GALAXIPEDIA · GLOSSARY

Astrology and Jyotish glossary

Readable definitions, alternate spellings and links to relevant reference articles.

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Terms found: 56

Abhijit

Abhijit Muhurta is a traditional interval around local solar noon, with customary exceptions.

Adhika masa

Adhika Masa is an intercalary lunar month used to align lunar and solar calendars.

Amanta

Amanta is a month-naming system in which the lunar month ends at new moon.

Amavasya

Amavasya denotes the new-moon tithi in the Vedic calendar.

Antardasha

Antardasha is a subperiod within a major mahadasha.

Arcana

An arcana is a Tarot card with a symbolic meaning.

Arunodaya

Arunodaya is the pre-dawn period used in certain Ekadashi calendar rules.

Asana

Asana is a yoga posture.

Ashtama chandra

Ashtama Chandra means the Moon occupies the eighth sign from the natal Moon.

Ayanamsha

Ayanamsha is the angular offset between tropical and sidereal zodiacs.

Celtic cross

Celtic Cross is a ten-position Tarot spread with a meaning for each position.

Chandrabala

Chandrabala is a traditional comparison of the transiting Moon with the natal Moon sign.

Dasha

Dasha is a traditional planetary period used to time interpretive emphases.

Dashamsha

Dashamsha (D10) is a divisional chart supplementing D1 in readings of vocation and public roles.

Delta-t

Delta-T is the difference between terrestrial dynamical time and Earth-rotation time, relevant to historical astronomy.

Dharma

Dharma refers to duty, ethical order and proper conduct in Indian traditions.

Drishti

Drishti is a Jyotish aspect connecting a planet with particular houses or other planets.

Ekadashi

Ekadashi is the eleventh tithi of each lunar fortnight, associated with traditional fasting.

Ephemeris

Ephemerides are computed or tabulated positions of celestial bodies over time.

Gochara

Gochara is a planetary transit interpreted in relation to a birth chart.

Graha

Graha is a Jyotish planetary factor: luminaries, five classical planets or lunar nodes.

Gulika kalam

Gulika Kalam is a traditional timing period calculated from daylight hours.

House ruler

A house ruler is the planet traditionally governing a sign, linking different life areas.

Karana

Karana is half a tithi, representing six degrees of Sun–Moon angular separation.

Ketu

Ketu is the south lunar node, associated with detachment and inquiry.

Krishna paksha

Krishna Paksha is the waning fortnight from full moon to new moon.

Kshaya masa

Kshaya Masa is a rare skipped month-name occurrence in traditional lunar calendar reckoning.

Lagna

Lagna is the rising sign at birth, setting the first house and chart framework.

Lahiri

Lahiri is the ayanamsha standard used for Galaxiora sidereal calculations.

Mahadasha

Mahadasha is a major Vimshottari planetary period containing shorter antardashas.

Muhurta

Muhurta is a traditional timing interval used when selecting an occasion.

Nakshatra

Nakshatra is one of 27 lunar sectors; the Moon’s nakshatra is used to derive dasha periods.

Navamsa

Navamsha (D9) is a divisional chart used to deepen readings of relationships, dharma and planetary maturity.

Nitya yoga

Nitya Yoga is one of 27 calendar divisions from the combined longitudes of Sun and Moon.

Pada

Pada is one of four quarters of a nakshatra.

Paksha

Paksha is a lunar fortnight: Shukla (waxing) or Krishna (waning).

Panchanga

Panchanga is a Vedic almanac describing the day through five calendar factors.

Parana

Parana is the breaking of a religious fast at its appointed time.

Pradosha

Pradosha is a twilight observance associated with the thirteenth tithi and Shiva.

Pranayama

Pranayama is yogic breath regulation; intensive exercises may not suit everyone.

Purnima

Purnima is the full-moon tithi in the Indian lunar calendar.

Purnimanta

Purnimanta is a month-naming system in which the lunar month ends at full moon.

Rahu

Rahu is the north lunar node, traditionally associated with desire and novelty.

Rahu kalam

Rahu Kalam is a traditional daytime interval used in timing customs.

Rashi

Rashi (D1) is the main natal Jyotish chart of twelve signs and houses.

Retrograde

Retrograde motion is an apparent backward movement against the stars, not a planet reversing orbit.

Sankranti

Sankranti is the Sun crossing from one sidereal zodiac sign to the next.

Shukla

Shukla is the waxing lunar fortnight from new moon to full moon.

Sidereal

Sidereal zodiac uses a stellar reference frame rather than the tropical seasonal reference.

Tarabala

Tarabala compares the current Moon nakshatra with the birth nakshatra.

Tithi

Tithi is one of 30 lunar calendar divisions based on the Sun–Moon angular separation.

Trayodashi

Trayodashi is the thirteenth tithi of either lunar fortnight.

Vara

Vara is the weekday within the traditional Vedic calendar.

Vimshottari

Vimshottari is a 120-year sequence of planetary periods calculated from the Moon’s nakshatra.

Whole-sign

Whole-sign houses assign each zodiac sign to one entire house.

Yamaganda

Yamaganda is one of the traditional daily timing intervals in Panchanga.