NAKSHatra

Ashtakoota Milan uses the Moon sign and birth Nakshatra of both partners — not the Sun sign, not the full birth chart, and not the Ascendant. The Moon is used because it governs the mind, emotional instincts, and the relational self — the dimensions of a person that are most directly experienced in long-term partnership. Two people can have compatible Sun signs and still be emotionally incompatible at a fundamental level. The Moon and Nakshatra reveal this layer.

Each of the eight Kootas is calculated from a specific attribute of the Nakshatra: its Gana (temperament group), Yoni (animal symbol), Nadi (Ayurvedic constitution), the ruling planet of its sign, and the numerical relationship between the two Nakshatras. The eight scores are summed to give the total Guna Milan score out of 36.

• Below 18 / 36 Considered incompatible in classical tradition. Marriage is generally not advised without significant compensating factors in both D1 and D9 charts. The low-scoring Kootas point to specific areas of friction that are likely to be persistent and structural.
• 18 to 23 / 36 Minimum acceptable range. The match can proceed but requires conscious effort in the domains the low-scoring Kootas govern. Both partners should understand the areas of inherent friction before committing.
• 24 to 31 / 36 Good compatibility. The most common range for well-matched couples. Differences exist but the overall harmony is strong enough to work through them.
• 32 to 36 / 36 Exceptional compatibility. Rare. The Moon energies of both partners are deeply harmonious across nearly all dimensions. Still — always verify for Doshas regardless of score.

Varna (वर्ण — "category" or "class") is the lowest-weighted Koota, carrying only 1 point. It assigns each Nakshatra to one of four Varnas — Brahmin (highest, associated with spiritual and intellectual work), Kshatriya (warrior and administrative), Vaishya (commercial and agricultural), and Shudra (service). This classification is not a social hierarchy in the contemporary sense — it describes the dominant life orientation and psychological archetype of the Nakshatra.

For full Varna compatibility, the groom's Varna should be equal to or higher than the bride's in the traditional system. If both are the same Varna, the score is 1. If the groom's Varna is higher, the score is 1. If the groom's Varna is lower than the bride's, the score is 0. Because Varna carries only 1 point, a mismatch here has minimal impact on the overall score but classically indicates a difference in fundamental life orientation.

Vashya (वश्य — "control" or "influence") measures the natural power dynamic and mutual attraction between partners. Each Moon sign is assigned to one of five groups — Manava (human: Aries, Taurus, Gemini, Virgo, Libra, Sagittarius first half, Capricorn first half), Chatushpada (four-legged animals: Leo, Sagittarius second half, Capricorn second half, Aries first half in some systems), Jalachara (water creatures: Cancer, Pisces, Capricorn second half), Vanachara (forest creatures: Leo), and Keeta (insects: Scorpio). Compatibility is determined by the natural relationship between the two groups.

A full score of 2 indicates mutual Vashya — both partners naturally influence and attract each other in a balanced way. A score of 1 indicates one-directional Vashya — one partner is naturally more drawn to the other. A score of 0 indicates no natural Vashya — the partners do not naturally inspire attraction or influence in each other, which can lead to emotional distance over time.

Tara (तारा — "star") is calculated by counting the position of the groom's birth Nakshatra from the bride's birth Nakshatra, and then the bride's from the groom's — in both directions. The 27 Nakshatras are grouped into nine cycles of three (called Taras): Janma (1st, 10th, 19th), Sampat (2nd, 11th, 20th), Vipat (3rd, 12th, 21st), Kshema (4th, 13th, 22nd), Pratyak (5th, 14th, 23rd), Saadhaka (6th, 15th, 24th), Naidhana (7th, 16th, 25th), Mitra (8th, 17th, 26th), and Parama Mitra (9th, 18th, 27th).

The Kshema (4th), Saadhaka (6th), Mitra (8th), and Parama Mitra (9th) Taras are auspicious. The Vipat (3rd), Pratyak (5th), and Naidhana (7th) Taras are inauspicious — indicating potential health challenges, obstacles, and danger respectively in the relationship. Janma (1st) and Sampat (2nd) are neutral to positive. When counted in both directions and both results are auspicious, the full score of 3 is awarded. Mixed results give 1.5. Both inauspicious gives 0.

