How to read a Vedic astrology chart
A Vedic chart is drawn as a square, unlike the circular wheel of Western astrology. At first it looks like a jumble of symbols, but once you know the order to read it in, you can pick out tendencies from your own chart.
There are two chart styles
The North Indian style is a figure of interlocking diamonds in which the house positions are fixed and the sign numbers are written into them. The South Indian style is a frame of twelve boxes in which the sign positions are fixed and the houses move. Both show the same content; the difference is regional convention. If you are new to it, the South Indian style, with its unchanging layout of boxes, is usually easier to follow.
Start with the Lagna (ascendant)
Reading begins with the sign that was rising on the eastern horizon at the moment of birth: the Lagna, or ascendant. It becomes the 1st house, and the 2nd, 3rd and so on are counted anticlockwise from there. The Lagna shows constitution, first impression and one's stance toward life, and it is the reference point that fixes the position of every house. The ascendant moves to the next sign roughly every two hours, so an inaccurate birth time shifts the whole chart. This is why confirming the time matters.
The areas the twelve houses cover
The 1st house is the self; the 2nd, assets and speech; the 3rd, initiative and siblings; the 4th, home and emotional foundation; the 5th, creativity and children; the 6th, difficulties at work and health; the 7th, marriage and relationships; the 8th, transformation and inheritance; the 9th, fortune and learning; the 10th, occupation and social standing; the 11th, income and networks; the 12th, loss, letting go and introspection. Which planets sit in which houses shows where in life energy tends to gather.
Judging the strength and condition of planets
A planet's expression changes with the sign it occupies. In its own sign or its sign of exaltation it shows its qualities easily; in the opposite sign it works through difficulty. Traditionally, planets are also grouped into those that tend to act favourably, such as Jupiter and Venus, and those that act as trials, such as Saturn, Mars, Rahu and Ketu. The planets of trial are not bad, however; the stronger they act, the clearer the area in which you are being trained.
Layer the divisional charts and the timing
After reading the birth chart, use the divisional charts (D9, D10 and others) to go deeper into specific areas, and finally layer the Dasha (planetary periods) to see which period you are in now. These three stages are the basic way of working through a Vedic chart. Going from the whole picture to the area to the timing keeps the interpretation from fragmenting.
Getting your own chart
With your date, time and place of birth, the chart is calculated automatically. The free reading on this site calculates your Moon sign, Nakshatra and ascendant and explains them in full sentences. Rather than tracing the symbols yourself, the quickest way in is to read how your own placements are interpreted.
This article introduces general ideas from Vedic astrology. It does not guarantee future events and is not a substitute for medical, legal or financial advice.