A kundli (janam kundli or janam patri) is a map of the sky at the exact moment and place of your birth, drawn using the sidereal zodiac. It shows the ascendant (lagna), the twelve houses, and where the Sun, Moon, five visible planets and the lunar nodes Rahu and Ketu were placed. Vedic astrology reads personality and timing from it.
What information is needed to make a kundli?
Three things: your date of birth, time of birth (as exact as possible) and place of birth. The place gives latitude, longitude and time zone. Time matters most for the ascendant, which changes sign roughly every two hours, and for the houses.
What are the parts of a kundli?
- Lagna (ascendant): the sign rising on the eastern horizon at birth. It becomes the first house.
- Twelve bhavas (houses): areas of life — self, wealth, siblings, home, children, health and service, partnership, transformation, fortune, career, gains, and loss/liberation.
- Nine grahas: Sun, Moon, Mars, Mercury, Jupiter, Venus, Saturn, Rahu and Ketu.
- Rashi (Moon sign) and nakshatra: the sign and lunar mansion the Moon occupied — central to Vedic astrology.
- Dasha: the Vimshottari timeline of planetary periods that starts from the Moon’s nakshatra.
North-Indian vs South-Indian chart styles
Both show the same data. The North-Indian chart is a diamond layout where houses stay fixed and signs are written as numbers; the first house is always at the top centre. The South-Indian chart fixes the signs in a square grid and marks the ascendant. Our reports use the North-Indian style.
Is a kundli the same as a Western horoscope?
No. Western astrology usually uses the tropical zodiac, tied to the seasons. Vedic astrology uses the sidereal zodiac, tied to the fixed stars, which today sits about 24° behind the tropical one. That is why your Vedic Sun sign is often one sign earlier than your Western sign. See our guide to sidereal astrology and the Lahiri ayanamsa.
How should I use my kundli?
As a framework for self-reflection: noticing tendencies, strengths and periods that tradition associates with particular themes. A kundli is not scientifically validated and cannot guarantee outcomes. It should never replace medical, legal or financial advice.
Questions
Can I make a kundli without a birth time?
Partly. Planet signs, Moon sign and (usually) nakshatra can be found from the date and place, but the ascendant and houses need the time.
Is an online kundli accurate?
The astronomy can be very accurate. Our tool and reports use high-precision ephemeris calculations with the Lahiri ayanamsa, the standard used by the Indian government’s calendar reform committee.
Complete Life Kundli
Your full Vedic birth chart, explained area by area — personality, career, relationships, wealth and timing.