The Parashara blog

Practical guides to Vedic astrology, written from the classical texts: what each planet signifies, what your dasha means, how to read the panchang, and how to approach remedies with good sense.

Vedic vs Western Astrology: Why Your Sign May Be Different — The real difference between Vedic (sidereal) and Western (tropical) astrology, why most people's sign shifts by one, and what else sets Jyotish apart.
What Is Ayanamsa? Lahiri, KP and Why the Choice Matters — Ayanamsa in plain words: precession of the equinoxes, the Lahiri (Chitrapaksha) standard used in India, the KP ayanamsa, and why the choice matters.
Lagna (Ascendant): The Most Important Point in Your Chart — What the Lagna or ascendant is, how it is calculated from your birth time and place, why it changes every two hours, and what the Lagna and its lord reveal.
Moon Sign (Rashi): Why Vedic Horoscopes Use It — What your Moon sign or Rashi is, why Vedic astrology reads daily horoscopes, Sade Sati and matching from the Moon, and how to find yours.
The 12 Houses (Bhavas) in Vedic Astrology — What each of the twelve houses of a Vedic chart governs, how kendras, trikonas, dusthanas and upachayas work, and how to read any house step by step.
The Navagrahas: The Nine Planets of Vedic Astrology — The nine grahas of Jyotish, Sun to Ketu: what each signifies, its own and exaltation signs, natural benefics and malefics, and how they combine.
The 27 Nakshatras: A Beginner's Guide — The 27 nakshatras of Vedic astrology: degrees, padas and ruling planets, how your birth star is found, and its use in dashas, matching and muhurta.
Exaltation, Debilitation and Own Sign: Planetary Dignity Explained — Planetary dignity in Vedic astrology: exaltation and debilitation points, own and moolatrikona signs, friendly and enemy signs, and what each means.
Retrograde Planets in Vedic Astrology — What retrograde (vakri) motion is, which planets go retrograde, how Vedic astrologers read retrograde planets in a birth chart and in transit.
Combust Planets (Asta): When a Planet Is Too Close to the Sun — What combustion means in Vedic astrology, the classical combustion distances for each planet, how a combust planet behaves, and when combustion is less serious.
Vimshottari Dasha Explained: The 120-Year Cycle of Planetary Periods — How the Vimshottari dasha system works: the nine periods and their lengths, how your first dasha is set by the Moon's nakshatra, and how dashas time events.
Sade Sati: What It Really Means and How to Prepare — Sade Sati without fear: Saturn's 7½-year transit around your Moon sign, its three phases, Dhaiya, what decides how hard it is, and sensible remedies.
Jupiter Transit (Guru Gochar): How It Affects You — How Jupiter's yearly transit is read: the favourable positions from your Moon sign, Jupiter's aspects, retrograde phases and timing with your dasha.
Rahu and Ketu: The Lunar Nodes in Your Chart — What Rahu and Ketu are astronomically and astrologically, how the axis of the nodes is read by house, their 18-year dashas, nodal transits, and remedies.
Saturn (Shani) Mahadasha: Nineteen Years of Building — Saturn's 19-year mahadasha: how its results depend on Saturn's houses and strength in your chart, the antardashas within it, and working with Saturn.
Raja Yoga: Combinations for Status and Success — What a raja yoga is, how kendra and trikona lords combine to form it, the yogakaraka for each ascendant, and when raja yogas actually deliver.
Gaja Kesari Yoga: The Elephant and the Lion — What Gaja Kesari yoga is, how Jupiter and the Moon form it, the conditions that make it strong or weak, and what results it is traditionally said to give.
The Five Mahapurusha Yogas: Ruchaka, Bhadra, Hamsa, Malavya and Shasha — The five Mahapurusha yogas of Mars, Mercury, Jupiter, Venus and Saturn in own or exaltation signs in a kendra, and the qualities each one gives.
Kaal Sarp Dosha: Separating Fact from Fear — What Kaal Sarp dosha is, how it is defined, its twelve named types, why classical texts do not mention it, partial cases, and a calm way to approach it.
Neecha Bhanga Raja Yoga: When Weakness Becomes Strength — How a debilitated planet's weakness is cancelled (neecha bhanga), the classical conditions, and why it can become a raja yoga of rising from adversity.
Dhana Yogas: Wealth in the Birth Chart — How Vedic astrology reads wealth: the 2nd, 11th, 5th and 9th houses, Dhana and Lakshmi yogas, earned versus inherited wealth, and timing growth.
What Is a Panchang? The Five Limbs of Vedic Time — The panchang explained: tithi, vara, nakshatra, yoga and karana, how each is calculated from the Sun and Moon, and how it is used for muhurta.
Rahu Kalam, Yamaganda and Gulika Kalam: The Day's Inauspicious Windows — What Rahu Kalam, Yamaganda and Gulika Kalam are, how they are calculated from sunrise and sunset, the order for each weekday, and how to use them sensibly.
Tithis: The Thirty Lunar Days and What They Mean — The 30 tithis of the lunar month: how they are calculated, the five groups from Nanda to Purna, key tithis such as Ekadashi, and their use in muhurta.
Abhijit Muhurta and the Art of Choosing an Auspicious Time — What a muhurta is, the 30 muhurtas of the day, why Abhijit muhurta around local noon is powerful, and how to choose a good time for a beginning.
