INTRODUCTION

A horoscope is a detailed layout of the zodiac and planets at the time of birth.

There are basically two aspects to a horoscope.

1. Construction of a horoscope-    This is the scientific or mathematical aspect .Since the principles are documented, and follow the principles of ASTRONOMY, a horoscope cast correctly will be identical with that cast by any other person or computer provided there are no calculation errors .This part of ASTROLOGY is a well- developed science not disputable by any segment of the intellectual population.

2. Interpreting a horoscope- This aspect takes up your understanding, analytical, memory as well as intuitive skill in equal measure. Reading a horoscope is an art and so experience as well as natural talent makes a good astrologer.

Construction of a horoscope- Basic birth chart – horoscope

·        ASC (lagan) Ascendant or the sign rising on the eastern horizon at the time of birth.

• Following numbers have been allotted to various signs:

The names of the 12 Rasis (Zodiac signs) in their natural order and their rulers:

1. Aries or Mesha is ruled by Mars.It extends from 00:00 degrees to 30:00' in the zodiac.
2. Taurus or Vrishabha is ruled by Venus. It extends from 30:00 degrees to 60:00'
3. Gemini or Mithuna is ruled by Mercury. It extends from 60:00 degrees to 90:00'
4. Cancer or Karka is ruled by the Moon. It extends from 90:00 degrees to 120:00'
5. Leo or Simha is ruled by the Sun. It extends from 120:00 degrees to 150:00'
6. Virgo or Kanya is ruled by Mercury. It extends from 150:00 degrees to 180:00'
7. Libra or Tula is ruled by Venus. It extends from 180:00 degrees to 210:00'
8. Scorpio or Vrischika is ruled by Mars. It extends from 210:00 degrees to 240:00'
9. Sagittarius or Dhanu is ruled by Jupiter. It extends from 240:00 degrees to 270:00'
10. Capricorn or Makara is ruled by Saturn. It extends from 270:00 degrees to 300:00' 
11. Aquarius or Kumbha is ruled by Saturn. It extends from 300:00 degrees to 330:00'
12. Pisces or Meena is ruled by Jupiter. It extends from 330:00 degrees to 360:00'

• What is moon sign (rashi)?

“Why do we use the moon sign instead of sun sign / zodiac sign?”

In ASTROLOGY moon is the signifactor of the mind. Since moon is the heavenly body closest to the earth, the magnetic influences of all other planets reach earth through the moon.

Also since the mind is ruled by Moon and all influences on the human being whether Physical, Mental, Psychological or supernatural affect the human mind. The human body which is ruled by SUN may or may not respond to the mental psychological / supernatural influence.

  This is the Reason That Indian Astrology Reckons the Planetary Movements Based on Your Moon Signs (raasi).

·        The Signs           

There are twelve signs. A signs is called a Rashi in Sanskrit. The word rashi literally means a heap, a cluster. As a sign in the zodiac was identified by the characteristic heap or cluster of the stars constituting it, it came to be known as a rashi. This is a general term for a sign, but in Hindu astrology the sign in which the moon is placed at the time of birth is commonly referred to as rashi. When a brief question is put to a person, “what is your rashi”? It means in which signs the moon was at the time of your birth?

 As we shall have occasion to see, the Moon Sign is as important as the Sign ascending at birth (the ascending). Rather, for purposes of transits of planets and their effects the importance given to the Moon sign is even greater than the ascendant. The Moon sign is considered a co-ascendant and we shall in this work refer to it as the lunar ascendant or Moon sign.

The rising sign is referred to as lagan –rashi or simply as lagnam. The names of the twelve signs have been given before.

1.     The Sanskrit word used by Hindu astrologers is KALA-PURUSHA and many learned and philosophical dissertations on time fine a place in Sanskrit texts. This zodiac has also been referred; to as the “grand white python” whose hood has a thousand glistening gems, the stars. The various signs constituting his body are as follows:

       1.  Aries     - head     (Top portion)

       2.  Taurus - face      face (including the neck)

  3.  Gemini - upper portion of chest and arms.

  4.  Cancer - heart, breasts, portion above the stomach.

  5.  Leo        - stomach, portion above the navel.

  6.  Virgo     - portion below navel and above baste.

  7.  Libra      - baste (navel to genitals)

8.     Scorpio - genitals, anus.

9.     Sagittarius – thighs, hips.

10.  Capricorn – the two knees, back.

11.  Aquarius – (Calves of legs)

12. Pisces – feet.

So, if any part of the KALA-PURUSHA was afflicted at birth, the corresponding part of the native’s body would be afflicted. Here the correspondence of various houses to the body is as follows:

    1^sthouse - Head

    2^nd house – face (including the neck)

    3^rd house – neck, upper portion of the chest and arms (some include throat in 3^rd house)

   4^th house – heart, breasts, portion above the stomach

   5^th house – the stomach, portion above the navel

   6^th house – part below navel and above baste

   7^th house – baste

   8^th house – genitals, anus

   9^th house – thighs, hips

  10^th house – the two knees, back

  11^th house – calves of legs

  12^th house – feet.

