What it is. Vedic astrology (Jyotish) uses the same sky but measures it against the fixed stars instead of the seasons, so your signs often sit one earlier than your Western ones. It leans hardest on the Moon and on timing.
The parts. Planets sit in signs and in one of 27 NAKSHATRAS — lunar mansions, a finer slice than the sign. SIGN DIGNITY describes how a placement supports or challenges a planet's expression: its own sign, exaltation, debilitation, moolatrikona or its relationship with the sign's ruler. It is one part of assessing the planet. Rahu and Ketu are the Moon's nodes, read as the karmic axis. The LAGNA is the rising sign.
How to read it. Start with the Moon's nakshatra and the lagna, then follow the supplied placements and dignity labels. Read dignity alongside the rest of the chart; it does not give a planet's total strength. The sidereal shift from your Western chart is expected, not an error.
Your Moon's nakshatra is the one that matters most. Its ruling planet also starts your dasha clock — the sequence of planetary periods that time a Vedic life.
The 27 nakshatras
The nakshatras are 27 lunar mansions, each 13°20' of the zodiac — older than the twelve signs and the finer lens Vedic astrology reads through. Each has a ruling planet (which also sets the dasha timing), a presiding deity, and a symbol. Your Moon's nakshatra is the one that matters most.
- Ashwiniruled by Ketu · the Ashwini Kumaras · a horse's head
- Speed, healing, fresh starts — quick to act, quick to recover, impatient with process.
- Bharaniruled by Venus · Yama · the womb
- Bearing and birthing — carries heavy loads, endures, transforms through what it holds.
- Krittikaruled by the Sun · Agni · a blade or flame
- Cutting clarity — sharp, purifying, critical; burns away what isn't true.
- Rohiniruled by the Moon · Brahma · an ox-cart
- Growth and beauty — fertile, sensual, magnetic; the Moon's favourite place.
- Mrigashiraruled by Mars · Soma · a deer's head
- The searching star — curious, restless, always looking for the next thing; gentle underneath.
- Ardraruled by Rahu · Rudra · a teardrop
- The storm — intensity, grief, breakthrough; clarity after destruction.
- Punarvasuruled by Jupiter · Aditi · a quiver of arrows
- Return and renewal — comes back from setbacks, generous, optimistic.
- Pushyaruled by Saturn · Brihaspati · a cow's udder
- Nourishment — the most auspicious nakshatra; caring, steady, dutiful.
- Ashlesharuled by Mercury · the Nagas · a coiled serpent
- The clinging serpent — perceptive, hypnotic, strategic; holds on tight.
- Magharuled by Ketu · the Pitris (ancestors) · a throne
- Lineage and authority — royal, proud, tied to the past and the family line.
- Purva Phalguniruled by Venus · Bhaga · a hammock
- Pleasure and creativity — love, art, rest, enjoying the fruits.
- Uttara Phalguniruled by the Sun · Aryaman · a bed
- Partnership and patronage — reliable, generous, keeps promises.
- Hastaruled by the Moon · Savitar · a hand
- Skill in the hands — craft, dexterity, wit; makes things work.
- Chitraruled by Mars · Vishvakarma · a bright jewel
- The architect — design, beauty, structure; wants it to look right and be right.
- Swatiruled by Rahu · Vayu · a young shoot in the wind
- Independence — flexible, self-made, moves with the wind and bends rather than breaks.
- Vishakharuled by Jupiter · Indra-Agni · a triumphal arch
- Single-minded purpose — ambitious, determined, sometimes at any cost.
- Anuradharuled by Saturn · Mitra · a lotus
- Devotion and friendship — loyal, disciplined, succeeds through alliances.
- Jyeshtharuled by Mercury · Indra · an earring or umbrella
- The eldest — responsibility, protection, authority earned through hardship.
- Mularuled by Ketu · Nirriti · a bundle of roots
- The root — goes to the bottom of things, uproots, investigates; destruction that clears.
- Purva Ashadharuled by Venus · Apas · a fan or winnowing basket
- Early victory — invincible confidence, persuasion, purifying force.
- Uttara Ashadharuled by the Sun · the Vishvadevas · an elephant's tusk
- Lasting victory — integrity, endurance, wins that hold.
- Shravanaruled by the Moon · Vishnu · an ear
- Listening and learning — absorbs, connects, carries knowledge across.
- Dhanishtharuled by Mars · the Vasus · a drum
- Rhythm and wealth — musical, generous, moves in time with the group.
- Shatabhisharuled by Rahu · Varuna · an empty circle
- The hundred healers — secretive, scientific, solitary; heals what others can't see.
- Purva Bhadrapadaruled by Jupiter · Ajaikapada · a funeral cot
- Fierce transformation — intense, idealistic, burns for a cause.
- Uttara Bhadrapadaruled by Saturn · Ahirbudhnya · a serpent of the deep
- Deep stillness — wise, patient, carries others; the calm at depth.
- Revatiruled by Mercury · Pushan · a fish
- Safe passage — protective, kind, the journey's end; nourishes and guides.