How to read a Vedic birth chart (kundli): a beginner's guide
Read a kundli in this order: find the rising sign (lagna), see which planets sit in which houses, note the Moon sign and nakshatra, and then look at the dasha period running now. Each step adds one layer, and none of them is a prediction by itself.
Step 1: the rising sign (lagna)
The lagna is the sign rising on the eastern horizon at your birth. It becomes the first house. It needs your exact birth time and place, and the rest of the chart is counted from it.
Step 2: the houses
With whole-sign houses, the lagna sign is house 1, the next sign is house 2, and so on. Each house is traditionally linked with an area of life, such as home, partnerships or work. See the page on the twelve houses.
Step 3: the planets
Look at which sign and house each of the nine grahas occupies, and whether it is retrograde. A planet in a sign it rules, or in the sign where it is exalted, is traditionally considered comfortable. A planet in its debilitation sign is considered strained. These are descriptions of tendency, not guarantees.
Step 4: the Moon sign and nakshatra
The Moon's sign (rashi) and nakshatra describe the emotional and mental tone of the chart, and the nakshatra decides where your dasha cycle starts.
Step 5: the dasha
The Vimshottari dasha divides life into planetary periods. The planet whose period is running is traditionally read as setting the theme of that stretch of life. Read it as a theme to reflect on, not as an event that will happen.
Frequently asked questions
How do I make a Vedic birth chart?
Enter your birth date, time and place into a calculator such as the free Vedic birth chart calculator. It lists the signs, houses and dasha.
What is the difference between a North Indian and South Indian chart?
They are two ways of drawing the same chart. The North Indian style is a diamond layout with fixed houses, and the South Indian style is a grid with fixed signs.
What if I don't know my birth time?
You can still get planet signs and your Moon sign in most cases, but not the rising sign or houses. Ask family or check the birth certificate.
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