Reference
Glossary
Plain-language definitions of the terms used across SahiKundli’s charts and readings.
- Abhijit Muhurta(Solar noon auspicious window)
The most auspicious window of the day, spanning 24 minutes either side of solar noon. Classically considered universally favourable for new undertakings. Not observed on Wednesdays per classical convention.
- Brahma Muhurta(Pre-sunrise auspicious window)
The auspicious window beginning 96 minutes before sunrise and ending 48 minutes before sunrise. Classically recommended for study, meditation, and the first acts of the day. Computed fresh each day from the exact local sunrise time.
- Gulika Kalam(Inauspicious period)
A daily inauspicious window associated with Gulika, a sub-planet derived from Saturn. Calculated via the same 8-part day division as Rahu Kalam and Yamaganda, with its position varying by weekday.
- Jala(Water Element)
One of four tattvas (elements) in Vedic sign classification.
- Karana(Half-tithi)
Half of a tithi — each tithi is divided into two karanas, each spanning 6° of Sun-Moon separation. There are 11 karanas in classical panchanga, four fixed and seven repeating. Karana at sunrise determines the day's karana value.
- Lagna(Ascendant)
The zodiac sign rising on the eastern horizon at the moment of birth — the most personal point in a Vedic chart.
- Mangala(Mars)
Mars in Vedic astrology — the karaka of courage, action, and conflict.
- Nakshatra(Lunar mansion)
One of 27 equal divisions of the ecliptic, each spanning 13°20', through which the Moon transits over a sidereal month. The Moon's nakshatra at sunrise anchors the day's nakshatra value.
- Panchanga(Five-limb Vedic almanac)
The classical Vedic almanac, built from five elements — tithi, nakshatra, vara, yoga, and karana — that together describe the astronomical and traditional character of a day. Every value is sunrise-anchored and location-specific.
- Rahu Kalam(Inauspicious period)
A daily inauspicious window, traditionally avoided for new or important undertakings. Calculated by dividing the day (sunrise to sunset) into eight equal parts — the Rahu-ruled part varies by weekday.
- Sthira(Fixed Modality)
One of three svabhavas (modalities) in Vedic astrology, applied to four signs.
- Tithi(Lunar day)
A lunar day, measured by the angular distance between Sun and Moon. Each 12° of separation equals one tithi, giving 30 tithis in a lunar month — 15 in the waxing phase (Shukla Paksha) and 15 in the waning (Krishna Paksha).
- Vara(Weekday)
The weekday in the Vedic calendar, each ruled by a planetary lord. Guruvara (Thursday) is ruled by Jupiter, Somavara (Monday) by the Moon, and so on. Vara is one of the five angas of the panchanga.
- Vikram Samvat(Hindu lunisolar calendar year)
The Hindu lunisolar calendar year, running approximately 57 years ahead of the Gregorian calendar. SahiKundli computes Vikram Samvat from the Gregorian date using the standard conversion, accounting for the Vedic new year in mid-April.
- Vrischika(Scorpio Lagna)
Scorpio rising. Ruled by Mangala, water element, fixed modality.
- Yamaganda(Inauspicious period)
A daily inauspicious window, traditionally avoided for auspicious activities and travel. Calculated by the same 8-part day division as Rahu Kalam, with the Yamaganda portion varying by weekday according to classical tables.
- Yoga(Sun-Moon combination)
One of 27 daily yogas computed from the combined longitude of the Sun and Moon. Each yoga spans 13°20' of combined motion and carries a traditional quality — from Vishkumbha (inauspicious) to Siddhi and Shubha (auspicious). Distinct from the yogas formed by planetary combinations in a birth chart.