Yoni (योनि — "womb" or "source") measures physical and intimate compatibility. Each of the 27 Nakshatras is assigned an animal symbol — 14 animals in 14 pairs, each Nakshatra sharing its animal with one other Nakshatra of the opposite gender. The 14 Yoni animals are: Horse, Elephant, Sheep, Serpent, Dog, Cat, Rat, Cow, Buffalo, Tiger, Hare, Monkey, Mongoose, and Lion.

Full compatibility (4 points) means both partners share the same Yoni animal — a perfectly matched pair. High compatibility (3 points) means the Yoni animals are natural friends. Average (2 points) means the animals are neutral to each other. Low (1 point) means the animals are natural enemies. Zero points means the pair is a hostile Yoni match — for example, Cat and Rat, or Dog and Hare — indicating deep physical and temperamental incompatibility that tends to produce friction even when other Kootas score well.

Graha Maitri (ग्रह मैत्री — "planetary friendship") measures psychological and intellectual compatibility — the quality of mental communication and mutual understanding between partners over the long term. It is calculated from the lords of both partners' Moon signs and their natural relationship to each other in the classical planetary friendship table.

If both Moon sign lords are mutual friends (naisargika mitra), the score is 5. If one is a friend to the other but not reciprocated, the score is 4. If both are neutral to each other, the score is 3. If one is an enemy of the other, the score is 1. If both are mutual enemies, the score is 0 — indicating a fundamental incompatibility in how both partners think and process the world, which tends to produce persistent intellectual friction and misunderstanding regardless of emotional effort.

Graha Maitri is one of the more practically significant Kootas because its domain — long-term mental harmony and intellectual respect — is essential for a stable marriage. Many astrologers treat it as second in importance only to Nadi.

Gana (गण — "group" or "category") measures temperament compatibility — the fundamental operating style and psychological character of both partners. Each Nakshatra belongs to one of three Ganas established in classical texts: Deva (divine — gentle, adaptable, spiritually inclined, cooperative), Manushya (human — worldly, practical, family-oriented, ambitious), and Rakshasa (fierce — intense, driven, strong-willed, boundary-challenging).

Same Gana partners score the full 6 points — deeply compatible temperaments that operate in natural rhythm with each other. Deva-Manushya is acceptable (4 points in some systems, 0 in stricter ones — this varies by regional tradition). Manushya-Manushya is compatible (5 points). Rakshasa-Rakshasa can work when both partners understand each other's intensity (6 points). Deva-Rakshasa is the most challenging combination — the gentle Deva temperament and the fierce Rakshasa temperament create sustained friction in daily life, scoring 0 in strict systems.

Bhakoot (भकूट — "Moon sign group") is the second-highest weighted Koota at 7 points. It measures emotional compatibility, financial harmony, and the prospects for children — all based on the relative positions of the two partners' Moon signs counted from each other.

The positions from each other are evaluated: 1/1 (same sign), 1/7 (opposite signs), 2/12, 3/11, 4/10, 5/9, and 6/8. The most critical Bhakoot Doshas are:

• 6/8 Bhakoot (Shadashtak) The most serious Bhakoot Dosha. One partner's Moon sign is in the 6th from the other's and vice versa in the 8th. Classically associated with health challenges in the partnership, emotional distance that is difficult to bridge, and financial friction. Considered a significant obstacle even with a high overall Guna score.
• 2/12 Bhakoot One partner's Moon is 2nd from the other's, and 12th from the other's in return. Associated with financial incompatibility — one partner's gains tend to be the other's expenses. Over time this creates tension in shared financial life.
• 5/9 and 3/11 Bhakoots Among the most auspicious relative positions — 5/9 in particular is associated with fertility, good fortune together, and the ability to grow as a couple.

Bhakoot Dosha is cancelled under specific conditions: when both Moon sign lords are the same planet (e.g., both Aries and Scorpio ruled by Mars in some systems), or when the Moon sign lords are mutual friends. The cancellation conditions vary by regional tradition.