Gemstones in Vedic Astrology: When to Wear Them and When Not To — The nine planetary gemstones, which planets should and should not be strengthened, quality and wearing, and safer remedies to try first.
The Sun (Surya) in Vedic Astrology: Soul, Father and Authority — What the Sun signifies in a Vedic chart, its signs of strength and weakness, how a strong or weak Sun shows in life, the Sun's dasha, and simple remedies.
The Moon (Chandra) in Vedic Astrology: Mind, Mother and Emotions — What the Moon signifies in a Vedic chart, why its strength matters so much, waxing and waning Moon, how the Moon shows in life, and remedies for a weak Moon.
Mars (Mangal) in Vedic Astrology: Energy, Courage and Action — What Mars signifies in a Vedic chart, its signs of strength and weakness, how a strong or afflicted Mars shows, the Mars mahadasha, and practical remedies.
Mercury (Budha) in Vedic Astrology: Intellect, Speech and Commerce — What Mercury signifies in a Vedic chart, its strength and weakness by sign, its closeness to the Sun, the Mercury mahadasha, and remedies for a weak Mercury.
Venus (Shukra) in Vedic Astrology: Love, Beauty and Comfort — What Venus signifies in a Vedic chart, its signs of strength and weakness, how it shows in relationships and lifestyle, its 20-year dasha, and remedies.
Jupiter (Guru) in Vedic Astrology: Wisdom, Growth and Grace — What Jupiter signifies in a Vedic chart, its signs of strength and weakness, its protective aspects, the 16-year Jupiter dasha, and how to strengthen it.
Saturn (Shani) in Vedic Astrology: Discipline, Karma and Time — What Saturn signifies in a Vedic chart, its signs of strength and weakness, why Saturn is feared and respected, its transits and 19-year dasha, and remedies.
Rahu Mahadasha: Eighteen Years of Ambition and Change — What to expect in Rahu's 18-year mahadasha, why its results depend on Rahu's sign, house and dispositor, the antardashas within it, and sensible remedies.
Ketu Mahadasha: Seven Years of Turning Inward — What to expect in Ketu's 7-year mahadasha: detachment, endings and spiritual growth, how Ketu's placement shapes it, its antardashas, and remedies.
Jupiter Mahadasha: Sixteen Years of Growth and Learning — What to expect in Jupiter's 16-year mahadasha, how Jupiter's houses and strength shape it, its antardashas, and how to make the most of a Guru period.
Venus Mahadasha: Twenty Years of Relationships and Comfort — What to expect in Venus's 20-year mahadasha, the longest of all: relationships, comforts and creativity, how Venus's placement shapes it, and its sub-periods.
Saturn Transit (Shani Gochar): How Saturn's Movement Affects You — How Saturn's 2½-year transit through each sign is read from your Moon sign: favourable houses, Sade Sati and Dhaiya, retrograde phases and preparation.
Budha-Aditya Yoga: The Sun and Mercury Together — Budha-Aditya yoga explained: why the Sun–Mercury conjunction is so common, the conditions that make it strong, and the intelligence it is said to give.
Chandra-Mangala Yoga: The Moon and Mars Combination — Chandra-Mangala yoga explained: how the Moon and Mars form it, its classical link with earning through enterprise, its emotional intensity and conditions.
Vipreet Raja Yoga: Success Through Adversity — What Vipreet Raja Yoga is, its three forms (Harsha, Sarala and Vimala), how lords of the 6th, 8th and 12th houses can produce success, and its conditions.
Pitru Dosha: Meaning, Chart Indications and Remedies — What Pitru dosha means in Indian tradition, the chart factors linked with it, why to read it calmly, and the remedies of Pitru Paksha and tarpan.
Mercury Retrograde: What It Means and How to Handle It — Why Mercury seems to move backwards three or four times a year, what Vedic astrology says about it, what to avoid, and what it is good for.
Eclipses (Grahan) in Vedic Astrology: Meaning, Sutak and Practice — How solar and lunar eclipses happen, their link with Rahu and Ketu, the sutak period and customs, and how an eclipse is judged against your chart.
Ekadashi: The Eleventh Lunar Day and Its Fast — What Ekadashi is, how it is calculated, why it is sacred to Vishnu, how the fast is kept and broken (parana), and the major Ekadashis of the year.
Amavasya and Purnima: The New Moon and the Full Moon — Amavasya and Purnima explained: how the new and full moon are calculated, their significance, the rituals and festivals of each, and their use in muhurta.
Choghadiya: Finding a Good Time Within the Day — Choghadiya explained: the day and night in eight parts each, the seven types from Amrit to Rog, which are good for what, and how it differs from Rahu Kalam.
Hora: The Planetary Hours of the Day — What a hora is, how the day divides into 24 planetary hours from the weekday's lord, the order of the planets, and how to use horas for everyday timing.
Navagraha Mantras: Simple Mantras for the Nine Planets — The beej mantras of the nine planets, how and when to chant them, the weekday for each, and why mantra is the safest of all astrological remedies.
Weekday Fasts (Vrat) and the Planets: A Practical Guide — Which planet and deity each weekday honours, the traditional fast and offerings for each day, and how to choose a weekly fast that suits your chart.