it refers to the ninth house which rules religiosity.

dhatu - Metal or mineral. For example, sometimes deities are made of astadhatu or eight primary metals all mixed together.

dhuma - This is one of the subtle planets defined in the Parashara Hora Shastra. It is a subtle point rather than a physical mass; an upagraha or invisible planet which is related to Mars.

dig-dik - Direction; dik-bala means directional strength gained from the directional placement of a planet in a chart. For example, Saturn always gets directional strength in the seventh house, Mercury and Jupiter in the first house, Moon and Venus in the fourth house and Sun and Mars in the tenth house. These are the areas of the chart or the direction which these various planets get dik-bala or directional strength.

DIRECT MOTION - Planets moving forward through the signs- sometimes planets are "retrograde" or moving backwards.

dispositor - This is the lord of the sign in which a planet rests. For example, if Saturn is in Aries, then Mars is the dispositer of Saturn, since Mars is the lord of the sign in which Saturn is placed. The dispositor and it’s location and disposition within the chart have a great say over the planets in their signs.

drekkhana - Refers to the three-part varga or divisional chart.

drikbala - Strength gained because of aspects upon a point or planet. Drk refers to aspect and bala is strength.

drishti - Aspect.

dur - Difficult. Used in conjunction with other words such as ‘duryoga’ meaning difficulty in the life.

dwadashamsha - Literally meaning twelve parts, it refers to the twelve part varga or divisional chart. Used to judge last life, our underlying conditioning brought forward to this life.

dwadashi - The twelfth tithi or lunar day.

dwitiya - This is the second tithi or lunar day.

EARTHY SIGN - Taurus, Virgo and Capricorn

Earthy - Taurus, Virgo and Capricorn.

ECLIPIC - Sun’s apparent part in the orbit of the earth, but really it is the pathway of the earth around the Sun. Measurement on the Ecliptic is made by longitude i.e., by signs and degrees.

Ekadashi - The eleventh tithi or lunar day. Vaishnavas fast from grains and beans on this day as a sacrifice for Vishnu. The vedic scriptures extol the glories of performing this vrata for spiritual benefit. This fast also gives the health benefit of rest from digesting heavier foods twice per month.

ekadhipatya - This refers to a planet which owns two signs.

ELECTION - Finding a good moment for any action. See also Muhurtha and Horory.

EPHEMERIS - A book wherein you can find the positions of the planets.

EQUATOR - The apparent line that is drawn through the center of the earth, which divides it as the northern and southern hemispheres.

Fiery - Aries, Leo and Sagittarius.

Fixed - Taurus, Leo, Scorpio and Aquarius.

fortify - To make a house or planet stronger by directing positive influences upon it or it’s angles and trines or it’s lord etc.

gaja keshari yoga - Gaja means ‘elephant’, keshari means ‘lion’. This yoga refers to Jupiter and Moon being in kendras from each other in kendra houses in the chart.

Gauranga - This literally means gaura-’golden’ and anga-’limbs’, or one who has a golden colored body. This is one of the names the followers of Shri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu use to describe Him. He lived on earth approximately 500 years ago in India and is considered to be the most recent incarnation of Krishna by many Vaishnavas. His coming was also foretold in the Bhagavat Purana which preceded Him by 4,500 years, as was the coming of Lord Buddha.

gauravani - The instructions of Lord Shri Krishna Chaitanya Mahaprabhu, Gaura referring to Lord Chaitanya’s golden body; vani referring to His instructions

gauri - This means a light colored or golden girl. It is a name for Srimati Radharani and other forms of the divine goddess.

GEOCENTRIC - All astrological aspects are geocentric as they relate to the earth.

ghati - A measure of time equaling 24 minutes.

gochara - transits of the planets. It refers to where the planets are wandering at this time.