Nadi (नाडी — "pulse" or "channel") is the highest-weighted Koota, carrying 8 of the 36 total points. It measures physiological and genetic compatibility — the most fundamental biological layer of the compatibility assessment. Each Nakshatra belongs to one of three Nadis derived from Ayurvedic medicine: Vata (air constitution — Ashwini, Ardra, Punarvasu, Uttara Phalguni, Hasta, Jyeshtha, Moola, Shatabhisha, Purva Bhadrapada), Pitta (fire constitution — Bharani, Mrigashira, Pushya, Purva Phalguni, Chitra, Anuradha, Purvashadha, Dhanishtha, Uttara Bhadrapada), and Kapha (water constitution — Krittika, Rohini, Ashlesha, Magha, Swati, Vishakha, Uttarashada, Shravana, Revati).

When both partners share the same Nadi, Nadi Dosha is formed — scoring 0. This is the most serious single penalty in the Ashtakoota system. Classical texts associate same-Nadi matching with physiological incompatibility, health difficulties in children, potential for separation, and an overall sense of incompatibility that persists despite emotional effort. Different Nadi partners score the full 8 points.

• Both partners have the same birth Nakshatra If both share the same Nakshatra entirely, Nadi Dosha is cancelled in classical practice — despite same Nadi, the Nakshatra identity supersedes the constitution incompatibility.
• Both partners have the same Moon sign (Rashi) Same Moon sign with different Nakshatras but same Nadi — some classical authorities cancel the Dosha under this condition, though it is debated across regional traditions.

Because Nadi Dosha carries 8 points — the most of any Koota — its presence significantly reduces the effective Guna score. A couple scoring 28/36 raw but with Nadi Dosha has an effective compatibility of 20/36, which falls in the marginal range. This is why experienced Jyotishis check Nadi before looking at any other Koota.

The Ashtakoota Guna score is the entry point of compatibility assessment, not its conclusion. Classical Jyotish practitioners always examine additional factors that the 36-point system does not capture:

• 7th house and its lord in both D1 charts The primary house of marriage in Jyotish. A debilitated or severely afflicted 7th lord in either chart indicates difficulty in sustaining partnership regardless of the Guna score.
• Venus in the man's chart and Jupiter in the woman's chart The natural karakas (significators) for spouse. Their strength, sign dignity, and freedom from affliction directly describe the quality of partnership each person is capable of sustaining.
• D9 Navamsa — the marriage confirmation chart The 7th house of D9 and its lord reveal the inner quality of the marriage. A high Guna score with both partners' D9 7th house badly afflicted often fails to produce a stable marriage.
• Dasha compatibility during the marriage years If both partners are running Dashas connected to the 6th, 8th, or 12th house lords during the critical years of marriage, even a high Guna score may not protect the partnership from significant stress.

A couple with a moderate Guna score of 22 but strong 7th houses, excellent Venus and Jupiter placements, and harmonious D9 charts will often sustain a more stable marriage than a couple scoring 30 with afflicted 7th lords and weak karakas. The Guna score is the beginning of compatibility analysis — a good Jyotishi always goes deeper.

Most people think of time as neutral. Tuesday at 3pm is just Tuesday at 3pm. The Panchang says otherwise. It treats time the way a weather forecast treats weather: some periods are favourable for certain things, some aren't. You wouldn't plant in a storm. The same logic applies here.

A Panchang reading before a major decision isn't superstition. It's a 2,000-year-old system for reading astronomical conditions and matching them to human activity. The fact that it's survived this long, and that millions of Indian families still consult it daily, suggests it carries real practical weight.

A Tithi is not a clock day. It is defined by the angular distance between the Sun and Moon. When the Moon moves 12° ahead of the Sun, one Tithi ends and the next begins. The Moon's speed varies, so a Tithi can run anywhere from 19 to 26 hours. One Tithi can span two calendar days, or a single calendar day can see two Tithis.

There are 30 Tithis in a lunar month. 15 in Shukla Paksha (bright half, new Moon to full Moon) and 15 in Krishna Paksha (dark half, full Moon to new Moon).

