Free Vedic birth chart (Kundli) and Jyotish guide

What is Vedic astrology (Jyotish)?

Jyotish means "the science of light". It grew out of the Vedas, and for thousands of years families in India have turned to it when naming a child, picking a wedding date or trying to make sense of a hard year. A Vedic astrologer looks at the sky as it was the moment you were born, and reads it through three things: the twelve rashis, the nine grahas and the twenty-seven nakshatras.

If you know your sign from a Western horoscope, your Vedic sign may come as a surprise. Western astrology ties the zodiac to the seasons, while Jyotish ties it to the actual stars. Over the centuries the two have drifted about 24° apart. That gap is called the ayanamsa, and it's why many people turn out to be one sign earlier here. We use the Lahiri ayanamsa, the standard adopted by the Government of India.

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The 12 Rashis (zodiac signs)

Think of the rashis as twelve rooms the planets move through, each 30° wide. Every room has its own character, shaped by its element, its quality and the planet that rules it. The most personal one is usually your Moon sign, because in Jyotish the Moon stands for the mind.

The Navagraha (nine planets)

Jyotish works with nine grahas. Seven are familiar, from the Sun out to Saturn. The other two, Rahu and Ketu, aren't physical bodies at all: they're the two points where the Moon's path crosses the Sun's, and they're behind every eclipse. Each graha looks after certain parts of life. Each also has a sign where it's at its best (exaltation) and one where it struggles (debilitation).

Astrologers don't agree on where Rahu and Ketu are exalted, so we've left that out.

Gemstones of the Navagraha (Navaratna)

Each graha has its own gemstone, and together the nine are called the Navaratna. A gem is worn to strengthen its planet, letting more of that planet's light into your life. That's also why it needs care: a gem amplifies whatever its planet does in your chart, the difficult parts included.

The 27 Nakshatras (lunar mansions)

Long before the twelve signs, Indian astronomers tracked the Moon against 27 groups of stars, roughly one for each night of its monthly journey. These are the nakshatras. Each one covers 13°20′, is split into four padas, and has its own ruling planet, deity and symbol. The nakshatra the Moon was in when you were born is your janma nakshatra. Families often use it to choose a baby's name, and its ruler decides which dasha your life begins with.

The 7 Chakras and the planets

The chakras come from yoga and tantra rather than from astrology itself. They're the seven energy centres of the subtle body, running from the base of the spine to the top of the head. Many teachers pair them with the grahas, starting with Saturn at the root and rising to the Sun and Moon at the brow. So when a planet is under strain in your chart, they may suggest working with the chakra that goes with it.

1. Muladhara · Root

   Feeling grounded, safe and secure in the world.

   Location

   Base of the spine

   Petals

   4

   Element

   Earth (Prithvi)

   Bija mantra

   Lam

   Planets

   Saturn

2. Svadhisthana · Sacral

   Creativity, pleasure and the things you desire.

   Location

   Below the navel

   Petals

   6

   Element

   Water (Jala)

   Bija mantra

   Vam

   Planets

   Jupiter

3. Manipura · Solar plexus

   Willpower and confidence, and digestion, both of food and of life.

   Location

   Navel

   Petals

   10

   Element

   Fire (Agni)

   Bija mantra

   Ram

   Planets

   Mars

4. Anahata · Heart

   Love, kindness and the ability to forgive.

   Location

   Centre of the chest

   Petals

   12

   Element

   Air (Vayu)

   Bija mantra

   Yam

   Planets

   Venus

5. Vishuddha · Throat

   Speaking your truth, and being heard.

   Location

   Throat

   Petals

   16

   Element

   Ether (Akasha)

   Bija mantra

   Ham

   Planets

   Mercury

6. Ajna · Third eye

   Intuition and clear inner sight.

   Location

   Between the eyebrows

   Petals

   2

   Element

   Mind (Manas)

   Bija mantra

   Om

   Planets

   Sun & Moon

7. Sahasrara · Crown

   The sense of being part of something far greater than yourself.

   Location

   Crown of the head

   Petals

   1,000 (thousand-petalled lotus)

   Element

   Beyond the elements

   Bija mantra

   Silence (beyond sound)

   Planets

   Beyond the grahas

Different traditions pair the chakras and planets a little differently. Treat this as a common starting point, not a fixed rule.

Frequently asked questions