KP Astrology Glossary

A working guide to Krishnamurti Paddhati terminology, concepts, and techniques. Master the language of precision astrology with detailed definitions and practical context.

A

Antardasha: A sub-period within a Mahadasha. Each Mahadasha is divided into 9 Antardashas, one for each planet. The Antardasha activates the combined significations of both the Mahadasha lord and Antardasha lord. Events typically manifest during specific Antardasha periods when both planets connect to relevant houses.
Ascendant (Lagna): The zodiac sign rising on the eastern horizon at the exact moment of birth. The Ascendant is the starting point of the 1st house and determines the entire house structure. In KP, the Ascendant cusp's sub-lord is crucial for determining overall life patterns and personality.

B

Birth Time Rectification: The process of determining exact birth time by working backward from known life events. Uses KP timing principles to identify which birth time would produce specific events at documented dates. Requires 5-7 major life events with precise dates (marriage, job changes, surgeries, relocations).
Bhava (House): One of 12 divisions of the zodiac representing different life areas. In KP, houses are calculated using the Placidus system, making them unequal in size. Each house governs specific matters: 1st (self), 2nd (wealth), 3rd (siblings), 4th (home), 5th (children), 6th (health issues), 7th (marriage), 8th (longevity), 9th (fortune), 10th (career), 11th (gains), 12th (losses).

C

Cusp: The starting point (degree) of each house. In KP astrology, the cusp sub-lord is the most important factor in determining whether that house's matters will succeed or fail. The cusp position is calculated using the Placidus system and changes approximately every 2-3 minutes, requiring exact birth time.
Constellation (Nakshatra): One of 27 lunar mansions dividing the zodiac into segments of 13°20' each. Each Nakshatra is ruled by a planet (the star lord), which modifies the behavior of any planet positioned within it. The 27 Nakshatras are: Ashwini, Bharani, Krittika, Rohini, Mrigashira, Ardra, Punarvasu, Pushya, Ashlesha, Magha, Purva Phalguni, Uttara Phalguni, Hasta, Chitra, Swati, Vishakha, Anuradha, Jyeshtha, Mula, Purva Ashadha, Uttara Ashadha, Shravana, Dhanishta, Shatabhisha, Purva Bhadrapada, Uttara Bhadrapada, Revati.

D

Dasha: A planetary period system showing which planet's energies are dominant during a given time. The Vimshottari Dasha is most common, spanning 120 years divided among 9 planets. Each planet's Dasha activates houses it rules, occupies, or aspects. Events occur during Dashas of planets that signify the relevant houses.
Divisional Chart (Varga): A specialized chart focusing on specific life areas, created by mathematically dividing zodiac signs. Common divisionals include: D9 Navamsha (marriage/spouse), D10 Dasamsha (career/status), D7 Saptamsha (children), D4 Chaturthamsha (property), D24 Chaturvimsamsha (education), D30 Trimsamsha (misfortunes). Used in KP for confirmation when natal chart shows mixed signals.
Day Lord: The planet ruling the day of the week when analysis occurs or when a Horary question is asked. Part of the ruling planets calculation. Sunday=Sun, Monday=Moon, Tuesday=Mars, Wednesday=Mercury, Thursday=Jupiter, Friday=Venus, Saturday=Saturn. Rahu and Ketu are not day lords.

H

Horary Astrology (Prashna): A technique where a chart is cast for the moment a specific question is asked, rather than using the querent's birth chart. The Horary chart reflects the question itself and can be judged without knowing birth time. Highly effective for yes/no questions and time-sensitive decisions. Requires sincere, specific questions. Vague or repeated questions reduce accuracy.
House Cusp Sub-lord: The ruling planet of the finest division (sub) of the Nakshatra where a house cusp falls. The sub-lord determines whether that house's matters will materialize. This is the cornerstone of KP predictions: even if other factors are favorable, an adverse cusp sub-lord can deny results.

K

KP Astrology (Krishnamurti Paddhati): A refined predictive system developed by Prof. K.S. Krishnamurti in the 1960s-70s. KP differs from traditional Vedic astrology by using: (1) Placidus house system instead of equal houses, (2) precise sub-lord theory for timing, (3) ruling planets for real-time judgment, (4) cusp-based predictions rather than sign-based. KP provides month-level timing precision when birth time is accurate.
KP Ayanamsa: The specific zodiac correction used in KP astrology to convert tropical positions to sidereal. KP uses its own Ayanamsa value (slightly different from Lahiri), calculated as approximately 23°15' as of 2000 CE, increasing about 50" per year. This ensures consistency across KP calculations and distinguishes it from other Vedic systems.

M

Mahadasha: A major planetary period in the Vimshottari Dasha system. The sequence is: Ketu (7 years), Venus (20 years), Sun (6 years), Moon (10 years), Mars (7 years), Rahu (18 years), Jupiter (16 years), Saturn (19 years), Mercury (17 years). Total = 120 years. Each Mahadasha is further divided into 9 Antardashas. The Mahadasha lord activates houses it signifies, creating the overall theme for that period.
Moon Nakshatra (Star): The Nakshatra (constellation) occupied by the Moon at birth or at the time of judgment. Used to determine ruling planets and the starting point of Vimshottari Dasha. The Moon's Nakshatra lord is one of the most important ruling planets in KP, showing what's currently active in the chart.