• Pratipada (1st) Good for new beginnings, starting work, entering a house
• Panchami (5th) Favours learning, education, and skill development
• Saptami (7th) Good for travel, purchasing vehicles, and journeys
• Dashami (10th) Broadly auspicious. Favours most activities
• Ekadashi (11th) Sacred for fasting, worship, and spiritual practice
• Purnima (15th) Full Moon. Highly auspicious for spiritual work and charity

• Rikta (4th, 9th, 14th) The three empty Tithis. Do not start anything new during these
• Ashtami (8th) Considered difficult; avoid auspicious starts
• Amavasya (30th) New Moon. No new starts. Sacred for ancestral rites (Pitru Tarpana)

Each weekday is governed by one of the seven classical planets. The day takes on that planet's quality and is naturally suited to activities that planet rules. Choosing the right Vara is usually the first filter in Muhurat selection.

• Sunday · Sun Medical treatment, authority matters, government work, dealings with the father, work involving fire or leadership
• Monday · Moon Travel, water-related work, agriculture, matters involving the mother, starting journeys, new emotional commitments
• Tuesday · Mars Physical labour, courage, property purchase, protective actions. Avoid contracts, financial agreements, and marriage rituals
• Wednesday · Mercury Business, trade, writing, communication, signing agreements, education. One of the best all-purpose days
• Thursday · Jupiter The most auspicious day overall. Religious ceremonies, new ventures, seeking guidance, spiritual initiations, education, and charity
• Friday · Venus Marriage, arts, music, fashion, luxury purchases, romance, and relationship matters
• Saturday · Saturn Service, discipline, long-term slow work. Heavy for new starts, auspicious events, or marriage

The Moon transits one of the 27 Nakshatras approximately every 24 hours (sometimes two in a single day). The Nakshatra defines the instinctual and emotional character of the period. and in Muhurat selection, it is second only to the Tithi in importance.

• Pushya Widely regarded as the single best Nakshatra for starting anything. Exceptionally powerful on Thursday. This combination is called Guru-Pushya Yoga
• Rohini The Moon's favourite Nakshatra. Good for creative work, building, planting, and material ventures
• Hasta Good for skilled work, craftsmanship, trade, travel, and medicine
• Uttara Phalguni, Uttarashada, Uttara Bhadrapada The three Uttara Nakshatras. Specially favoured for marriage and griha pravesh
• Anuradha, Mrigashira, Revati Gentle and broadly favourable for most auspicious activities

• Ashlesha, Jyeshtha, Mula Difficult Nakshatras. Avoid new starts, marriage, and purchase of valuables
• Bharani, Krittika, Ardra Fierce Nakshatras (Tikshna). Good for intense work. Not for auspicious events
• Gandanta zones The junctions between Ashlesha/Magha, Jyeshtha/Mula, and Revati/Ashwini. Highly sensitive. Avoided for most Muhurats

Panchang Yoga is calculated by adding the longitudes of the Sun and Moon together and dividing by 13°20'. This produces 27 Yogas that cycle through the month, each with its own name and quality. A single calendar day may pass through two Yogas as the Sun and Moon continue moving. This Yoga is distinct from the Yogas of a birth chart. it describes the quality of the time period, not the person.

• Siddha Success and accomplishment. Good for starting important work
• Shubha Auspicious and broadly benefic
• Amrita Nectar. One of the most prized Yogas, formed by specific Nakshatra-Vara combinations
• Brahma / Indra Power, divine support, authority, and protection

• Vyatipata Calamity. One of the most strongly avoided
• Vaidhriti Separation and loss. Avoid travel, new agreements, and new work
• Parigha Obstacles and blockages. Delays are likely
• Vishkambha / Ganda Obstruction. Generally avoided in Muhurat selection

A Karana is exactly half a Tithi. each lasting approximately 6 hours. Since every Tithi contains two Karanas, there are 60 Karana slots in a lunar month. There are 11 distinct Karanas: 4 fixed (each appearing once per month) and 7 movable (repeating 8 times through the month).