Gokula - This is a name for Taurus. It literally means the place of the cows. Go means ‘cows’ and kula means ‘place’. It refers to pasturing grounds. It is also the name of the village where Krishna grew up during His earthly pastimes approximately 5,000 years back. In the tenth canto of the Srimad Bhagavatam or Bhagavat Purana, the area of Vrindavan village now in the Northern Uttara Pradesh part of India, is referred to as Gokula because Lord Krishna and all His village people were all cowherds.

graha - Planet.

griha - House.

grihastha - A householder or married person; a property owner or controller of worldly possessions not materialistic who maintains respect for divinity. One of the four stages of life in the varnashrama dharma system. The four ashrams are: brahmacharya or celibate student; grihastha or married householder; vanaprastha or semi-retired and sannyas or fully renounced and retired.

gulika - This is a subtle planet, calculated in relationship to Saturn. It is considered to be the son of Saturn. It is referred to in the Parashara Hora Shastra as one of the upagrahas or invisible planets.

guna - This means qualities or attributes. There are three main gunas: sattva, raja and tama. Purity, passion and ignorance respectively.

guru - The name for Jupiter as well as the general title for a ‘teacher’. Guru literally means ‘heavy’ and refers to ‘heavy with knowledge’. Jupiter is also the largest planet. The blessings of the real guru are totally necessary for material and spiritual advancement. This stands for Jupiter as well as teacher or guru in life. Guru ninda, or guru aparadha, offenses to the guru for a follower of the pure vedic path are completely detrimental for all aspects of life. In the vedic tradition when approaching one’s guru and requesting spiritual instructions, one should approach very humbly and bow down. In the Bhagavad-Gita Lord Krishna recommends approaching a real guru, asking sincere meaningful questions ready to render menial services in return and thus receive from the tattva-darshini or seer of the truth the real meaning and essence of life.

gurubar - Thursday. The day ruled by Jupiter, the planet called Guru.

gyan - This is the correct pronunciation of the word which is most often spelled thus: jnana. Gyan refers to knowledge.

hamsa - Literally means ‘swan’. It is also used in astrology to describe the yoga caused by a very prominent or strong Jupiter in the chart, such as in exaltation or own sign in a kendra or trikona house. One having such a placement will be like a swan. In vedic wisdom the swan is considered to be an emblem of grace.

hara - Refers to the feminine side of god, or Shrimati Radharani. When used as an address it becomes Hare; the first word of the Hare Krishna Maha or great mantra, which is declared by many of the vedas- Puranas and Upanishads to be the supermost mantra for deliverance of the soul from material bondage to the highest spiritual destinations. The maha mantra: Hare Krishna Hare Krishna Krishna Krishna Hare Hare, Hare Rama Hare Rama Rama Rama Hare Hare.

hari - Literally means ‘thief’, but is actually used as a name for Krishna or god in much of India, as god takes away ignorance and misconception and gives eternal, blissful life full of knowledge.

hasta - One of the twenty-seven nakshatras and this one ruled by the moon.

hora - Similar to the English word hour. It refers to half of a sign. Half of a sign rises in roughly half of an hour.

hora - This is the middle of the sanskrit word ‘ahoratri’, which refers to day and night. Hora is in-between day and night. Hora also refers to the two-part varga or divisional chart.

HORARY - This is a branch of astrology which answers to any important question with the help of a chart erected at the time of query.

HOUSE - One - twelfth portion of the heavens as viewed from the earth is called a House.

Houses - Horoscopes have 12 houses which govern everything in life. Here’s the basic things each covers: 1st-Build, body, appearance; 2nd-Family, source of death, property, vision; 3rd-Intelligence, brothers, sisters; 4th-Vehicles, general happiness, education, mother; 5th-Fame, children; 6th-Debts, diseases, misery, enemies; 7th-Wife or husband, death, tact.; 8th-Longevity, gifts, disasters, serious misfortunes; 9th-God, Guru, father, travels, piety; 10th-Occupation, karma, philosophical knowledge; 11th-Gains; 12th-Loss, moksha.

inauspicious - Not good, not beneficial.

indra - One of the original demigods in this creation. Rules as the king of the heavenly planets, also known as "deva-lokas", which means "planets of the gods". An important demigod mentioned often in the Puranas and other Vedas. Also in charge of rain directly - the god of rain (and other things of course).

