Vedic astrology of today is based on a deep knowledge of astronomy and how it relates to life on earth. The original works were all written by seers in Sanskrit and even today most of the words used by Vedic astrologers are in that language. The depth of Sanskrit language cannot be expressed in English, much like a toddler who likes a chocolate bar but cannot express its taste. I have done my best to give a Sanskrit word and then express what it means in English.
Adhi Yog: A condition when benefic planets fall in the sixth, seventh and eighth house from Lagna
Airy houses: The third, seventh and eleventh houses are considered to represent wind element.
Ascendant: The sign that is rising in the east at the time of birth.
Afflicted – A planet that is aspected by or is associated with malefics. Affliction reduces the benefits of a planets either partially or fully.
Antardasha – This refers the sub-period of a Dasha. It is also known as ‘bhukti’. The Maha-Dasha is the main period.
Apoklim – The third, sixth, ninth and twelfth houses. These four houses which are twelfth to the angle houses are not considered good for material happiness.
Ashtakavarg – A mathematical system which calculates the strength of a house and a planet.
Balarishta: A placement of planets that kills the new born early on.
Bhava: A system that divides the zodiac into twelve parts of 30 degrees each. Each Bhava can have a complete Rashi contained in it or only a part. Bhava are fixed in the astrology birth chart. Each Bhava deals with a number of factors that affect our daily lives.
Brihaspati: Planet Jupiter. It is also known as Guru.
Budh: Planet Mercury.
Bhukti: The sub period of a planet that modifies the result of the main Dasha.
Chandradhi Yog: A Yog formed by the placement of benefic planets in sixth, seventh and eighth houses from Moon.
Dasha: A system that predicts how and when a planet will give its results. Also known as Maha Dasha.
Drishti: Aspect of a planet on another planet or house.
Dik Bal: The direction in which a planet gets extra power. Sun, Moon, Mars, Mercury, Jupiter, Venus and Saturn become strong in 10th, 4th,10th, 1st, 1st, 4th and 7th house.
Earth houses: Second, sixth and tenth houses.
Fiery houses: The first, fifth and the ninth houses.
Gochar: Transit of planets in the Zodiac.
Kahal Yog: Mars exalted in the seventh house for Cancer Lagna.
Kuja Dosh: Also known as Mangal Dosh, it refers to the affliction caused by Mars in second, fourth, seventh and twelfth houses.
Mooltrikon – This refers to the second-best position a planet can be in, second only to the planet’s place of exaltation.
Lagna: The sign rising in the east at the time of birth.
Malefic planet: A planet which gives very unfavorable results due to its placement in the horoscope.
Mantra: Mantra very simply put is a Sanskrit verse that creates vibration when chanted or meditated upon. There is a Mantra to achieve anything one desires. Most are easy to find but there are some that have never been written down and are passed from Guru to disciple.
Nakshatra: A group of stars. There are a total of 27 Nakshatra encircling the Zodiac.
Navamsha – Literally means nine divisions. Refers to the chart produced by dividing every sign in the main in nine parts following a specific mathematical formula.
Paya: It is a term used to describe effects on a house due to the passage of Saturn through a sign.
Paksh Bal: Moon becomes successively stronger in the bright fortnight and weakens every day during the dark fortnight. Her Pakshbal is greatest on Full Moon day or Poornmasi and zero on no Moon day or Amavasya.
Panaphar houses: The second, fifth, eighth and eleventh houses.
Phaladeepika: A classic on Vedic astrology.
Pran Pratishtha: A method of infusing required energy in a statue, Yantra, ring or any other desired object.
Rahu: A mathematical point where the orbit of Moon around earth intersects with motion of earth round the Sun. The northern intersection is called Rahu and considered as a planet. The southern intersection is called Ketu. Rahu and Ketu act like Saturn and Mars.
Rashi: is the same as a zodiac sign. The Vedic system Rashis are Mesh, Vrish, Mithun, Kark, Simha, Kanya, Tula, Vrishchik, Dhanu, Makar, Kumbh and Meen.
Sade Sati of Saturn: Saturn takes 30 months or two and a half years to transit through one sign of the Zodiac. This transit is called Dhayya. When Saturn transits the twelfth, first and second house from Moon, he generally causes unfavorable results. This combined transit of three signs lasting seven and a half years is called Sade Sati.
Suktam – Each Veda is divided into mandala consists of hymns called Sukta intended for various rituals. The Sukta in turn consist of individual Shloka’s (verses). Examples – Nasadiya Sukta, Purusha Sukta , Shree Sukta etc.
Stotra – They are the hymns written to praise a Devta or God. Suktam & Stotra both have same purpose to pray to deities.
Example – Panchakshara Stotra, Ram Raksha Stotra, Saraswati Stotra e.t.c
Sholka – A pair of successive lines of verse, typically rhyming and of the same length. Most Hindu scriptures are written in forms of sloka’s. Mahabharata, Ramayana & Upanishads e.t.c
Stuti – Any prayer offered to god, it can be done by reciting mantra, Suktam, Stotra, Aarti’s, Bhajan etc.
Trayambak Mantra: A powerful Mantra dedicated to Lord Shiva which removes all problems connected to Mars, Saturn, Rahu and Ketu..
Water houses:Fourth, eighth and twelfth houses.
Yajna/Yagya: A ritual which is performed by offering specific items to a sacrificial fire. It is accompanied by chanting of Mantras. A Yagya is a very potent form of achieving desired goals. The Mantras and sacrificial items differ for each Yagya.
Yantra: A matrix of numerals that generate a powerful field of energy to accomplish a particular goal. These are usually worn on the body engraved on a silver plate. They can also be kept in a shrine where one meditates every day.There are Yantras to pacify all adverse planets. Other Yantras are used for achieving prosperity, health, spiritual development etc.
Yoga: A combination of two or more planets which gives a specific results which may be good or bad.