If any house is afflicted, the corresponding part of the body will suffer. If any house is strong, the corresponding parts of the body will be strong.

·                                        Exaltation and Debilitation

Sun is exalted in Aries upto the 10th degree. In the 10th degree he is in deep exaltation. After that it is his Moolatrikona. In Leo upto 20 is his moolatrikona and after that it is his own house.

Moon is exalted in Taurus upto the 3rd degree. In the 3rd degree he is in deep exaltation and after that it is his moolatrikona house. Karka is his own house.

Mars is exalted in Makara upto 28 degrees. In the 28th degree he is in deep exaltation. After that it is his Moolatrikona. In Mesha upto 12 degrees his moolatrikona and after that it is his own house. Vrischika is also his own house.

Mercury is exalted in Kanya upto 15 degrees. In the 15th degree he is in deep exaltation. After that the next 5 degrees are his Moolatrikona and after that his own house. Mithuna is also his own house.

Jupiter is exalted in Karka upto 5 degrees. In the 5th degree he is in deep exaltation. After that it is his Moolatrikona. In Dhanu upto 10 degrees his moolatrikona and after that it is his own house. Meena is also his own house.

Venus is exalted in Meena upto 27 degrees. In the 27th degree he is in deep exaltation. After that it is his Moolatrikona. In Libra upto 15 degrees his moolatrikona and after that it is his own house. Vrishabha is also his own house.

Saturn is exalted in Tula upto 20 degrees. In the 20th degree he is in deep exaltation. After that it is his Moolatrikona. In Kumbha upto 20 degrees his moolatrikona and after that it is his own house. Makara is also his own house.

Rahu and Ketu There is a controversy about their exaltation etc as they do not really own any houses. In fact the were ignored in this regard in some of the major shastras. However several other later generation authors generally agreed that Mithuna and Dhanu are the exaltation houses of Rahu and Ketu respectively, Vrishabha and Vrischika are their respective Moolatrikonas and Meena and Kanya are their respective own houses. 

·        Neecha or Debilitation: All exalted planets get debilitated in the opposite seventh house from their point of exaltation. The highest point of debilitation is the exact opposite of the highest point of exaltation. After that the debilitation effect is not there.

     It must also be noted that in the order of auspicious placement,       next to his own house, comes a planet placed in a friend's house and then the neutrals house.

      Planet Planets and their exaltation houses (Uchacha)

         Planets and their debilitated houses

·       The physical appearance of the twelve signs is as follows:

·        Aries  - a ram                                                       

(Mars)                                                        

·        Taurus- a bull

(Venus)                                                       

·        Gemini-a couple of human beings                        

(Mercury)                                                                          

·        Cancer-a crab                             

(Moon)                                               

·        Leo-a lion

(Sun)                                                    

·        Virgo- a girl

(Mercury)                                              

·        Libra- a man holding scales in his hand

(Venus)                                                                      

·        Scorpio- a scorpion

(Mars)                                                                          

·        Sagittarius- a man with a bow and arrow in hand riding a horse

(Jupiter)                                                                      

·        Capricorn- the first half representing the head of a deer, the latter half a                                   

(Saturn)       crocodile                                                  

·        Aquarius-  a man holding an empty pitcher on his shoulder

(Saturn)                                                                                

·        Pisces- two fish with their heads pointing to in opposite directions

(Jupiter)                                                                                    

·        The lordships of signs have already been given in brackets ( ).

·           WHAT IS A HOUSE or Bhava

A house begins from the ascendant (lagan).

    The rashi charts is divided into twelve areas called he house and each of these areas represents an area of life.

First house / lagan

Body, Personality, Appearance, Health, Dignity.

Second house

Learning, Wealth, Speech, family, Face, right eye, Savings.

Third house

Younger, Co-borns, Help, Communications, Courage, Valor, Neighbors, Short journeys, Right ear, Neck, Throat, Arms, Lungs.

Fourth house

Mother, Home, Immovable assets, Vehicle, Comforts, General appearance, Chest, Heart, Father-in-law.

Fifth house

Progeny, Learning, Creativity, Intelligence, Intuition, Spiritual inclinations, Speculation, Purva Punya, Upper abdomen, Love, Children, Share.

Sixth house

Maternal uncle, Enemies, Thieves, Accidents, Disease, Loans, Debts, Humiliation, legal and court cases, pets, servants, subordinates, lower abdomen, Paternal aunt.

