The Vedic birth chart
A Kundli, also called a Janam Kundali or birth chart, is the central document of Vedic astrology, known in India as Jyotish. Like a Western natal chart, it is a map of the sky at the exact time and place of your birth. The difference lies in the method. A Kundli uses the sidereal zodiac, which is fixed to the stars, and it places strong emphasis on the Moon, the rising sign and a system of planetary periods that describe timing.
The word Kundli comes from a Sanskrit root meaning coiled or circle. In India the chart is used for many life decisions, from naming a child to choosing a wedding date. Anyone outside that tradition can treat it as a rich symbolic system for reflection, in the same way as other forms of astrology.
What you need to make one
You need the date, the exact time and the place of birth. The place gives the latitude and longitude, and the time fixes the rising sign, called the Lagna. A difference of a few minutes can move the degree of the Lagna, and a difference of two hours can change its sign. See What is Lagna? for more.
The parts of a Kundli
The twelve houses, called Bhavas. Each house describes an area of life such as self, wealth, siblings, home, children, health, marriage, change, fortune, career, gains and loss. Vedic charts mostly use the Whole Sign system, where the sign of the Lagna is the first house and each following sign is the next house.
The twelve signs, called Rashis. The signs use the same names as in Western astrology but are measured from the sidereal starting point, about 24 degrees earlier. See sidereal vs tropical.
The nine planets, called Grahas. These are the Sun, Moon, Mars, Mercury, Jupiter, Venus and Saturn, along with the two lunar nodes Rahu and Ketu. The outer planets Uranus, Neptune and Pluto are not used in the classical system. See the nine Grahas.
The Moon sign and the nakshatra. The sign the Moon occupies is called the Rashi, and the lunar mansion it sits in is the Nakshatra. Both are central. See the 27 Nakshatras.
Planetary periods, called Dashas. A Kundli includes a timeline built from the position of the Moon. It divides life into periods ruled by each planet. See Vimshottari Dasha.
Divisional charts, called Vargas. These are smaller charts made by dividing each sign into parts. The most used is the Navamsa, or D9, which is read for marriage and the deeper strength of planets.
Chart styles
A Kundli is drawn as a grid of twelve boxes. There are three common layouts.
North Indian style. A diamond layout in which the houses are fixed in place and the signs move. The top central diamond is always the first house.
South Indian style. A square layout in which the signs are fixed in place and the Lagna is marked. The sign of Aries is always in the second box from the top left.
East Indian style. Used mainly in Bengal and Odisha, it is a square layout with the houses fixed.
The information in all three is the same. Only the way of drawing differs, and once you know one it is easy to learn the others.
How a Kundli differs from a Western chart
The Western chart uses the tropical zodiac, includes Uranus, Neptune and Pluto and puts the Sun sign at the center of personality. A Kundli uses the sidereal zodiac, leaves out the outer planets, includes the lunar nodes as full chart points and puts the Lagna and Moon sign at the center. Western astrology mostly describes character and psychology. Vedic astrology gives more weight to timing, by means of the Dasha system, and to the concept of karma, the idea that actions in the past shape conditions in the present.
Because of the zodiac difference, your Vedic Sun sign is usually the sign before your Western Sun sign. Many people find this surprising and enjoy comparing their two readings.
How to read a Kundli
A beginner can follow a short sequence. Find the Lagna and its ruler. Note the sign and house of the Moon and its Nakshatra. See where each planet sits and in which houses. Check for planets in their own or exalted signs, which are said to be strong. Finally, look at the running Dasha to see which planet is active now. A fuller guide is on the page How to read a Vedic chart.
Common sections of a Kundli report
Most printed or online reports include the planetary positions table, the chart diagrams, the Dasha timeline and a section on yogas, which are special planetary combinations. They may also list doshas such as Manglik Dosha, though these are matters of tradition and should be read with caution.
A word of balance
Scientific studies have not found that planetary positions predict personality or events. Vedic astrology is a traditional system with deep cultural roots, and many people use it as a framework for reflection and ritual. Be wary of any reading that creates fear, demands payment to remove a problem or tells you to make major decisions based on a chart alone.