There are 360 degrees in a circle. Dividing 360 by 12 we get each sign = 30°. Each sign represents some Element. Different Movements are referred by each of these 12 signs. Each sign has a Ruler. Signs are fixed in Indian Astrology. They never change.

The Indian Calendar or Panchang has 12 months based on which sign the Sun is in. Each month starts when Sun enters next sign. The English calendar has months starting when the Sun is in the middle of each sign.

Constellation means a group of stars in Astronomy. The zodiac has 12 constellations corresponding to 12 signs. The signs are named same as these constellations. There are many constellations which are far away from the zodiac. The Sun would not be anywhere near those stars in such constellations as seen from earth. Such constellations are not used in Indian Astrology. “Nakshatra” is a Sanskrit word meaning star. Stars are big burning hydrogen balls. Stars do not feature in Indian Horoscopes as they are many light years away. The 27 “nakshatras” used in Indian Astrology are explained below.

The horoscope is used to show the sky in a chart form. The horoscope has 12 boxes. Each box represents a sign as shown below:

The planets move around the Sun. As the earth revolves around the Sun during a year, the Sun appears to be in line-of-sight against the 12 signs Aries, Taurus ... Pisces.

The following are the 9 planets generally used in Indian Astrology horoscopes.  

In astrology as in astronomy, the planetary positions printed in all Ephemeris and Panchangs are as seen from the centre of the Earth. To be uniform, all such printed tables in the world are for 00:00 hours GMT [Greenwich Mean Time]. Similarly WORLD PANCHANG is also showing Planetary positions as per international standards for daily 05:30 hours Indian Standard Time [IST].

The Indian horoscope is made for the time of birth of a person. The exact time is when the child is separated from the mother by the cutting of the umbilical cord.

At that birth moment of time and location, a particular sign is rising, some planets are rising, some are setting, some are above and some are below the horizon. The rising sign is numbered as House I, the next one below eastern horizon is II, the house below is IV, the setting house is VII and the house above is X. Houses are with reference to location and time.

The planetary positions are drawn in a horoscope. The rising sign is called as Lag or Lagna or L. The rising sign is numbered 1 and the others ascending clockwise. In following example Scorpio is rising and hence numbered 1.

House	Represents
I	Health
II	Wealth
III	Younger, School education
IV	House, Vehicle, Mother, College
V	Children, Happiness
VI	Sickness, Enemies, Loans
VII	Marriage
VIII	Lonevity
IX	Bhagyam, Father, Abroad
X	Job
XI	Income, Elder co-born
XII	Expenses, Kindness

Sr.	Planet	Karakan	Kaarakatvam [Represents]
1	Sun	Pitru	Father, longevity, promotion, power, responsibility
2	Moo	Maatru	Mother, body, mind, brain, intelligence
3	Mar	Brathru	Brother, land, ojas.
4	Mer	Karma	Job, Occupation, Medha, Talking capability, Studies, Learning, Medicine, Worldly knowledge
5	Jup	Putra	Dhanam, Vidya, Sons, Teacher, Health
6	Ven	Kalatra	Wife, marriage, wealth, aishwaryam, enjoyments, vehicles, fine arts
7	Sat		Death method, relatives, learning other skills
8	Rah		Other languages skill, doctor and medicine
9	Ket		Moksham, Sadness, Jewels

Thus for every Question there is a planet and house(s) to be judged. For example Marriage is judged from Venus and House 7. Marriage also is judged by house 2 family and 11. Childbirth in marriage is judged from house 5.

Some planets are good, mars causes quarrels and ketu kills. For example in above horoscope an abortion or unhappiness from child is indicated by Ket in 5.

Planets in own house = sign where it is ruler are beneficial. Planets in Exaltation are very beneficial. Planets in Debilitation are powerless to give good results.

Planet	Shape	Colour	Gem	Cts	Metal	Rudraksh	Temple to go to	Fast
Sun		Red	Ruby	3	Copper	1	Fire and Shiva	Sun
Moo	Round	White	Pearl	11	Silver	2	Godess Durga	Mon
Mar	Triangle	Red	Coral	6	Copper	3	Subramanya, Hanuman	Tue
Mer		Green	Emerald	3	8 dhatu	4	Vishnu	Wed
Jup	Square	Yellow	Sapphire	4	Gold	5	Indra, Vishnu	Thu
Ven		Multiple	Diamonds	1.5	Silver	6	Godess Durga, Sachi	Fri
Sat	Oval	Blue	Sapphire	4	Steel	7	Brahma, Hanuman	Sat
Rah			Gomed	3	Copper	8	Subramanya, Sesha	Tue
Ket			Cat’s Eye	3	Steel	9	Shiva, Chandi, Ganesh	Sat

Pariharams Table

Rule No.	Lord of	Signifier of	in	Wear its gem	Fast on its day	Pray to its Lord	Wear its Rudraksh
1	I	Health	Debilitation or in VI, VIII, or XII or in enemy’s house or with enemies or with papa dhrishti	Y
2	II		Debilitation or in VI, VIII, or XII or in enemy’s house or with enemies or with papa dhrishti		Y	Y	Y
3	III		Debilitation or in VI, VIII, or XII or in enemy’s house or with enemies or with papa dhrishti		Y	Y	Y
4	IV		Debilitation or in VI, VIII, or XII or in enemy’s house or with enemies or with papa dhrishti		Y	Y	Y
5	V	Child, Mind	Debilitation or in VI, VIII, or XII or in enemy’s house or with enemies or with papa dhrishti	Y
6	VI		VIII, or XII or in enemy’s house or with enemies or with papa dhrishti		Y	Y	Y
7	VII		Debilitation or in VI, VIII, or XII or in enemy’s house or with enemies or with papa dhrishti		Y	Y	Y
8	VIII		VI, or XII or in enemy’s house or with enemies or with papa dhrishti		Y	Y	Y
9	IX	Luck, Bhagyam	Debilitation or in VI, VIII, or XII or in enemy’s house or with enemies or with papa dhrishti	Y
10	X		Debilitation or in VI, VIII, or XII or in enemy’s house or with enemies or with papa dhrishti		Y	Y	Y
11	XI		Debilitation or in VI, VIII, or XII or in enemy’s house or with enemies or with papa dhrishti		Y	Y	Y
12	XII		VI, or VIII or in enemy’s house or with enemies or with papa dhrishti		Y	Y	Y

Everybody can wear a Reliable Gems Ring containing gems of Lord of I, V and IX in their horoscope.

Everybody including those without proper horoscope can wear a Reliable Nava Ratna Ring containing all the 9 gems of the 9 planets.

Click here for a Glossary of Indian astrological terms

Click here for Questions to Reliable Astrologer

Click References on top menu to read full text of Maha Rishi Parasara's Brihat Parasara Hora Sastra, the ancient classical text on Indian Astrology.