• Shakuni Second half of Krishna Chaturdashi (dark 14th)
• Chatushpada First half of Amavasya (new Moon)
• Naga Second half of Amavasya
• Kimstughna First half of Shukla Pratipada (bright 1st)

• Bava, Balava, Kaulava Gentle and broadly favourable for most auspicious activities
• Taitila, Garija Generally favourable; good for daily and routine work
• Vanija The merchant Karana. Excellent for commercial transactions and trade
• Vishti (Bhadra) The single most inauspicious Karana. No auspicious activity should begin during Vishti. Non-negotiable in traditional practice

Rahu Kaal is one of the eight equal segments that divide the hours between sunrise and sunset. The entire daylight period is split into 8 parts. each roughly 90 minutes on a standard 12-hour day. The first segment after sunrise is always safe. Rahu governs a different segment on each day of the week, and that segment is to be avoided for starting any new or auspicious activity.

The traditional memory key is: "Mother Saw Father Wearing The Turban Suddenly". the initials M, S, F, W, T, T, S map to Monday through Sunday and their segment numbers 2 through 8.

Work that was already in progress before Rahu Kaal began is not affected. the restriction applies only to beginning something new. Emergency work and unavoidable activities are not bound by this rule.

In Vedic timekeeping, the day begins at sunrise. not at midnight. Every element of the Panchang is anchored to local sunrise. Sunrise shifts significantly by latitude and season. a city at 30°N in December may have sunrise at 7:15 AM, while the same city in June sees sunrise at 5:30 AM. This changes the start time and duration of every Kaal period for that day.

The solar day (from sunrise to sunset) is divided into 30 equal Muhurtas. each approximately 48 minutes long on an equinox day. All auspicious timing windows. Abhijit Muhurta, Rahu Kaal, Yamagandam, Gulika Kaal. are calculated as fractions of this variable solar day. This is why the location field is required: the same clock time carries completely different astrological significance in Mumbai versus London.

For everyday decisions, checking the Vara and Nakshatra is usually sufficient. together they give the day's general quality and what types of activity it supports.

For important activities, a complete check involves:

• Step 1 · Tithi Confirm the Tithi is not Rikta (4th, 9th, 14th), Ashtami, or Amavasya
• Step 2 · Vara Confirm the weekday suits the nature of the activity
• Step 3 · Nakshatra Confirm the Moon is in an auspicious Nakshatra for the specific purpose
• Step 4 · Yoga Avoid Vyatipata, Vaidhriti, Parigha, and Ganda Yogas
• Step 5 · Karana Confirm Vishti (Bhadra) Karana is not active at the moment of beginning
• Step 6 · Rahu Kaal Avoid the day's Rahu Kaal window entirely

For major life events. marriage, business registration, property purchase. the Panchang should also be read against your personal Janma Kundali. The day's Nakshatra ideally should have a harmonious relationship with your natal Moon's Nakshatra.

A Muhurat computed without reference to the native's personal birth chart is, by classical definition, incomplete. Muhurta Chintamani (Rama Daivagya, c. 1600 CE) and Brihat Parashara Hora Shastra both insist that the event chart must be reconciled with the native's Janma Nakshatra, Janma Rashi, and active Dasha lord before any Muhurat is confirmed. This tool provides a strong general Muhurat window — it does not substitute for a personalised reading.

• Tara Bala failure — if the event Nakshatra falls in the Vipat (3rd), Pratyak (5th), or Naidhana (7th) position counted from the native's Janma Nakshatra, the Muhurat is personally inauspicious regardless of general strength. Always verify Tara Bala for the native.
• Graha Yuddha (planetary war) — when two visible planets occupy the same degree, the defeated planet (lower declination) loses its benefic power entirely. A Muhurat ruled by or dependent on a planet in Graha Yuddha is weakened for that planet's significations.
• Gandanta zones — the last 48 minutes of Ashlesha, Jyeshtha, and Revati (water-sign endings) and the first 48 minutes of Magha, Moola, and Ashwini (fire-sign beginnings) are Gandanta. Beginning any major event in these junctions is avoided in all classical texts including Sarvartha Chintamani and Muhurta Martanda.
• Sade Sati and Ashtama Shani — a native currently under Shani's Sade Sati (7.5-year transit over Janma Rashi and adjacent signs) or Ashtama Shani (Saturn transiting the 8th from Moon) faces an underlying karmic weight that even a strong Muhurat cannot fully neutralise. The Muhurat helps; it does not override Dasha and transit afflictions.
• Combust benefics — when Jupiter or Venus is within 11° of the Sun (Venus) or 11° of the Sun (Jupiter by some reckonings), they are considered combust and lose their capacity to bless the Muhurat Lagna. Marriage and business Muhurats in particular require visible, unafflicted Venus and Jupiter.
• Chandra Bala — if the Moon at the time of the Muhurat is placed in the 6th, 8th, or 12th house from the native's natal Moon (Janma Rashi), Chandra Bala is absent and the Muhurat's strength is significantly diminished for that individual.

