Frequently Asked Questions

TryJyotish is a free web application that generates Vedic birth charts and lets you explore them through conversational AI, alongside tools for Compatibility, Prashna, Panchanga, Rashifala and Muhurta.

Unlike static chart generators that produce a fixed printed report, TryJyotish lets you ask follow-up questions — about your career, relationships, current planetary period, specific yogas, or any aspect of your chart — and receive detailed responses in plain language.

Yes — completely free. You can generate your chart and explore it right away. To keep the free tier sustainable, each chart shares a budget of 5 free AI readings across Quick Reading, Full Reading, Gochara Transit Report, Dasha Summary, and follow-up questions combined. Prashna and Muhurta each have their own separate budget of 5 free readings per visit.

Generating a new chart resets its budget. Reloading the Prashna or Muhurta page resets theirs.

No account or login required. Enter your birth details, generate your chart, and start your reading immediately. Your session is private to your browser.

Very accurate. TryJyotish uses Swiss Ephemeris — the same astronomical calculation engine used by professional Jyotish software like JHora — with the Lahiri ayanamsha (23°38'05") as the default.

Planetary positions have been verified against JHora for the same birth data. All 20 divisional charts are calculated using BPHS formulas and verified against JHora output.

Readings are powered by Claude Sonnet from Anthropic — one of the most capable AI models available. Claude receives your complete chart data including planetary positions, nakshatras, yogas, Navamsha (D9), and current dasha period as context for every response.

Importantly, Claude interprets verified chart data — it does not calculate planetary positions itself. This ensures accuracy: the astronomical engine calculates, the AI interprets.

Jyotish — also called Vedic astrology or Jyotisha — is the ancient astrological tradition of India, dating back over 3,000 years. The word Jyotish comes from Sanskrit, meaning "light" or "the science of light."

Unlike Western astrology which uses the tropical zodiac (tied to the seasons), Jyotish uses the sidereal zodiac — based on the actual positions of stars and constellations. The difference between the two is adjusted using an ayanamsha.

Jyotish interprets character and life patterns through the positions of the Sun, Moon, and planets in the 12 signs (rashis) and 12 houses at the moment of birth, using a rich system of yogas, nakshatras, divisional charts, and dasha timing.

The ayanamsha is the angular difference between the tropical and sidereal zodiacs — currently about 23°38'. Because the Earth's axis wobbles slowly over time (a phenomenon called precession of the equinoxes), the tropical zodiac and the star-based sidereal zodiac drift apart by about 50 arcseconds per year.

In practical terms, if your tropical (Western) Sun sign is Aries, your sidereal (Jyotish) Sun sign is likely Pisces. The ayanamsha corrects for this drift.

TryJyotish uses the Lahiri ayanamsha by default — the most widely used standard, also adopted by the Government of India. The Raman ayanamsha and Krishnamurti (KP) options are also available in the chart settings.

The zodiac in Jyotish is divided into 27 nakshatras (lunar mansions), each spanning 13°20'. Every planet in your chart occupies a specific nakshatra and pada (quarter division of 3°20').

Your birth nakshatra (janma nakshatra) is determined by the Moon's position at birth. It is central to many Jyotish interpretations and determines the starting point of your Vimshottari Dasha sequence.

TryJyotish shows the nakshatra and pada for every planet in your chart.

In Jyotish, a yoga is a specific planetary combination that produces a notable result in the native's life. The word yoga means "union" or "combination" in Sanskrit.

Some well-known yogas include:

• Gajakesari Yoga — Jupiter in a kendra from the Moon, associated with wisdom and prosperity
• Budha-Aditya Yoga — Sun and Mercury together, associated with intelligence and communication
• Pancha Mahapurusha Yogas — five special yogas formed by Mars, Mercury, Jupiter, Venus, or Saturn in their own or exaltation sign in a kendra
• Dharma-Karma Adhipati Yoga — lords of the 9th and 10th houses combined, associated with career success

TryJyotish identifies 15+ yogas in your chart and silently includes them in the AI's context so readings reference them naturally.

Vimshottari Dasha is the most widely used planetary timing system in Jyotish. It divides life into a sequence of planetary periods — Maha Dashas — each ruled by one of nine planets (Sun, Moon, Mars, Rahu, Jupiter, Saturn, Mercury, Ketu, Venus), totalling 120 years.

Your current Maha Dasha and Antardasha (sub-period) are shown in your chart and included in every AI reading. The planetary periods are calculated from the Moon's nakshatra at birth.

You can ask the AI specifically about how your current dasha lord affects career, relationships, health, or any area of life.

The Compatibility tool compares two Vedic birth charts. You enter birth details for both people, and TryJyotish calculates and displays both natal Rasi (D1) charts so you can verify the underlying chart calculation before reviewing the match.

It then shows the traditional Ashtakoota / Guna Milan score out of 36, a basic Manglik screening, a short plain-English synthesis, and the option to ask follow-up questions about the match.

