| Jyotisa is the vedic system of astronomy and | | | | calendar), which follows traditional Indian cosmology, |
| astrology. It has three branches: | | | | and presents important astronomical data in tabulated |
| 1. Siddhanta: Indian astronomy. | | | | form. It forecasts celestial phenomena, such as solar |
| 2. Samhita: Mundane astrology, predicting important | | | | eclipses, and weather (rain, dryspells), as well as |
| events based on analysis of astrological dynamics in a | | | | more mundane occurrences. |
| countries horoscope or general transit events such as | | | | Horoscopy |
| war, earth quakes, political events, financial positions, | | | | Lagna - the ascendant |
| electional astrology; house and construction related | | | | One's ascendant, or lagna, the rashi which is rising on |
| matters (Vastu Shastra), animals, portents, omens | | | | the eastern horizon at the time of one's birth, is the |
| etc. | | | | most influential and important one. Of lesser |
| 3. Hora: Predictive astrology based on analysis of | | | | importance but still some impact is the Janma Rashi, |
| natal horoscopes and the moment a query is made. | | | | the rashi in which the moon lay while one was born. |
| There are two main systems of Vedic astrology | | | | Some important special lagnas are follows. |
| practiced today: Parashari and Jaimini which were | | | | 1. Chandra Lagna (ascendant counted from natal |
| developed by the sages Parashara and Jaimini | | | | Moon sign - very important lagna) |
| respectively. The sage Parashara is said to be the | | | | 2. Surya Lagna (ascendant counted from natal Sun |
| "father of Vedic astrology" who recorded the main | | | | sign) |
| principles of vedic astrology or "jyotish", the science | | | | 3. Karak Lagna (significator taken as ascendant for all |
| of light, into the classic Sanskrit text known as the | | | | grahas) |
| Brihat Parashara Hora Shastra. This forms the basis | | | | 4. Varnada Lagna (for social company) |
| for the entire Parashari system, which is by far the | | | | 5. Shri Lagna (for prosperity and marriage) |
| most widely used in India and the world today. | | | | 6. Indu Lagna (for wealth) |
| Astrology remains an important facet in the lives of | | | | 7. Hora Lagna (for financial prosperity) |
| many Hindus. In Hindu culture, newborns are | | | | 8. Gati Lagna (for name and fame) |
| traditionally named based on their jyotish charts, and | | | | Birth charts |
| jyotish concepts are pervasive in the organization of | | | | There are three different Jyotish chart notations, for |
| the calendar and holidays as well as in many areas of | | | | showing the rashi (signs) and bhava (houses) which |
| life, such as in making decisions made about marriage, | | | | are functionally equivalent but quite different in |
| opening a new business, and moving into a new | | | | appearance. The following images show the same |
| home. To some extent, astrology even manages to | | | | birth chart in the two main notations - North Indian |
| retain a position among the sciences in modern India. | | | | and South Indian. The third notation is followed in |
| Panchangam (almanac) | | | | Eastern parts of India. |
| A panchangam is a Hindu astrological almanac (or | | | | |