Glossary
Indian astrology in plain English
Short, clear explanations of the words you'll meet in a Panchangam or a reading, with their Tamil and Hindi names.
Sade Sati
ஏழரைச் சனி · साढ़े साती
Saturn's roughly 7½-year passage over your Moon sign.
Rahu Kalam
ராகு காலம் · राहु काल
A daily 90-minute window traditionally avoided for new starts.
Yamagandam
எமகண்டம் · यमगण्ड
A daily period, like Rahu Kalam, avoided for important beginnings.
Gulika Kalam (Kuligai)
குளிகை · गुलिक काल
A daily period said to repeat whatever is begun in it.
Abhijit Muhurta
அபிஜித் முகூர்த்தம் · अभिजित मुहूर्त
A short, generally favourable window around local midday.
Moon sign (Rashi)
ராசி · राशि
The zodiac sign the Moon was in when you were born.
Nakshatra
நட்சத்திரம் · नक्षत्र
One of 27 star divisions the Moon passes through.
Tithi
திதி · तिथि
A lunar day: each 12° the Moon gains on the Sun.
Panchangam
பஞ்சாங்கம் · पंचांग
The traditional Hindu almanac of five daily elements.
Gowri Nalla Neram and Choghadiya
கௌரி நல்ல நேரம் · चौघड़िया
Two systems for picking good hours in the day.
Chandrashtama
சந்திராஷ்டமம் · चंद्राष्टम
Two days a month when the Moon is in the 8th sign from yours.
Ashtama and Ardhashtama Shani
அஷ்டம சனி · அர்த்தாஷ்டம சனி · अष्टम शनि · अर्धाष्टम शनि
Saturn in the 8th or 4th sign from your Moon sign.
Gochara (transits)
கோசாரம் · गोचर
Reading the moving planets from your Moon sign.
Retrograde (Vakra)
வக்கிரம் · वक्री
When a planet appears to move backwards.
Calculated by ChiChakra from real planetary positions (Astronomy Engine, sidereal zodiac with a Lahiri-style setting) · How we calculate · About ChiChakra. Solar timings use the geometric solar centre at 0° altitude without atmospheric refraction; upper-limb almanacs can differ by several minutes. Rahu and Ketu use mean nodes. Traditional guidance, not a guarantee or professional advice.