Kundalis

Kundalis, also known as Janam Kundli, are astrological birth charts used in Hindu astrology (Jyotisha) to interpret a person’s character, life events, and potential. They are constructed from the exact birth date, time, and place and depict the positions of the Sun, Moon, planets, and other celestial points at the moment of birth.

A kundali is organized around twelve houses (bhavas) and twelve signs within the sidereal zodiac. The ascendant (lagna) marks the first house and influences the overall chart. Key elements include planetary placements by sign and house, planetary rulers, conjunctions, and aspects (drishti). The chart is also analyzed through the Vimshottari Dasha system, which provides a timeline of planetary periods that are believed to influence life events. Nodes of the Moon, Rahu and Ketu, are commonly considered as well.

Applications of kundalis include daily or yearly horoscopes, career and health forecasts, and lifestyle guidance. A distinctive use in many traditions is matchmaking for marriage, known as kundali milan, which assesses compatibility based on planetary positions, lunar constellations (nakshatras), and other factors. Transits (gochara) and progressions are used to forecast approaching periods or events. There are variations in techniques, including different house systems and ayanamsas, which can influence readings.

Kundalis differ from Western natal charts in their emphasis on the sidereal zodiac and traditional Indian methods, with more focus on lunar mansions and planetary periods. They rely on birth data accuracy and practitioner interpretation, and are often regarded as pseudoscientific by critics.

The term kundali is Sanskrit in origin and denotes a chart or map of celestial positions at birth.