Use this tool to identify candidate windows, then verify the above conditions against your personal chart — or consult a trained Jyotishi for events of major life consequence.

A good Muhurat requires multiple factors to align simultaneously. The system evaluates: (1) the Tithi. certain Tithis are categorically forbidden (Rikta Tithis 4th, 9th, 14th; Amavasya new Moon); (2) the Nakshatra. each purpose has a list of favourable and forbidden Nakshatras; (3) the Vara (weekday). certain days are inherently unsuitable for specific activities; (4) the Yoga. Vishkambha, Parigha, Vajra, Vyatipata, and Vyaghata Yogas are generally avoided; (5) absence of Rahu Kaal, Yamagandam, and Gulika Kaal; (6) planetary positions. avoiding combustion of relevant planets, and ideally having a benefic planet rising on the Lagna of the Muhurat chart; (7) the Karana. avoiding Vishti (Bhadra) Karana entirely for all auspicious work.

Results are ranked from best to least auspicious based on a composite score. Each window shows the date, start time, and end time in your local timezone. The quality rating reflects how many positive factors are simultaneously present. Tithi grade, Nakshatra suitability for your purpose, absence of all inauspicious Kaals, benefic planetary aspects on the Lagna, and Vara compatibility. A top-ranked window satisfies all criteria simultaneously. Even a medium-ranked window is far better than a randomly chosen moment. Use the highest-ranked window that fits your practical schedule. If the top window is in the middle of the night, the second or third is perfectly acceptable. the ranking difference is astronomical precision, not practical significance.

A Janma Kundali is divided into 12 houses (Bhavas). Each house governs a specific domain of life — the 1st covers the self and body, the 2nd wealth and family, the 7th marriage and partnerships, the 10th career and public life, and so on. The 9 planets (Navagrahas) are distributed across these 12 houses depending on where they were at the moment of birth.

Reading a chart means understanding three things at once: which house each planet sits in, which sign it occupies (and whether that sign strengthens or weakens it), and which houses it aspects. The interaction of these three factors — placement, sign dignity, and aspects — produces the actual prediction.

The zodiac sign rising on the eastern horizon at the exact minute of birth. This is the most personal point in the chart — it defines the 1st house, sets the house numbering sequence for all other planets, and governs physical appearance, temperament, and how you move through the world. The Lagna changes every two hours, which is why accurate birth time is essential. Even a 5-minute error can shift the Lagna in some edge cases.

The zodiac sign the Moon occupied at birth. In Vedic astrology, the Moon sign is more personally significant than the Sun sign. It governs the mind, emotional patterns, instincts, and the relationship with the mother. It also seeds the entire Vimshottari Dasha sequence — the Moon's Nakshatra at birth determines which planetary period you are born into.

The planet that rules the Lagna sign. If you are born with Aries rising, Mars is your Lagnesh. If Taurus, Venus is. The Lagnesh is the single most important planet in the entire chart. Its house placement, sign, strength, and any aspects it receives shape the overall direction of your life more than any other factor.

