What Is a Kundali?
A Kundali — also called a birth chart or Janam Patrika — is a map of the positions of the nine planets (Navagraha) in the twelve houses (Bhava) at the exact moment and location of your birth. This snapshot of the sky becomes your personal astrological blueprint.
The Twelve Houses
Each of the twelve houses governs a specific area of life:
- 1st House (Lagna): Self, physical appearance, personality
- 2nd House: Family, accumulated wealth, speech
- 3rd House: Siblings, courage, short journeys
- 4th House: Mother, home, happiness
- 5th House: Intelligence, children, education, past life merit
- 6th House: Enemies, debts, health challenges
- 7th House: Spouse, business partners, relationships
- 8th House: Longevity, transformation, hidden matters
- 9th House: Father, fortune, dharma, higher learning
- 10th House: Career, status, public life
- 11th House: Income, gains, elder siblings, friends
- 12th House: Losses, foreign travel, moksha, spirituality
The Nine Planets
Vedic astrology uses nine celestial bodies: Sun (Surya), Moon (Chandra), Mars (Mangal), Mercury (Budha), Jupiter (Guru), Venus (Shukra), Saturn (Shani), Rahu (North Node), and Ketu (South Node).
Finding Your Ascendant (Lagna)
The most important point in your chart is your Lagna — the zodiac sign rising on the eastern horizon at your birth. This sign becomes your 1st house and determines the placement of all other houses. Two people born on the same day but a few hours apart will have very different Lagnas, and therefore very different charts.
To read your Kundali accurately, you need your exact date, time, and place of birth. An astrologer will use this to cast your chart and interpret the planetary placements in their proper context.
Want to understand your own Kundali? Book a consultation with our expert astrologers for a complete personalised reading.