interpolation - To calculate a point in between two known points. A method of calculating planetary positions by using formulas to find a position in between midnight positions which are known from an Ephemeris.

ishtadeva - One’s chosen Deity or God of worship.

issue - Indian translators of astrology books refer to children as "issues" and childlessness as "issueless".

jaimini - The name of a great sage of India who had somewhat of his own school of Vedic Astrology which is still studied and taught today as "Jaimini Astrology".

janma - Birth. One of the four great miseries of material life: janma, mrityu, jara and viyadhi; or, birth, death, old age and disease.

janma rasi - The sign in which the moon is placed in ones birth chart.

jyotish - the science of light, the science of seeing, the science of astrology as defined in the Brihat Parashara Hora Shastra and other authorized scriptures coming from the vedic sages.

Kala Purusha - Time Personified.

kala chakra - The wheel of time.

kala purusha - The personality of time or, God as time.

kala - The time factor.

kanya - Literally meaning daughter, it refers to the sixth sign of the zodiac also known as Virgo. Kanya has the connotation of a young virgin girl.

karakas - significators; something which stands for something else. Example: the Moon is the karaka for the mind. This means that the Moon is the main controller of the mind as per vedic astrology.

Karanas Unfavorable - Vishti, Chatushpada, Naga, Kimsthugna and Sukuna.

karkata - Means the crab or circle, and refers to the fourth sign of the zodiac, also known as Cancer.

karma-dharma-adipati-yoga - This refers to a raj-yoga formed by the lords of the ninth and tenth houses in a chart. Karma refers to the tenth house- the house of karma our work. Dharma refers to the ninth house- the house of dharma or religion. Adi-pati means the lords of these two houses are in combination. The whole phrase refers to the fact that the lords of the ninth and tenth houses are combined together in one of those two houses. This yoga may cause one to be very successful in their career and, if this yoga takes place in the ninth house, to become a religious leader in their career.

Kendras - The 1st, 4th, 7th and 10th.

khavedamsha - Literally meaning forty parts, it refers to the forty part varga or divisional chart. Relating to the fourth house in the rasi chart, this chart is used also for fine-tuning of special auspicious and inauspicious effects, good and bad habits and particulars of the emotional and psychological natures.

Krishna - The name of the Supreme Lord and subject of numerous stories in all the great Puranas and Vedas. Also refers to darkness or blackness in color, such as the dark half of the Moon’s monthly cycle when it is returning from the position of being full to the position of being new or conjunct with the Sun. This is also called the waning phase of the Moon when it is getting smaller or darker or krishna.

kuja dosha - Affliction caused by Mars. If present in a chart, it refers especially to difficulty within marriage or in partnerships. The afflictions caused by kuja dosha have less or no significance after one passes the age of roughly 30 years.

kumbha - Literally means water-pot or jug, referring to the eleventh sign of the zodiac known in the west as Aquarius. It is interesting to note that the largest gathering of humans on earth is the Kumbha-Mela festival in Northern India which occurs every twelve years when Jupiter transits the sign of Kumbha in the sky. This festival takes place at the confluence of three holy rivers known as Tri-Veni in Northern India, where nectar once fell from the sky.

Lame - During twilight Aquarius and Pisces become lame.

LUNATION - The period taken by Moon to complete A circle, i.e., 27 days 7 hours 43 minutes.

Maharishis - Great sages of India. "Maha" means great and "rsi" means one who speaks divine sound vibration.

makara - Literally means shark or alligator, referring to the tenth sign of the zodiac known in the west as Capricorn. It is interesting to note that in the Bhagavad-gita Krishna says that He is the best thing in all categories in existence. Among the swimming creatures he declares that He is the shark, makara.

malefic - Refers to planets which for a particular rising sign are not at all beneficial but whose effects are rather harmful. In general, the lords of the sixth, eighth and twelfth houses are malefics, but sometimes the lords of the kendra houses, namely first, fourth, seventh and tenth also have a malefic nature. The science of benefic and malefic planets is a great one and very important in vedic astrology.

