The Decoder

Vedic astrology, in plain language.

Every term your family uses without explaining — nakshatra, dosha, dasha, and more — decoded honestly. No jargon walls, no mockery of the tradition.

Matching & Guna Milan

Guna MilanAn eight-category, 36-point traditional matching framework. Zohvia materially modifies the Varna and Gana rules.KootaOne weighted category in an Ashtakoota-style calculation.ManglikA traditional flag based on Mars occupying specified houses from selected chart reference points.Nadi DoshaA same-Nadi flag in an Ashtakoota-style calculation; it carries eight points in Zohvia's modified scale.Bhakoot DoshaA traditional flag based on specified distances between two calculated Moon signs.

Signs & the zodiac

RashiA zodiac sign; in Zohvia, Chandra Rashi means the sidereal sign containing the calculated Moon longitude.NakshatraOne of 27 equal sidereal ecliptic segments used to classify the calculated Moon longitude.LagnaThe zodiac sign calculated as rising on the eastern horizon for the entered place, timezone, date, and exact time.

Planets (grahas)

GrahaA traditional astrology category covering the Sun, Moon, visible planets through Saturn, and the lunar nodes Rahu and Ketu.Rahu & KetuThe ascending and descending intersection points of the Moon's orbital plane with the ecliptic, not physical planets.

Houses (bhavas)

BhavaOne of 12 chart houses to which astrology assigns traditional life-topic symbolism.Kendra / Trikona / DusthanaTraditional groupings of houses into angular, trinal, and challenging categories.

Charts & divisions

KundliAn astrological birth-chart layout built from calculated celestial positions and a selected house and zodiac system.NavamsaA divisional chart produced by mapping each zodiac sign into nine parts.VargaA family of charts created by mathematically subdividing zodiac signs; traditions define different sets and uses.

Timing & cycles

DashaA dated period label in a traditional astrology sequence, such as the 120-year Vimshottari cycle.AntardashaA nested period label within a larger dasha period.GocharaA comparison between calculated current celestial positions and positions in a birth chart.Sade SatiA traditional label for Saturn transiting the sign before, of, or after the calculated natal Moon sign.MuhurtaA traditional practice of selecting a time for an activity from astrological and calendar factors.PanchangA traditional almanac organized around tithi, nakshatra, yoga, karana, and vara.VimshottariA traditional 120-year dasha sequence whose starting point is calculated from the natal Moon's nakshatra position.

Planetary strength

ShadbalaA traditional composite calculation that combines six categories of planetary strength.AshtakavargaA traditional bindu-point system derived from planetary and sign relationships.

Core concepts

DrishtiA traditional rule relating a planet to chart houses or planets at specified angular positions.YogaA named planetary combination defined by a traditional rule set.DoshaA caution label produced when a chart or matching rule meets specified traditional conditions.KarakaA planet assigned a symbolic association with a topic in an astrological tradition.AtmakarakaIn Jaimini astrology, a planet selected by degree and assigned a symbolic self or soul theme.AyanamsaA chosen angular offset used to convert tropical zodiac longitudes into a sidereal zodiac reference frame.

Good to know

About the Decoder

What is the Decoder?

A plain-language glossary of Vedic astrology terms — literal Sanskrit meaning, a neutral definition, and a warm, honest gloss for readers whose family 'just knows' this vocabulary but never explained it.

Does the Decoder ever mock the tradition?

No. It can be playful about the everyday experience of these terms (aunties, marriage negotiations) but never dismissive of the practice itself — every entry is written to respect the tradition while making it accessible.

Is this the same glossary used inside the app?

This is the standalone glossary for the current web release. It covers terms from the broader tradition, including terms absent from the Kundli calculator. Match uses the disclosed Zohvia-modified framework and an optional directional Varna calculation role.