Seventh house

Spouse, Marriage, Partnerships, Passion, Sexual desire, Semen, kidney, Agreements and Contracts, Business, Brother’s/ sisters children, granny.

Eighth house

Longevity, Death, Danger, Disgrace, Hurdles, Legacies, Sudden unexpected gains, Inheritance, Nature of death, External genitals, Loss of limb.

Ninth house

Father, preceptor of guru, Religious, Learning, Wisdom, Charity, Fortune, Higher studies and research, long journeys, Hips, Thighs, Liver,

Tenth house

Profession, Honor, Recognition, Fame, Knee, Joints, Mother-in-law.

Eleventh house

Elder brother, Friends, Gains of all nature, Income, Success, Entertainment, Legs, Left ear,

Twelfth house

Expenditure, Loss of wealth, Bedroom, Sleep, Imprisonment, Exile, Renunciation, Foreign land, Secret enemies, Hospitalization, Feet, Left eye. 

·       Additional information on houses

6^th, 8^th , 12^th  houses are dushsthana or evil houses, 3^rd,6^th,8^th, or 12^th are known as hidden houses. 1^st,4^th, 7^th and the 10^th houses are angles of Kendra’s.1^st, 5^th, & 9^th houses are trikona or trines. 2^nd, 5^th, 8^th, and 11^th houses are panaphara. 3^rd, 6^th, 10^th, and 11^th houses are Upachaya or increasing houses. 4^th, and 8^th are Chatusara houses.

·       The Grahas or Planets and what they signify

Sun or Surya is a royal planet and the king in astrology. He represents the soul, will power, father, paternal relations, the king or the high officials. Its hot and angry, colour is red, metal is gold and gem is ruby. Sun represents the eastern direction.
The sun stays in each rasi for one month and takes one year to complete the round of the zodiac. Its motion is quite fixed and a lot of Indian festivals are as per the suns entry into the various signs. For example on January 14 it enters Makara and this day is celebrated as Makara Sankranti, On April 13th/14th it enters Mesha and this day is celebrated as Baisakhi. The change in seasons is also linked to the suns entry into various signs and nakshatras. He is the Pitrukaraka or planet connected with father.

Moon or Chandra is also a royal planet and is the queen in astrology. He represents the mind, emotions, sensitivity, the mother, house and domestic comforts, milk, sea and all things connected with the sea, hotel and food industry, textiles and apparels. It’s cold and calm, its color is white, direction north-east, metal is silver and gem is pearl. The moon is the fastest moving of the 9 planets and takes approximately 2-1/2 days to travel a sign. When the sun and moon are in the same rasi it is called Amavasya or new moon day or the 1st day of the dark fortnight. The lunar days or Tithi changes with every 12 degree difference between the sun and the moon. When the sun and the moon are in the exact opposite signs or 180 degrees apart, it is called Poornima or the full moon day or the 1st day of the bright fortnight. He is the Matrukaraka or planet connected with mother.
The sign in which your Moon is placed in the birth chart is called your Janma Rasi. The star constellation in which your Moon is placed is called your Janma Nakshatra

Mars or Mangala is the commander in astrology. He represents energy, courage, younger brothers & sisters, armed forces, the police forces, commanders, administrators, men in high position, land, engineering, metals, real estate agents and surgery. Its metal is copper and gem is coral, color is red and direction south.
Mars takes about 45 days to travel one sign. He is the Bhatrukaraka or planet connected with brother.

Mercury or Budha is the prince in astrology. He represents speech, intelligence, maternal uncles, short journeys, medical profession, trade, computers and the web, astrology and knowledge of the shastras, accounts, mathematics, journalism, printing and publishing. Its metal is bronze, gem is emerald, and color is green and direction north.
Mercury takes about a month to travel a rasi. It is always within 27 degree distance from the sun from astrological point of view.

Jupiter or Guru is known as the "Devaguru" or the guru of the Gods. He represents higher knowledge, spirituality, priests, temples, teachers, research & scientists, layers & judges, children and knowledge of the sastras and astrology. Its color is yellow, metal gold, gem yellow sapphire and direction north - east. Jupiter takes about one year to travel a sign. He is the Putrakaraka or planet connected with children.

Venus or Shukra is the "Daityaguru" or the guru of the demons. He represents spouse, sex life, kidneys and sex organ, dance, music, arts, gems and jewelers, wines, bars, gambling places, acting, fashion, cosmetics and beauty products. Its metal is silver, gem is diamond, direction is south-east and colour is white.
Venus takes about a month to travel a sign and completes the round of the zodiac in 12 months. From astrological point of view it is always within 48 degrees of the sun. He is the Kalatrakaraka or planet connected with spouse.

