Hindu Predictive Astrology Part 31: Reference Tables and Glossary — Series Finale
The final article in this 31-part series. Here we provide the essential reference tables from the book's appendices and a comprehensive glossary of every Sanskrit astrological term used across all 31 articles.
Part 31 of 31 • Reference & Glossary • Covers: Appendices A & B
Appendix A: Ayanamsa Calculation
The Ayanamsa is the angular difference between the fixed (Nirayana) and moving (Sayana) zodiacs. It increases by approximately 50⅓ seconds per year. To convert Western (Sayana) planetary positions to Hindu (Nirayana), subtract the Ayanamsa.
Step 2: Multiply the remainder by 50⅓ seconds
Step 3: Convert to degrees, minutes, seconds
Step 4: Subtract from all Sayana positions
Example for 1912 A.D.:
1912 − 397 = 1515
1515 × 50.333″ = 76,255″
76,255″ = 21° 10′ 55″
This is the Ayanamsa for 1912 A.D.
Vimshottari Dasa Durations
The complete 120-year Vimshottari cycle (covered in detail in Part 11):
| Planet | Years | Ruling Nakshatras |
|---|---|---|
| ☉ Sun (Ketu) | 6 | Krittika, Uttara, Uttarashadha |
| ☽ Moon | 10 | Rohini, Hasta, Sravana |
| ♂ Mars | 7 | Mrigasira, Chitta, Dhanishta |
| ☊ Rahu | 18 | Aridra, Swati, Satabhisha |
| ♃ Jupiter | 16 | Punarvasu, Visakha, Poorvabhadra |
| ♄ Saturn | 19 | Pushyami, Anuradha, Uttarabhadra |
| ☿ Mercury | 17 | Aslesha, Jyeshta, Revati |
| ☋ Ketu | 7 | Aswini, Makha, Moola |
| ♀ Venus | 20 | Bharani, Pubba, Poorvashadha |
| Total | 120 |
Table II in the book provides the exact Dasa balance based on the Moon's longitude at birth. For each 20-minute arc of the Moon's position, the remaining years, months, and days of the ruling Dasa are tabulated. This allows precise calculation of when each planetary period begins and ends throughout life. The VedAstro API calculates this automatically from any birth time.
Appendix B: Oblique Ascension (Table I)
Table I shows the duration of each sign's rising (in Ghatis and Vighatis) for latitudes 0° to 60° North. This is essential for calculating the Ascendant, the period of unconsciousness before death (Part 23), and unknown birth time rectification (Part 26).
The complete 60-row table is provided in the book's appendix. For modern usage, the VedAstro API handles all Ascendant calculations automatically using the Swiss Ephemeris engine with full latitude correction.
Glossary of Sanskrit Astrological Terms
| Antara | Sub-sub-period within a Bhukti |
| Apachaya | Houses 1,2,4,5,7,8,9,12 — non-growth houses |
| Arishta | Misfortune, affliction (Balarishta = infant affliction) |
| Ashtakavarga | Eight sources of energy — numerical transit system (Part 24) |
| Ayanamsa | Precessional distance between fixed and moving zodiacs |
| Bhava | House (1st through 12th) |
| Bhukti | Sub-period within a Dasa |
| Bindu | Point or dot in Ashtakavarga |
| Dasa | Major planetary period in the Vimshottari system |
| Dhana Yoga | Combination for wealth |
| Digbala | Directional strength |
| Dosha | Fault or humour (Tridosha = three humours: Vata, Pitta, Kapha) |
| Drekkana | Decanate — 10° division of a sign (3 per sign, 36 total) |
| Dusthana | Evil houses — 6th, 8th, 12th |
| Dwadasamsa | 1/12th division of a sign (2°30′ each) |
| Ekadhipatya | Dual ownership (one planet owning two signs) |
| Gnana Yoga | Combination for knowledge and wisdom |
| Gochara | Transit — movement of planets from natal Moon |
| Graha | Planet (literally "seizer") |
| Kalapurusha | Cosmic Man — zodiac mapped to human body (Aries=head to Pisces=feet) |
| Kalabala | Temporal strength |
| Karaka | Significator — natural indicator planet for a life area |
| Kendra | Quadrant house — 1st, 4th, 7th, 10th |
| Lagna | Ascendant — the rising sign at birth |
| Maraka | Death-inflicting planet (lords of 2nd and 7th) |
| Moksha | Final emancipation — liberation from the cycle of rebirth |
| Moolatrikona | A planet's "office" sign — between exaltation and own sign in dignity |
| Muhurtha | Auspicious moment — election astrology (Part 29) |
| Nakshatra | Lunar mansion — 27 divisions of the zodiac (13°20′ each) |
| Navamsa | Ninth division of a sign (3°20′ each) — the most important divisional chart |
| Neecha | Debilitation — a planet's weakest sign placement |
| Nirayana | Fixed zodiac (sidereal) — used in Hindu astrology |
| Prasna | Horary astrology — chart cast for the moment of a question (Part 25) |
| Rajayoga | Combination for political power and high status |
| Rasi | Sign of the zodiac (30° each, 12 total) |
| Ruthu | Season (6 seasons of 2 months each in the Hindu calendar) |
| Sayana | Moving zodiac (tropical) — used in Western astrology |
| Shadbala | Six-fold planetary strength (Part 6) |
| Shadvargas | Six divisional charts (Rasi, Hora, Drekkana, Navamsa, Dwadasamsa, Trimsamsa) |
| Trikona | Trine house — 1st, 5th, 9th |
| Trimsamsa | 1/30th division of a sign (1° each) |
| Upachaya | Growth houses — 3rd, 6th, 10th, 11th |
| Vargottama | Planet occupying the same sign in both Rasi and Navamsa — very strong |
| Varshaphal | Annual horoscope based on Sun's return to natal position (Part 29) |
| Vedha | Obstruction point — cancels transit benefits |
| Vimshottari | The 120-year Dasa system — the primary timing tool (Part 11) |
| Yoga | Special planetary combination producing specific results (Part 18) |
| Yogakaraka | Planet producing a yoga — especially one ruling both a trine and quadrant |
Series Complete: 31 of 31 Articles
You have now completed the entire Hindu Predictive Astrology series — a faithful digitisation of B.V. Raman's 300-page masterwork into 31 modern, searchable, bookmarkable articles. From the philosophical foundations of Karma and Free Will (Part 1) through the practical case studies (Part 30) and these reference tables, every major concept, combination, table, and worked example from the original 1938 text has been preserved for the modern student of Vedic astrology.
Put theory into practice! Use the VedAstro API to calculate charts, Dasas, Ashtakavarga bindus, and yogas automatically. Visit vedastro.org to generate your free horoscope and explore the same principles covered in this series — computed instantly for any birth time and place on Earth.
Based on
Hindu Predictive Astrology
by B.V. Raman | First published 1938 | UBS Publishers' Distributors Ltd.