Not all placements are equal. Each planet performs very differently depending on which sign it occupies. The classical Vedic system defines five levels of sign based dignity:

• Exaltation (Uccha) The sign where the planet is most powerful. Sun in Aries, Moon in Taurus, Jupiter in Cancer, Mars in Capricorn, Saturn in Libra, Mercury in Virgo, Venus in Pisces.
• Moolatrikona A secondary strong placement, slightly below exaltation. Sun in Leo 0-20°, Moon in Taurus 4-30°, Mars in Aries 0-12°, Mercury in Virgo 16-20°, Jupiter in Sagittarius 0-10°, Venus in Libra 0-15°, Saturn in Aquarius 0-20°.
• Own Sign (Swakshetra) Planet in the sign it rules. Strong and reliable. Results come consistently.
• Friendly Sign Planet in a sign ruled by a natural friend. Moderate strength. Functions well.
• Enemy Sign Planet in a sign ruled by a natural enemy. Weakened. Has to work against resistance.
• Debilitation (Neecha) The sign exactly opposite exaltation. Planet is at its weakest. Sun in Libra, Moon in Scorpio, Jupiter in Capricorn, Mars in Cancer, Saturn in Aries, Mercury in Pisces, Venus in Virgo.

A debilitated planet is not necessarily permanently damaged. Neecha Bhanga (cancellation of debility) occurs under specific conditions — when the debilitation lord or the exaltation lord is strong. A cancelled debility can actually produce stronger results than a planet in its own sign.

Every planet aspects the house directly opposite it (7th from its position). This is the universal aspect all planets share. Three planets have special additional aspects on top of this:

• Mars (Mangal) Aspects the 4th and 8th houses from itself — in addition to the 7th. Mars casts an aggressive, activating energy on these positions.
• Jupiter (Guru) Aspects the 5th and 9th houses from itself — in addition to the 7th. Jupiter's aspect is considered protective and benefic. A Jupiter aspect on any house or planet is generally positive.
• Saturn (Shani) Aspects the 3rd and 10th houses from itself — in addition to the 7th. Saturn's aspect brings pressure, delay, and discipline to whatever it touches.

The Rahu and Ketu (lunar nodes) aspect the 5th and 9th from themselves in some traditional systems, though this varies by school. NAKSHATRA follows the Parashari system where Rahu and Ketu aspect only the 7th.

A retrograde planet (marked ℞) appears to move backwards in the sky due to the relative orbital speeds of Earth and the planet. In Jyotish, retrograde intensifies a planet's significations. It turns the energy inward. Results are often delayed, come in unexpected forms, or arrive through unusual routes — but when they do arrive, they tend to be more pronounced than a direct planet's results.

Saturn and Jupiter retrograde natally are particularly significant. A retrograde Lagnesh is considered very strong in Shadbala (Chesta Bala is highest for retrograde planets). The Sun and Moon never go retrograde. Rahu and Ketu are always retrograde by convention.

A planet is Vargottama when it occupies the same sign in both the D1 (birth chart) and the D9 (Navamsa). For example, if your Sun is in Aries in D1 and also in Aries in D9, it is Vargottama. This is considered a mark of exceptional strength — the planet's significations are reinforced at both levels of the chart. Vargottama planets deliver their results clearly, consistently, and with full force during their Dasha periods.

• 1st — Lagna Self, body, appearance, personality, overall vitality and the chart's general direction
• 2nd — Dhana Accumulated wealth, family, speech, food, face, early childhood
• 3rd — Sahaja Siblings, courage, short journeys, communication, hands, effort
• 4th — Sukha Mother, home, property, vehicles, inner happiness, education foundation
• 5th — Putra Children, intelligence, past life merit, creative output, speculation, romance
• 6th — Ari Enemies, disease, debt, service, litigation, daily work, maternal relatives
• 7th — Kalatra Spouse, business partners, open enemies, foreign travel, public dealings
• 8th — Mrityu Longevity, transformation, inheritance, occult, sudden events, chronic illness
• 9th — Dharma Father, teacher, higher learning, fortune, religion, long journeys, ethics
• 10th — Karma Career, status, public life, authority, government, actions in the world
• 11th — Labha Income, gains, elder siblings, social networks, fulfilment of desires
• 12th — Vyaya Losses, expenses, liberation, foreign lands, sleep, isolation, spiritual practice