Glossary
Quick reference. The full dictionary carries an entry page per term.
All terms
- Lal Kitab
- A traditional system of astrology and remedial practice, named after the Urdu-language volumes in which it was published.
- Kundli
- A birth chart showing planetary positions across twelve houses at the time of birth.
- Upay
- A remedy: a specific act, donation or standard of conduct prescribed in traditional practice.
- Daan
- Charitable giving; donating a specified item is one of the most common forms of traditional remedy.
- Graha
- A planet as used in Indian astrology, including the shadow planets Rahu and Ketu.
- Navagraha
- The set of nine planets used in traditional Indian astrology.
- Chaya Graha
- Shadow planet; the term applied to Rahu and Ketu, which are lunar nodes rather than physical bodies.
- Rahu and Ketu
- The two lunar nodes, treated in Lal Kitab as planets of amplification and detachment respectively.
- Bhava
- A house of the chart; one of the twelve fixed divisions covering different areas of life.
- Lagna
- The ascendant, or 1st house; the point from which the rest of the chart is read.
- Shani
- Saturn: the planet of discipline, labour, delay and long-term consequence.
- Surya
- The Sun: the planet of authority, vitality, reputation and the father.
- Chandra
- The Moon: the planet of mind, emotion, mother and domestic comfort.
- Mangal
- Mars: the planet of energy, courage, siblings, land and disputes.
- Budh
- Mercury: the planet of intellect, speech, trade and education.
- Guru
- Jupiter: the planet of wisdom, teachers, ethics and expansion. Also used for a teacher.
- Shukra
- Venus: the planet of marriage, comfort, art and refinement.
- Totka
- A colloquial term for a short, simple remedial act; used loosely alongside upay.
- Varshphal
- An annual chart used to read the themes of a particular year.
- Dasha
- A planetary period used for timing in Indian astrology; Lal Kitab uses simplified year-based schemes.
- Karak
- A significator: the planet that stands for a particular person, object or life area.
- Drishti
- Aspect: the influence one planet is said to cast on another house or planet.
- Kaal Sarp
- A chart configuration in which planets fall between Rahu and Ketu; widely discussed and widely disputed.
- Mandir
- A temple; referenced in traditional remedial descriptions involving donation or offering.
- Peepal
- The sacred fig tree, mentioned in traditional observances associated with Jupiter and Saturn.