N

Nakshatra (Constellation): One of 27 equal divisions of the zodiac, each spanning 13°20'. Every Nakshatra is ruled by one of the 9 Vedic planets (its star lord), which modifies the significations of any planet placed within it. Nakshatras are fundamental to KP's sub-lord theory and Dasha calculations.
Nakshatra Lord (Star Lord): The planet ruling the Nakshatra where another planet or cusp is positioned. In the KP hierarchy (Sign Lord → Star Lord → Sub-Lord), the star lord is the middle tier. It modifies the basic nature given by the sign lord and influences the final outcome determined by the sub-lord.
Navamsha (D9): The ninth divisional chart, created by dividing each zodiac sign into 9 parts of 3°20' each. D9 is the most important divisional chart, primarily used for marriage, spouse analysis, and relationship compatibility. Also shows inner strength of planets and karma from past lives. A planet strong in D9 gives better results than one weak in D9.

P

Placidus House System: The house division method used in KP astrology, where houses are unequal in size based on the tilt of Earth's axis and latitude of birth. Unlike equal house systems (where each house is 30°), Placidus creates varying house sizes, making cusp positions extremely sensitive to birth time accuracy. This is why KP requires minute-level birth time precision.
Pratyantara Dasha: The third-level sub-period within a Dasha, running inside an Antardasha. Each Antardasha is divided into 9 Pratyantara periods. Events often manifest during Pratyantara Dashas when the Pratyantara lord connects both the Mahadasha and Antardasha lords to relevant houses. Provides week-to-month level timing precision.
Prashna (Horary): The Vedic term for Horary astrology, casting a chart for the moment a question is asked. Prashna doesn't require the querent's birth details. The chart for the question moment itself contains the answer. Used in KP when birth time is unreliable or for specific, time-sensitive decisions.

R

Ruling Planets: A set of planets determined at the moment of chart analysis or Horary question, showing what's currently active. Includes: (1) Ascendant sign lord, (2) Ascendant star lord, (3) Moon sign lord, (4) Moon star lord, (5) Day lord. Ruling planets act as a bridge between the question and chart. When ruling planets connect to favorable houses through signification, timing is near.
Retrograde Planet: A planet appearing to move backward through the zodiac from Earth's perspective. Retrograde motion doesn't change a planet's house significations in KP, but it may delay results or cause events to revisit earlier themes. Retrograde planets in natal charts often indicate areas requiring internal work or past-life karma.

S

Significator: A planet connected to specific houses through ownership, occupation, star lordship, or sub-lordship. For an event to occur, planets must be significators of the relevant houses. Example: For marriage (7th house matter), significators are planets in the 7th, ruling the 7th sign, in stars of 7th lord, or sub-lords of 7th cusp. Events manifest during Dashas of significators.
Sign Lord: The planet ruling the zodiac sign where another planet or cusp is positioned. The first tier in KP's three-level hierarchy (Sign Lord → Star Lord → Sub-Lord). Sign lords provide the basic nature and broad significations. Example: If a cusp is in Aries, Mars is the sign lord.
Star Lord (Nakshatra Lord): The planet ruling the Nakshatra (constellation) in which another planet or cusp is positioned. Second tier in KP hierarchy. Modifies the sign lord's nature. Example: Venus in Aries (Mars-ruled sign) but in Bharani Nakshatra (Venus-ruled star) expresses Mars energy through Venusian themes.
Sub (Subdivision): The smallest division in KP's three-tier system. Each Nakshatra (13°20') is divided into 9 unequal parts called subs, distributed among the 9 planets in proportion to their Vimshottari Dasha years. Subs change approximately every 2-3 minutes, making them highly sensitive to birth time accuracy. The sub-lord determines the final outcome.
Sub-lord: The planet ruling the sub-division where a planet or cusp is positioned. The most critical factor in KP: the sub-lord has final say over whether an event occurs. Even if sign lord and star lord are favorable, an adverse sub-lord can deny results. Cusp sub-lords are especially important for house-specific predictions.

T

Transit: The current movement of planets through the zodiac, triggering natal chart combinations. In KP, transits of significators through sensitive cusps or sub-lords activate promised events. Transits don't create new karma. They trigger what's already in the natal chart. Timing windows are identified when transiting planets aspect or occupy significator positions.
Transiting Ruling Planets: The current positions of ruling planets as they move through the zodiac. When transiting ruling planets trigger natal significators (by conjunction, aspect, or sub-lord activation), events promised in the natal chart manifest. This is how KP astrologers pinpoint timing windows by tracking when transits activate the birth chart's latent combinations.

V

Vimshottari Dasha: The primary 120-year planetary period system used in Vedic and KP astrology. Based on the Moon's Nakshatra at birth. Sequence: Ketu 7y → Venus 20y → Sun 6y → Moon 10y → Mars 7y → Rahu 18y → Jupiter 16y → Saturn 19y → Mercury 17y. Each Mahadasha is divided into 9 Antardashas, then 9 Pratyantaras, providing precise timing frameworks.
Varga (Divisional Chart): A harmonic chart created by dividing zodiac signs into smaller segments to examine specific life areas. The term 'Varga' means 'division.' Each divisional chart magnifies a particular dimension: D1 (Rashi/natal), D2 (wealth), D3 (siblings), D4 (property), D7 (children), D9 (marriage), D10 (career), D12 (parents), D16 (vehicles), D20 (spirituality), D24 (education), D27 (strength), D30 (misfortunes), D40 (maternal relations), D45 (paternal relations), D60 (past life).