Jyotish
Glossary · Last updated: 2026-07-26
Jyotish (from jyoti, light) is the traditional Indian system of sky watching. People have used it for timing, character sketches, and muhurta (picking a time for an event).
Popular apps simplify Jyotish to moon sign and rising sign. Full chart work adds dashas, yogas, and extra chart types beyond what we show.
Example: see it on a birth date
Jyotish is Indian Vedic astrology. For September 11, 2020, a date-only Moon estimate is Mithuna rashi, nakshatra Ardra, pada 1.
Full Jyotish chart work adds more factors than this Moon estimate. This sample only shows the Moon sign pieces we calculate from a date.
Enter your own date on the Zodiac Sign Calculator.
Sidereal foundation
Jyotish uses a sidereal zodiac. Our Indian Vedic calculations follow Lahiri ayanamsa, the common modern Indian standard.
Related
Main reading and tools
These are the main reading and calculator pages. Use them for a daily note, a birth-sign tool, or a pair check.
- Today's Horoscope hubAll twelve Western sun-sign daily pages, plus links to the seven-tradition reader.
- Horoscope & Zodiac CompatibilityTwo birth dates for Western, Chinese, and Indian Vedic pairing, plus every sun-sign hub.
- Zodiac Sign CalculatorWestern sun sign from birth date, with element, modality, and ruler.
- Rising Sign CalculatorIndian Vedic Lagna estimate when you have birth date, time, and place.
- Moon Sign CalculatorIndian Vedic Janma Rashi and nakshatra when birth time and city are available.