How to read astrology chart

There are 30 Tithi divisions, which are based on the movement of the Sun and Moon simultaneously. To be exact, these are based on the separation between these two luminaries. This separation shows our desires that caused rebirth and how we project these on others. For this reason it is strongly connected to Venus (as a planet and Jala (water).

The placement and nature of the lord of the tithi in a Vedic Astrology chart shows a lot on how we deal with relationships. Placement in watery signs gives most harmonious results for relationships, while in fiery planets in fire signs can produce a bit more arguments or fights (which are less fun, but of course also serve their purpose….in the bigger picture…)

Like the tithi represent the water element, the karana represent earth. In every tithi there are 2 karanas, but there are only 11 different karanas, which can be divided in movable and fixed. It shows us what we can accomplish in this lifetime.

The vara or weekday lord shows our agni, the digestive fire. In India Agni has been worshipped ever since the Vedic era. Digestion is vital for one’s health as it is the first step in assimilating food. In a Vedic Astrology chart one would normally focus on the 5th and 6th houses for digestion, but the Vara lord does play a role in kindling the digestive fire (just like the Lagna lord and Lagna as well). Digestions and assimilation provide comes energy to do actins in the world and maintain one’s own body.

Next to digestion, fire also carries light, which is here symbolic as well for self-realisation/enlightenment.

Shadbala and Asthakavarga

Shadbala in chart readings

Though not applied rigidly, I do use Shadbala in my analysis. This is a way to show the strength for each planet. This calculation includes factors like (not exhaustive):

• The positional strength: every planet has a strength det called determined by the sign placement which is called Sthana Bala).
• Directional strength: all planets have a certain strength depending on the house placement which is called digbala.
• Divisional strength: it looks into the strength of the planet in 7 of the divisional charts.

Shadbala is a good tool to get an impression of the strength of the planets, but the role of a planet always depend on house lordship, afflictions, conjunctions with other planets and placement.

Asthakavarga

In a Vedic birth chart reading asthakavarga can be used to see the strength of the signs. This is mostly used for assessing the results of transits of slow moving planets, but it also gives an impression of the strength of the signs, houses and planets.

Vimshopaka

This is in equation found in the Parashara Hora Sastra which shows the strength of the various planets across the divisional charts. The placement of the planets are given certain points in each verge (division) and the final scores gives a good impression of the strength of the planet.

The Vedic birth chart (D1) (and partly D9 chart) show your personal traits, the functioning of the mind, personality, physical body and latent tendencies herin.

The different Vedic divisional charts interact with your main birth chart and show the bigger picture of these areas. Therefore it is always necessary to read these charts simultaneously.

These so-called Varga charts are very sensitive to the correct birth time. They all get calculated from the Vedic birth chart, but show a more detailed and more precise analyses. In the D3 and D30 one can learn a lot more about diseases, body parts and weaknesses for example.

The navamasha (D9) chart takes a special role herin as its results often show general trends and often merge with the birth chart. Depending on how the Lagna lord behaves and where it feels more comfortable, either the navamsha or birth chart, determine the results in later life.

In case the lagna lord is neither comfortable in either of these two charts, life may shift to the D60 chart and become a continuation of the previous life

Dasha time periods

In any chart reading dashes are important. I mainly use two dashas: vimshottari and narayana. The vimshottari dashas I always adapt to the placement of the Moon. Depending on this placement, we take a different Nakshatra to start from.

There are also variations of this dasha possible for example when we find Venus ruling the D9 lagna and for when the ascendent is much stronger than the Moon for example. The results shows what planetary time periods you are going through.

The narayana dasha operates from the sign and therefore activates certain houses more instead of planets.