Glossary · Astrology
Jyotish
ज्योतिष
What does Jyotish mean?
Jyotish is among the oldest continuously practiced astrological systems, classically counted as a Vedanga — a limb of the Vedas. Unlike Western astrology, it uses the sidereal zodiac, aligned to the fixed stars, and gives central importance to the Moon and the 27 nakshatras.
Its core tools are the birth chart (kundli), the planetary periods (dashas) that time the unfolding of karma, and transits (gochara). Jyotish is traditionally used for understanding character, choosing auspicious times, and matching horoscopes for marriage.