Malefics - The waning Moon, Mercury with evil planets the Sun, Saturn and Mars. These are the natural malefics but due to lording over bad houses in a chart any planet can become a "temporary" malefic.

mesha - Literally meaning ram, it refers to the first sign of the zodiac known as Aries. The lord of mesha is Mars.

mina - Literally means fish and refers to the twelfth sign of the zodiac known as Pisces, whose symbol is two fish chasing each other in pursuit of each others’ tail.

mithuna - Refers to the third sign of the zodiac, also known as Gemini. Mithuna means embracing or conjugal affairs.

Movable - Aries, Cancer, Libra and Capricorn.

muhurta - refers to selecting a moment for an event, for example, choosing the auspicious time for marriage or entering a new house. Also known as Horary or Electional Astrology.

Muhurtha - This is one of the important branches of predictive astrology having mainly to do with the election of favorable time for different human activities.

mulatrikona - This refers to the second-best position a planet can be in, second only to the planet’s place of exaltation. In their mulatrikona positions, the planets are very strong. The mulatrikona positions of the planets are as follows: Sun: 1o to 10o Leo; Moon: 4o to 30o Taurus; Mars: 0o to 18o Aries; Mercury: 16o to 20o Virgo; Jupiter: 0o to 13o Sagittarius; Venus: 0o to 10o Libra; Saturn: 0o to 20o Aquarius; and amongst some astrologers it is considered that Rahu has mulatrikona in Cancer, while Ketu has it in Capricorn.

MUNDANE - A branch of astrology dealing with the study and prediction of worldly events either on a country-city-state level or in an individuals life - specifically not dealing with inter-personal matters, but rather, with factual external "mundane" affairs.

nadi - Refers to points or stars. Used to refer to the stars as in nadi-shastra. It is also used in the science of Ayurveda to refer to points in the body.

nakshatra - Literally refers to a star in the zodiac. There are 27 main nakshatras encircling the entire zodiac each ruling a span of the zodiac equal to 13o20' of arc. The Moon travels through roughly one nakshatra per day. The nakshatras are said to be the wives of the Moon. Each has a ruler planet, a ruler demigod or devata, a specific nature, and various predictions associated with it. The nakshatras are extremely important in all aspects of vedic astrology.

Nakshatras, Types of - Vaira or Kshipram-Bharani, Makha, Pubba, Poorvashadha and Poorvabhadra. Theekshna or Ugram-Aridra, Jyeshta, Aslesha and Moola. Laghu-Aswini, Pushya and Hasta. Mrudu- Mrigasira, Chitta, Anuradha and Revati. Sthira-Rohini, Uttara, Uttarashadha and Uttarabhadra. Chara-Punarvasu, Swati. Sravana, Dhanishta and Satabhisha.

naradhama - Literal meaning: the lowest of persons.

NATIVITY - The chart made for the moment of birth.

navamsha - Literally means nine divisions. Refers to the chart produced by dividing every sign in the main chart by nine. Follows a specific mathematical formula. The navamsha chart is the second most important chart when examining a person’s horoscope using jyotish. Deals mostly with karma regarding the spouse, partnerships, and general judgment of planetary strengths.

nicha - Refers to the fallen position of a planet. This is the worst position in the entire zodiac for a given planet. At this point, also known as debilitation, the planet loses all it’s strength. For the Sun this is at 10o Libra; Moon: 3o Scorpio; Mars: 28o Cancer; Mercury: 15o Pisces; Jupiter: 5o Capricorn; Venus: 27o Virgo; Saturn: 20o Aries and some believe that for Rahu it the entire sign of Scorpio and for Ketu it is Taurus. Note that these points of debilitation or Nicha are exactly opposite in the zodiac from the same planets’ exaltation points which are known as ucha.

