Vedic Astronomic Science The most basic elements of Vedic astrology are the nine planets or heavenly bodies and the twelve signs of the zodiac and the twelve houses of the chart. When studying Vedic astrology, it is important to become familiar with the Sanskrit words for all the main components.  The words planets and "grahas" are synonymous. The twelve signs of the zodiac are called "rashis" and the houses are called "bhavas" or "sthanas". The nine planets used in Vedic astrology are the Sun, Moon, Mars, Mercury, Jupiter, Venus, Saturn, Rahu and Ketu. These are known in Sanskrit as Ravi or Surya, Candra, Mangal or Kuja, Buddha, Guru, Shukra, Shani, Rahu and Ketu. Sign Sanskrit Symbol  Element Sex Mobility Planet Aries Mesha Ram Fire M Movable Mars Taurus Vrishaba Bull Earth F Fixed Venus Gemini Mithuna Couple Air M Common Mercury Cancer Karkata Crab Water F Movable Moon Leo Simha Lion Fire M Fixed Sun Virgo Kanya Virgin Earth F Common Mercury Libra Tula Balance Air M Movable Venus Scorpio Vrishchika Scorpion Water F Fixed Mars Sagittarius Dhanus Bow Fire M Common Jupiter Capricorn Makara Alligator Earth F Movable Saturn Aquarius Kumbha Pot Air M Fixed Saturn Pisces Meena Fishes Water F Common Jupiter There are twelve houses in a chart. The chart is also called the "Kundali Chakra". The twelve houses govern all the various parts of our lives. The houses are domains in space. When you stand anywhere on the earth, at that moment you are surrounded by space all the way around you. Space even surrounds the earth which is below your feet. You are standing on a ball floating in space. If you look directly East and point your hand at the Eastern horizon where the Sun rises, you are pointing in the direction of what is known as the first house. The first house governs the 30 degree span of space where the Eastern horizon is. Directly across from it, or on the Western horizon is the 7th house. From the first to the 7th are the 2nd through 6th houses. Directly over your head is the 10th house. Straight up into space, where the high noon Sun beams down, is the 10th house. Straight below your feet covering the span of space on the other side of the earth from you, is the 4th house. So the first house governs the Eastern horizon, the 2nd house is just below the Eastern horizon, the 3rd house is deeply below the Eastern horizon, the 4th house is directly underneath you, the 5th house is underneath you and behind a little bit. The 6th house is underneath you and behind. The 7th house is behind you covering the Western or Sunset horizon. The 8th house is just over your shoulder when you turn your head around and look behind you. The 9th house is above the top back part of your head, the 10th house is straight over your head, the 11th house is what you see when you look upwards but not straight up. The 12th house is just slightly above the eastern horizon and this brings us back around to the first house which governs the eastern horizon. In this way, the entire 360 degree circular span of space surrounding  earth is divided into 12 equal 30 degree sections, each of which has a number from 1 -12 and is known as a house. Studying the parts of life that these houses govern is a large part of astrology. At every moment the 12 houses are present surrounding you and your earth. Besides the 12 houses there are 12 signs. It is important to differentiate in your mind between the 12 signs and the 12 houses. The physical zodiac, of 12 main constellations, are also known as signs or rashis. Notice also the Hebrew letters that correspond to the months and days of the week.  Top   Next page>   Homepage   Discussions   Email   Links   Mantra   Glossary   Join