Vedic astrology guides

Short explainers for the terms you meet in your chart, each checked against how MoonMapped calculates it.

• Vimshottari dasha and Mahadasha

  How the 120-year Vimshottari dasha cycle works: the nine planetary periods, how your Moon nakshatra sets your starting dasha, and antardashas.

• Antardasha (Bhukti) sub-periods

  What an antardasha or bhukti is in Vedic astrology, the order rule, the formula for its length, a worked Venus example, and how to read Mahadasha and Antardasha together.

• Saturn Mahadasha

  What the 19-year Saturn Mahadasha means in Vedic astrology: who starts life in it, what Shani is associated with, antardasha lengths, and how it differs from Sade Sati.

• Rahu Mahadasha

  What the 18-year Rahu Mahadasha means in Vedic astrology, how to tell if you are in it, what each antardasha tends to emphasise, and traditional practices.

• Jupiter Mahadasha

  The 16-year Guru dasha: what Jupiter is associated with, who starts life in it, and every antardasha length.

• Venus Mahadasha

  The 20-year Shukra dasha, the longest of the nine: themes, who starts life in it, and every antardasha length.

• Mercury Mahadasha

  The 17-year Budh dasha: learning, speech and trade themes, who starts life in it, and every antardasha length.

• Moon Mahadasha

  The 10-year Chandra dasha: mind, home and emotional themes, who starts life in it, and every antardasha length.

• Sun Mahadasha

  The 6-year Surya dasha, the shortest of the nine: authority and recognition themes, and every antardasha length.

• Mars Mahadasha

  The 7-year Mangal dasha: energy, property and courage themes, who starts life in it, and every antardasha length.

• Ketu Mahadasha

  The 7-year Ketu dasha: detachment and inward themes, who starts life in it, and every antardasha length.

• Shani Sade Sati

  What Sade Sati is in Vedic astrology, how to tell if Saturn is transiting near your Moon sign, the three phases, common themes and traditional practices.

• Venus retrograde 2026

  Exact sidereal dates (3 Oct to 14 Nov 2026), the Virgo leg, combust days, and which house it touches from each Moon sign.

• Jupiter transit 2026 in Leo

  Guru Gochar: Jupiter enters Leo on 31 Oct 2026, retrograde 13 Dec to 13 Apr, marriage and career timing, and the house it touches from each Moon sign.

• Mercury retrograde 2026

  Budh Vakri 24 Oct to 13 Nov 2026 in Libra, inside the Venus retrograde: live roadmap, combust days and your Moon sign row.

• Moon sign (Rashi)

  Why Vedic astrology uses your Moon sign, why birth time and place matter, sidereal vs tropical, nakshatras and the 12 rashis with Sanskrit names.

• Nakshatra and birth star

  What a nakshatra is, how your janma nakshatra (birth star) is the Moon's nakshatra at birth, the 4 padas, and all 27 nakshatras with lords and zodiac spans.

• Ascendant (Lagna)

  What the lagna is, why it changes every two hours, how it sets your houses, and why your Vedic rising sign often differs from the Western one. All 12 lagnas.