NODES - Rahu and Ketu are the two nodes of Moon Generally the point of the Zodiac, where a planet crosses from the south to north latitude is the ascending node and she point of the Zodiac where a planet crosses from the north latitude to south latitude is called the descending node. Each planet has got its own ascending and descending nodes except the Sun.

northern chart style - In North India the horoscope is displayed in a number of different patterns, the main one of which is a square with lines drawn forming the appearance of a diamond in the middle. In this style the houses stay put while the signs move. See also Southern Chart Style.

padma - Literally means: lotus flower. The lotus flower is associated with purity and divinity. The word padma is used throughout the Vedic scriptures, especially in conjunction with other words, such as padmalochana, which means: lotus-eyed, describing the beautiful flower-petal like shape of the Lord’s eyes.

Panaparas - The 2nd, 5th, 8th and 11th.

panchang - ‘Five limbs’. Refers to the five parts of the Indian or astrological almanac or calendar. The five parts of the panchang are: the tithi, nakshatra, sign, the yoga and the karan that are ruling at a particular time.

Parashara - The name of a very great sage who lived roughly 5,000 years ago. He narrated the cornerstone classic on vedic astrology. He was the father of Shri Vyasadeva, the compiler of the vedas. Parashara, Vyasa and his son Shukadeva were all contemporaries of Lord Krishna and the Pandavas. These personalities are the central characters in the great epic detailing the history of India known as the Mahabharata.

Planets - Ravi or the Sun, Chandra or the Moon, Kuja or Mars, Budha or Mercury, Guru or Jupiter, Shukra or Venus, Sani or Saturn, Rahu or Dragon’s Head and Ketu or Dragon’s Tail .

Rahukalam - This is the period ruled by Rahu in each day. Many educated Indians avoid travel and exposure to outsiders during these periods. When the sunrise is 6 a.m., Rahukalam Will rule at the following times: Sunday 4-30 p.m. to 6-00 p.m.; Monday 7-30 a.m. to 9-00 a.m.; Tuesday 3-00 p.m. to 4-30 p.m.; Wednesday 12-00 noon to 1-30 p.m.; Thursday 1-JO p.m. to 3-00 p.m.; Friday 10-30 a.m. to 12-00 noon; Saturday 9-00 a.m. to 10-30 a.m.

raj yoga - Literally means ‘royal combinations’ and refers to same in chart which bring about materially pleasant and beneficial aspects in the life.

rasi - Literally means the sign, as in signs of the zodiac- Aries through Pisces. Refers also to the sign in which a person’s Moon is situated in a chart. Refers also to the main chart used in vedic astrology known as the rasi chart or the rasi kundali, because the rasi chart is the main chart of the person’s signs as opposed to their houses. In vedic Astrology the main chart’s houses are simply the signs. There is a separate chart known as the bhava chakra which is specifically houses.

RECTIFICATION - A method of correcting the time of birth. Usually done by gradually adjusting the birth time to see if the dashas and varga charts can be lined up with the individuals past history. A yogi by name of Mr. Karve can know your birth date and time just be looking at you. His powers have been witnessed by me and proven to many over and over. He is living proof of the existence of ACCURATE divine revelation to Sages attained through meditation and devotion. Such powers are called "sidhis" which means "perfections".

RETROGRADE - Sometimes planets appear to have backward motion. mainly in consequence of the relative position and motion of the earth. It is called retrograde. The Sun and Moon never retrograde. Retrograde planets tend to act more strongly in the chart, for either bad or good, depending on other matters.

RISING SIGN - The sign which rises at the time of birth (the sign which is actually on the eastern Horizon) and place for which a chart is being prepared. It is also termed as the "ascendant" or "lagna".

saptamsha - Literally meaning seven parts, it refers to the seven part varga or divisional chart. The saptamsha chart fills in more details about one’s fifth house affairs, such as children.

shad bala - literally means six strengths. This is described in a number of the classics as one of the main ways of judging the strengths of the planets using jyotish.

Shastiamsha - Literally meaning sixty parts, it refers to the sixty part varga or divisional chart. This chart is used in the very fine-tuning of predictions and judgment. It’s subtle impact is felt in the cases of twins, born just minutes apart. It is essential for the accuracy of this chart to have used the