Basic concepts and mechanics of Vedic Astrology

The core principle of Vedic Astrology is that heavenly bodies a.k.a Grahas (Planets) affect the life of beings on earth. On the same lines, the planets in the solar system affect the earthly beings more than those in the farther outer space. The planets that are considered in Vedic Astrology are Surya (Sun), Chandra (Moon), Mangal (Mars), Budha (Mercury), Guru (Jupiter), Shukra (Venus) and Shani (Saturn). Rahu (North node of moon) and Ketu (South node of moon) are the other two shadow planets taken into consideration apart from the seven main planets. Apart from these, Vedic Astrology has numerous mathematical points that are to be considered.

There are 12 houses in a Vedic Astrology chart. Each of these houses is representative of certain areas of a human life. Also, each of these 12 houses has a natural signifier planet known as Karakas in Vedic Astrology. Given below is the table of each of the 12 houses and their significations along with the karakas.

House	Represents	Karaka
1	Physical self of the native i.e. his/her physical appearance	Surya
2	Wealth of the native	Guru
3	Siblings, communication skills of the native	Mangal
4	Mother, property of the native	Chandra
5	Progeny, education of the native	Guru
6	Enemies, Servants of the native	Mangal
7	Spouse, Partners of the native	Shukra
8	Death, diseases of the native	Shani
9	Teacher(s), Father of the native	Guru
10	Achievements, Career of the native	Budha
11	Income, profits to the native	Guru
12	Expenditure, loss to the native	Shani

Then Vedic Astrology has the concept of Rashi (sign). There are 12 rashis in total. Rashis are basically 12 divisions of the 360^o zodiac. Each of these rashis is lorded by particular planet(s). Each of these rashis aspect other three rashis in the zodiac – aspects from rashi consisting of good planets and otherwise good house are beneficial and the aspects from rashi containing bad planets and otherwise bad houses are malefic. Given below is the table of 12 rashis and their lords, along with other details.

Sanskrit Name	English Name	Lord	Rashi Aspects	Mobility Nature	Characteristic Type	Representative Sex
Mesha	Aries	Mangal	Simha, Vrischika, Kumbha	Movable	Fire	Male
Vrishabha	Taurus	Shukra	Kartakam, Thulam, Makara	Fixed	Earth	Female
Mithuna	Gemini	Budha	Kanya, Dhanus, Meena	Dual/Common	Air	Male
Kartakam	Cancer	Chandra	Vrishabha, Vrischika, Kumbha	Movable	Water	Female
Simha	Leo	Surya	Mesha, Thulam, Kumbha	Fixed	Fire	Male
Kanya	Virgo	Budha	Mithuna, Dhanus, Meena	Dual/Common	Earth	Female
Thulam	Libra	Shukra	Vrishabha, Simha, Kumbha	Movable	Air	Male
Vrischika	Scorpio	Mangal and Ketu	Mesha, Kartakam, Makara	Fixed	Water	Female
Dhanus	Sagittarius	Guru	Mithuna, Kanya, Meena	Dual/Common	Fire	Male
Makara	Capricorn	Shani	Vrishabha, Simha, Vrischika	Movable	Earth	Female
Kumbha	Aquarius	Shani and Rahu	Mesha, Kartakam, Thulam	Fixed	Air	Male
Meena	Pisces	Guru	Mithuna, Kanya, Dhanus	Dual/Common	Water	Female

Each planet is supposed to give certain results. Now each of these planets give intense (mainly in a good way) results in a particular rashi and weak (mainly in a bad way) results in another rashi. The rashi in which the planet gives good results is known as its Uccha (Exaltation) rashi and the one in which the planet gives bad results is known as its Neecha (Debilitation) rashi. Given below is a list of Neecha and Uccha rashis of planets. The table below gives the uccha, Neecha rashis of the grahas as well as information about their aspects.

Graha	Uccha Rashi	Neecha Rashi
Surya	Mesha	Thulam
Chandra	Vrishabha	Vrischika
Mangal	Makara	Kartakam
Budha	Kanya	Meena
Guru	Kartakam	Makara
Shukra	Meena	Kanya
Shani	Thulam	Mesha
Rahu	Vrishabha	Vrischika
Ketu	Vrischika	Vrishabha

Each graha aspects other grahas just like rashis, as shown in the table below. Note that each graha aspects the 7^th house from it always. Apart from that, some grahas like Mangal, Guru, Shani, Rahu and Ketu aspects other houses. Aspects from good planets in the chart are always beneficial and that from bad planets are malefic.

Graha	Aspect
Surya	7^th house from where it is placed
Chandra	7^th house from where it is placed
Mangal	7^th, 4^th, 8^th house from where it is placed
Budha	7^th house from where it is placed
Guru	7^th, 5^th, 9^th house from where it is placed
Shani	7^th, 3^rd, 10^th house from where it is placed
Rahu	7^th, 4^th, 8^th house from where it is placed
Ketu	7^th, 3^rd, 10^th house from where it is placed