Earth’s Motion:
Rotation: Earth rotates on its own axis once every 24 hours → gives us day and night.
Revolution: Earth revolves around the Sun once every year (≈365.25 days) → gives us seasons.
Ecliptic:
The path traced by the Sun relative to the stars as Earth revolves around it is called the ecliptic.
Zodiac:
The zodiac is a belt in the sky along the ecliptic. It extends 8° above and below the ecliptic.
Total measurement of the zodiac belt = 360°.
Zodiac Signs (Rāśis):
The 360° zodiac is divided into 12 equal parts of 30° each.
Each 30° segment is called a sign or Rāśi.
Hindu Name English Name Degree Range Mesha Aries 0–30° Vrishaba Taurus 30–60° Mithuna Gemini 60–90° Karkataka Cancer 90–120° Simha Leo 120–150° Kanya Virgo 150–180° Tula Libra 180–210° Vrischika Scorpio 210–240° Dhanus Sagittarius 240–270° Makara Capricorn 270–300° Kumbha Aquarius 300–330°
Zodiac and Nakshatras
Each zodiac sign (Rāśi) is named after the group of stars it resembles.
The zodiac is divided into 27 Nakshatras (constellations), each covering 13°20′.
Nakshatras are fixed stars and self-luminous.
Each Nakshatra is further divided into 4 parts, called padas.
1 Rāśi = 9 Nakshatra padas.
Names of Nakshatras:
Ashwini
Bharani
Krittika
Rohini
Mrigasira
Ardra
Punarvasu
Pushya
Ashlesha
Magha
Purvaphalguni
Uttaraphalguni
Hasta
Chitra
Swati
Vishakha
Anuradha
Jyestha
Moola
PurvaAshadha
UttaraAshadha
Shravana
Dhanishtha
Shatabhisha
Purva Bhadrapada
Uttara Bhadrapada
Revati
Horoscope (Janma Kundali)
A horoscope is a snapshot of the heavens at a specific time (birth, event, query).
Components:
Planetary positions
Rasi chart (zodiac map)
Navamsa chart (D9 chart)
Dasha-Bhukti periods (planetary influence timeline)
Houses (Bhavas):
Count clockwise from Lagna.
Each sign represents a house in the horoscope.