The traditional score is calculated from eight Kootas: Varna (1), Vashya (2), Tara (3), Yoni (4), Graha Maitri (5), Gana (6), Bhakoot (7), and Nadi (8), for a maximum of 36 points.

The score is calculated separately from the AI. The AI does not invent or choose the Guna Milan score; it is used afterward to explain the calculated result in plain English.

No. Guna Milan is one traditional compatibility framework, not a prediction that a relationship will succeed or fail. TryJyotish deliberately keeps the 36-point score separate from the broader chart interpretation.

Relationship analysis can also consider the two Lagnas and Moons, the 7th houses and their lords, Venus, Jupiter, and Navamsha (D9) factors. These can add important context that a single score cannot capture.

The summary can synthesize the calculated Guna Milan result and basic Manglik screening with chart-level relationship factors from both birth charts, including the Lagna, Moon, 7th house and 7th lord, Venus, Jupiter, and Navamsha (D9) when available.

The purpose is to explain the main strengths and areas needing attention in ordinary language. It should not be read as a pass/fail verdict or a certainty about the future of a relationship.

The Navamsha is the most important divisional chart in Jyotish after the natal Rasi chart. Each sign is divided into 9 equal parts of 3°20' each, giving a chart of 108 divisions across the zodiac.

The Navamsha is used to assess the inner strength of planets — a planet that is weak in the natal chart but strong in the Navamsha is considered to give better results. It is also the primary chart for understanding marriage and partnership, and for assessing dharmic life themes.

TryJyotish includes your Navamsha positions in every reading automatically, so the AI naturally cross-references D9 when assessing planetary strength or discussing marriage.

TryJyotish calculates and displays 20 divisional charts, all verified against JHora using BPHS formulas:

• D1 Rasi — overall life and personality
• D2 Hora — wealth and prosperity
• D3 Drekkana — siblings and courage
• D4 Chaturthamsa — property and home
• D5 Panchamsa — children and past life merits
• D6 Shashthamsa — health and enemies
• D7 Saptamsa — children and grandchildren
• D8 Ashtamsa — longevity and obstacles
• D9 Navamsha — marriage and inner strength
• D10 Dasamsa — career and profession
• D11 Rudramsa — gains and elder siblings
• D12 Dwadasamsa — parents and ancestors
• D16 Shodasamsa — vehicles and comforts
• D20 Vimsamsa — spiritual progress
• D24 Siddhamsa — education and learning
• D27 Nakshatramsa — strength and vitality
• D30 Trimsamsa — misfortunes and karma
• D40 Khavedamsa — maternal lineage
• D45 Akshavedamsa — paternal lineage
• D60 Shashtyamsa — past life karma and destiny

Quick Reading (~500 words) — A concise overview of your chart's most significant features: lagna and its lord, the strongest planets, any notable yogas, and your current dasha. Good for a first look.

Full Reading — A detailed analysis across six areas: lagna and personality, key planetary placements, chart strengths and yogas, challenges and karmic patterns, current dasha period, and overarching life themes. Typically 800-1,200 words.

Both readings include yoga analysis and Navamsha cross-referencing automatically. Afterward you can ask follow-up questions, run a Gochara Transit Report, or run a Dasha Summary — see the next question for how these fit together.

Gochara Transit Report compares today's planetary transits to your natal Lagna and Moon — checking for Sade Sati and other Saturn transit effects, Jupiter's transit, and the Rahu-Ketu axis.

Current Dasha Summary interprets the themes of your current Maha Dasha and Antardasha based on where those planets sit in your natal chart.

These are not separate isolated reports — Chart Reading, Dasha Summary, Gochara, and your follow-up questions all share one running conversation, so you can ask a follow-up that connects your current dasha to a live transit or a specific natal placement, and the AI will draw on all of it together.

Type "Please continue from where you left off" in the query box and the AI will pick up where it stopped. You can do this multiple times if needed for a very long reading — each attempt counts toward your chart's shared reading budget.

Anything related to your chart. Some examples:

• "What does my Saturn placement mean for my career?"
• "How does my current Rahu dasha affect relationships?"
• "Do I have any yogas for financial prosperity?"
• "What does the Moon in the 8th house indicate?"
• "Is my Jupiter strong in the Navamsha?"
• "What are the key themes of my 7th house for marriage?"
• "When is a good period for career growth based on my dashas?"

The AI has your complete chart in context — planetary positions, nakshatras, yogas, Navamsha, and dasha periods — so responses are specific to your chart, not generic.

AI readings are a useful tool for exploration and learning — they can surface patterns, explain placements, and highlight themes in your chart that a student or practitioner might take years to notice. They are grounded in classical Jyotish principles and work from verified chart data.

However, AI interpretations are not infallible. A qualified Jyotish practitioner brings intuition, experience, and contextual understanding that no AI currently matches. For important life decisions, AI readings should be treated as a starting point for exploration rather than definitive guidance.

