How to Read  a Vedic Chart

The North Indian style chart above depicts the same thing as a round Western chart, but its orientation is different. Rather than the rising sign (the ascendant) being shown on the left, it is placed in the top middle diamond (marked with the turquoise star.) This would be the zodiac sign just rising on the Eastern horizon at the time of birth in that location on Earth, and is also called the 1st House. The signs then follow in ascending order to the left (indicated by the arrows) as do the houses, ending in the 12th House marked by a purple oval. The two gold stars mark the 5th and 9th Houses, are luck or dharma houses called Kendras.