Saturn or Shani is the servant in astrology. He represents hard work, sorrow, old men, servants and the lower level workers, people in the iron and steel industry, municipality and drainage works. A well placed Saturn can bestow excellent power, prestige, name and fame and a badly placed Saturn can devastate you. Its metal is iron, color is blue, gem is blue sapphire and direction is west.
Saturn is the slowest moving of the 9 planets and takes approximately 2-1/2 years to transit a sign and completes the round of the zodiac in 30 years. He is the Udyogakaraka or planet connected with profession

Rahu or Dragons Head or North Node represents foreigners, foreign countries, foreign travel, engineering and the technical trades, smoke, old men, grand parents, theft, gambling, drinking, nonconformists, the underworld and the bad elements in the society. Its color is black, metal mixed-metal and gem is Gomedh.
Rahu takes approximately 1-1/2 years to travel a sign and hence completes the round of the zodiac in 18 years.

Ketu or Dragons Tail or South Node represents grand parents, technical trades, spiritual inclinations, superstitions and electronics. Its colour is brown and gem is cat's eye.
Ketu is always in the opposite sign to Rahu, i.e., exactly 180 degrees away. Ketu also takes approximately 1-1/2 years to travel a sign and hence completes the round of the zodiac in 18 years.

Each of these 9 planets produce different results, and at times totally opposite results, while placed in the 12 different rasis. Again each has some good results and some bad results in each sign. This is an important aspect of astrology which must be remembered. You will learn about these results later.

While placed at various specific distances from the sun, the planets Mars, Mercury, Jupiter, Venus and Saturn become retrograde or appear to move in the backward direction. Sun and moon do not have any retrograde motion. The motion of Rahu and Ketu is always opposite to that of the other planets.

·       The seven main planets rule the seven days of the week.            

Sun rules Sunday.
Moon rules Monday.
Mars rules Tuesday.
Mercury rules Wednesday.
Jupiter rules Thursday.
Venus rules Friday.
Saturn rules Saturday.
Rahu and Ketu do not rule any day

Normally while referring to the qualities etc of the planets, they are referred to in this sequence, i.e., sun to Saturn in the week day sequence. Remember this important fact.

·       Planetary Friendship

Naisargika Mitra or Natural Friend: Based on their natural qualities the planets have some friends, enemies and neutrals. Note the Rasis, which are the 2^nd, 4^th, 5^th, 8^th, 9^th and 12^th from the Moolatrikona of a Graha. The Grahas ruling such Rasis are its friends, apart from the Lord of its exaltation Rasi. Lords other than these are its enemies. If a Graha becomes in one and enemy in the other, then it is neutral, or equal. The following chart illustrates this inter-planetary friendship. 

Tatkalika Mitra or Temporary Friend: Depending on how the planets are placed in a particular chart, there is a temporary friendship between the planets. The rule for this temporary friendship is: in a chart, a planet placed in the 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 10th, 11th and 12th from another planet becomes its temporary friend. The following chart illustrates the temporary friendship of the planets in our example horoscope.

Panchadha or Compound friendship: This is simply the combination of the two types of friendship to arrive at an overview of friendship. The 5 point formula is:

Friend + Friend   = Great Friend

Friend + Neutral = Friend

Friend + Enemy = Neutral

Enemy + Neutral = Enemy

Enemy + Enemy = Great Enemy

See the following chart of compound friendship for the example horoscope.

·       Various strengths and conditions of the planets

Uccha, Moola Trikona, Swasthana, and Neecha of planets.

When placed in certain houses the planets are said to be in Uccha or in exaltation. A planet is in the best condition when he is exalted. The next best placement is called Moolatrikona, followed by its Swasthana or own house, followed by Mitrasthana or friends house and the worst condition is Neecha or Debilitation. The following are the placement conditions of the planets.

·       Grahas (planets) and their significance

In Hindu Astrology there are nine planets or grahas. These include Mercury, Venus, Mars, Jupiter, Sun, Moon, Saturn, Rahu, and Ketu, which are astronomical points formed where the moons orbit intersects the apparent path of the sun around the earth. Each planet is considered to be having masculine, feminine o neutral characteristics as well.

·       Grahas and their equivalents in Western Astrology

·        Grahas relationships

Each planet o graha considers another planet as friends, enemy, or equal. Some relationships are not mutual for example, while one planet considers another as a friend, the second planet in turn may not see the first one as a friend. Mercury and Moon are example.

·       Grahas And Gemstones

Each graha (planet) of Indian astrology has a gem stone associated with it. The nine stones corresponding to the nine planets are called the Navaratna group of stones

·       Grahas (Planets )& Associated Colors

·       Grahas (Planets) and their Respective Elements

·       Grahas (Planets) & Associated Characters

·       Results of planets in various signs are:

Each planet or Graha considers another planet as friend, enemy or equal. Some relationships are