The Panchang (Sanskrit for "five limbs") is the traditional Vedic almanac used for daily timing and auspicious activity planning. The five limbs are:

• Tithi — the lunar day, based on the angular distance between Sun and Moon (12° = 1 tithi). There are 30 tithis in a lunar month.
• Vara — the weekday, each ruled by a planet (Sunday=Sun, Monday=Moon, Tuesday=Mars, Wednesday=Mercury, Thursday=Jupiter, Friday=Venus, Saturday=Saturn)
• Nakshatra — the lunar mansion occupied by the Moon. There are 27 nakshatras spanning the zodiac.
• Yoga — a combination based on the sum of Sun and Moon longitudes, divided into 27 yogas. Some yogas are auspicious, others inauspicious.
• Karana — a half-tithi. There are 11 karanas, repeating through the lunar month.

The Today's Panchang page shows:

• All five Panchang elements — Tithi, Vara, Nakshatra, Yoga, and Karana
• Rahu Kala — the daily inauspicious period governed by Rahu
• Current positions of all planets in the sidereal zodiac with Lahiri ayanamsha, including degrees, nakshatra, and pada
• A daily AI-generated Jyotish insight covering the day's energies
• A question box to ask about today's planetary conditions

The page auto-detects your location and updates the Panchang accordingly. You can also type any city to view the Panchang for that location.

Rahu Kala is the daily period governed by Rahu — considered inauspicious in classical Jyotish for starting new ventures, signing contracts, or important decisions. It lasts approximately 90 minutes and occurs at different times each day of the week.

Traditional practitioners avoid initiating important activities during Rahu Kala, though the period is fine for routine work and activities already in progress.

Planetary positions are calculated using Swiss Ephemeris with Lahiri ayanamsha — the same engine and ayanamsha used in professional Jyotish software. Positions have been verified against JHora for accuracy.

Tithi, Nakshatra, Yoga, and Karana are derived directly from these positions using standard classical formulas. The Panchang updates in real time each time the page is loaded.

Prashna (Sanskrit for "question") is the branch of Jyotish devoted to horary astrology — answering a specific question by casting a chart for the exact moment it is asked. Unlike natal Jyotish which interprets the birth chart, Prashna interprets the planetary positions at the moment of inquiry.

Classical Prashna texts such as Prashna Marga describe specific rules for identifying outcomes based on the Lagna lord, Moon, and the house relevant to the question.

Click Ask a Prashna question from the landing page or app. The date and time auto-fill to the current moment. Enter your current location and your question — the app casts a Prashna chart using Swiss Ephemeris and Claude interprets it using classical Prashna principles:

• Identifying which house governs your question (7th for relationships, 10th for career, etc.)
• Assessing the Lagna lord — strength, placement, and aspects
• Evaluating the Moon's nakshatra and applying aspects
• Identifying Ithasala yoga (applying aspect indicating a positive outcome)
• Noting benefics or malefics in the relevant house

Any sincere, specific question. Examples: Will I get this job? Should I move cities? What is the status of my relationship? Will this health issue resolve? The question should be sincere — a vague question weakens the Prashna.

You do not need your birth details for a Prashna reading — only your current location and question.

Yes — completely different. A natal reading interprets your birth chart for personality and life patterns. A Prashna reading answers a specific question about the present moment using the chart cast right now. No birth details needed.

Muhurta (electional astrology) is the classical Jyotish practice of choosing an auspicious time to begin an important activity — a wedding, a housewarming, a journey, launching a business, and similar events. Rather than interpreting a chart that already exists, Muhurta works forward: it screens a range of upcoming dates to find ones with favorable planetary conditions.

Go to Muhurta, choose an event type, a date range (up to 90 days), and your location. The app first computes the Panchang for every day in the range and screens out classically inauspicious tithis (Rikta tithis, Ashtami, Amavasya) and requires a nakshatra considered favorable for that event type. AI then ranks the top candidates from that shortlist with a short classical explanation for each, including that day's Rahu Kala window.

Wedding, Griha Pravesh (housewarming), Travel, Business Launch/Opening, Naming Ceremony, Vehicle Purchase, and a general "Other" option for any auspicious start not covered by the specific categories.

No. Muhurta here applies simplified classical exclusion rules as a starting shortlist — it does not account for your personal birth chart, Ashtakavarga bindus, or the full range of muhurta considerations a practitioner would weigh for a major event. For weddings and other significant life events, treat this as a first pass and consult a qualified Jyotish practitioner before finalizing a date.

No. Your birth details are only used to calculate your chart during your session. They are not stored in any database, not associated with an account, and not retained after your session ends. Each time you visit you start fresh.

Your Lagna (ascendant) — the rising sign at the moment of birth — changes roughly every 2 hours. The entire house structure of your chart rotates with it. An incorrect birth time can place planets in the wrong houses, produce incorrect yoga calculations, and misidentify the lagna lord.

If you are unsure of your exact birth time, try using the time recorded on your birth certificate. If uncertain by more than 30 minutes, note this when asking the AI — it can discuss placements with that uncertainty in mind.

Whole Sign houses by default — the most common system in classical Jyotish, where each house corresponds to exactly one rashi beginning from the ascendant sign. Equal and Placidus house systems are also available in the chart settings panel.