CapSageAstro

Reference

Jyotish glossary

Short definitions of terms used in the CapSage library. These are working notes, not a complete Sanskrit lexicon.

Linked essays go further. If a term is missing, start from the Method or topic hubs.

A

Antardasha

Also: Bhukti

A sub-period inside a mahadasha. In Vimshottari, each planetary mahadasha is divided into nine antardashas in the same planetary order. The sub-lord colours the longer period; it does not replace it. Claims about events should usually name both layers.
Ayanamsa
The angular difference between the tropical (seasonal) zodiac and the sidereal zodiac used in most Jyotish practice. Several ayanamsas are in use; Lahiri is the most common official value in India. Changing ayanamsa can move a planet or lagna across a sign or nakshatra boundary. Name the ayanamsa when precision matters.

B

Bhava

Also: House

One of the twelve houses of the natal chart. Whole-sign (rashi) houses are widely used in Jyotish: the rising sign is the first house, and each following sign is the next house. Other house systems exist. House-level claims depend on a usable birth time, because the lagna determines the sequence.

C

Combustion

Also: Astangata

A planet close enough to the Sun to be treated as overwhelmed by solar light. Traditional orb varies by planet. Combustion is a condition of visibility and strength, not a moral judgement. Mercury and Venus are combust often because they never travel far from the Sun.

D

Dasha
A planetary period in a timing system. Vimshottari is the most widely taught: a 120-year sequence keyed to the natal Moon’s nakshatra. A dasha describes emphasis over time. It does not, by itself, specify an event.
Debilitation

Also: Neecha

A planet in the sign traditionally treated as its weakest dignity. Debilitation describes strain or awkwardness of expression, not a life ruined in advance. Cancellation (neecha bhanga) and the rest of the chart can modify the picture.
Dignity
A planet’s condition by sign: exaltation, own sign, moolatrikona, friend’s sign, enemy’s sign, debilitation, and related assessments. Dignity is one layer of strength. Lordship, house placement, aspects, combustion, and timing still have to be read.
Drishti

Also: Aspect

The glance of a planet onto a sign, house, or another planet. In the Parashara system commonly taught, all grahas aspect the seventh from themselves; Mars, Jupiter, and Saturn have additional special aspects. Drishti is a relationship, not an automatic event.

E

Exaltation

Also: Uchcha

A planet in the sign traditionally treated as its strongest dignity. Exaltation describes capacity. It does not guarantee success, virtue, or an easy life. An exalted planet can still occupy a difficult house or run a hard dasha.

G

Gochara

Also: Transit

The current movement of planets relative to the natal chart. Gochara is read against natal planets and houses, and usually against the dasha already running. A transit describes changing conditions. Duration matters: the Moon moves quickly; Saturn does not.
Graha

Also: Planet

A ‘seizer’ — the nine bodies used in Jyotish: Sun, Moon, Mars, Mercury, Jupiter, Venus, Saturn, Rahu, and Ketu. Rahu and Ketu are the lunar nodes, treated as grahas for interpretive purposes though they are not physical planets.

K

Karaka

Also: Significator

A planet that naturally signifies a topic: the Sun for father and vitality, the Moon for mother and mind, Venus for spouse in some systems, and so on. Karaka is a natural association. It still has to be read with house lordship and the actual chart.
Ketu
The Moon’s south (descending) node. Traditionally associated with separation, prior familiarity, internalisation, and moksha themes. Ketu is always opposite Rahu; they are read as an axis.

L

Lagna

Also: Ascendant, rising sign

The zodiacal sign rising on the eastern horizon at the recorded birth time, and the first house of the chart. The lagna sets the house sequence. Without a usable time, house-level interpretation should be held lightly or set aside.

M

Mahadasha
The major planetary period in a dasha system. In Vimshottari the lengths are fixed (Sun 6 years, Moon 10, Mars 7, Rahu 18, Jupiter 16, Saturn 19, Mercury 17, Ketu 7, Venus 20). The mahadasha planet is a long host; antardashas speak inside that host’s term.
Moolatrikona
A sign (or portion of a sign) treated as a planet’s ‘root trine’ — a dignity often ranked between own-sign and exaltation. The exact degrees vary by planet in the traditional tables. Moolatrikona is a strength note, not a complete reading.

N

Nakshatra

Also: Lunar mansion

One of twenty-seven equal divisions of the ecliptic, each 13°20′. Nakshatras are used for the Moon’s placement, for Vimshottari dasha, for finer planetary flavour, and in some matching systems. They refine a sign; they do not replace the rest of the chart.
Neecha Bhanga
Cancellation or modification of debilitation. Classical conditions vary: the debilitated planet’s depositor exalted or in a kendra, the exaltation lord similarly placed, and related notes. Cancellation complicates a weak dignity. It does not automatically mint raja-yoga results.

P

Pada
One of four equal quarters of a nakshatra, each 3°20′. Padas correspond to navamsa portions and, in Vimshottari, help locate how far into a dasha the native is born. Two people with the same nakshatra can have different padas and different start-points.

R

Rahu
The Moon’s north (ascending) node. Traditionally associated with appetite, amplification, unfamiliar territory, and eclipse symbolism. Rahu is always opposite Ketu; they are read as an axis.
Rashi

Also: Sign

One of the twelve 30° signs of the sidereal zodiac. In Jyotish the rashi is both a planetary placement and, in whole-sign practice, a house. Sign lord and nakshatra lord are different jobs.
Retrograde

Also: Vakri

Apparent backward motion of a planet as seen from Earth. Traditional readings often treat a retrograde planet as intensified, delayed, or turned inward, depending on the planet and the rest of the chart. Retrograde is an astronomical condition with interpretive weight; it is not a personality type.

S

Sade Sati
The period of Saturn’s transit through the twelfth, first, and second signs from the natal Moon — roughly seven and a half years. Traditional discussion treats it as a long Saturn emphasis on the lunar axis. It is not an automatic disaster, and it is not identical with a Saturn mahadasha.
Shadbala
A traditional six-fold numerical assessment of planetary strength (including positional, directional, temporal, and motional factors). Shadbala is a technical aid used in some schools. A high number is not a moral prize, and a low number is not a curse. Many careful readings never require the full calculation.

V

Varga

Also: Divisional chart

A harmonic or divisional chart used to refine a topic: Navamsa (D9), Dasamsa (D10), and others. Vargas are only as honest as the birth time. CapSage treats fine varga claims as unsupported when the hour is unknown or approximate.

Y

Yoga
In Jyotish, a named combination of planets, houses, and lords. Yoga here means union or joining, not a physical practice. A yoga may describe potential. Whether it operates depends on formation, strength, houses, support, and timing.