Bala
A term used in Vedic Astrology meaning strength. There are many kinds of balas use to determine strength or power of a planet or sign for example Shad Bala, Vimsopaka Bala, and Bhava Bala etc.
Balarishta
Meaning infant mortality or suffering. It refers to planetary combinations in the horoscope that causes sickness or death to children till 7 years of age. These malefic combinations are said to be cancelled by Arishta Bhanga Yogas.
Balava
Balava is one of the Karanas or half-lunar days. It is one of the five basic elements of Panchaang other four being Tithi, Vara, Nakshatra and Yoga. Collectively they are used to find out auspiciousness of any particular day for any particular activity.
Barren Signs
Aries (Mesha), Gemini (Mithuna), Leo (Simha) and Virgo (Kanya) are called barren or sterile signs. These are opposite of fruitful signs. Barren signs related to the afflicted 5th house and its lord is indication of being childless.
Beeja Sphuta
It is the fertility point for men calculated by adding the longitudes of Jupiter, Venus, and the Sun. If it is in odd signs and Navamsa and unaffiliated by Saturn, Rahu and Ketu then it is said to insure fertility.
Benefic Planet
Waxing Moon, Venus, unaffiliated Mercury and Jupiter are considered benefic planets. As per Vedic Astrology there are different benefic planets for different Lagna or Ascendants.
Beseiged
Besieged is a term used in medieval astrology to describe the situation of a planet. If a planet is placed between two other favorable planets then it is said to be favorably besieged and if falling between malefic planets then said to be unfavorably besieged.
Bestial Signs
Bestial Signs Aries (The Ram), Taurus (The Bull), Leo (The Lion), Capricorn (The Goat) and the second half of Sagittarius are symbolized by the figures of animals and thus are called the bestial or four-legged signs. First half of Sagittarius is represented as a human and second half by horse; therefore only second half of Sagittarius is termed as bestial.
Bhabhog
The portion of time the Moon has yet to travel to the end of its nakshatra.
Bhakoot
Used in calculating the Ashtakoot Guna for determining compatibility between prospective groom and bride. The mutual positions of the signs in which the couples' Moons are in, are taken in determining Bhakoot.
Bhamsha
Bhamsha also called Saptavimsamsa. It is derived by dividing each zodiac sign into 27 equal parts of 1 degree 6 minutes and 40 seconds each. It is used in determining general strength and weakness.
Bharani
The 2nd of the 27 nakshatras. It is ruled by Venus and located between Aries 13 degrees and 20 minutes to Aries 26 degrees 40 minutes.
Bhava
Vedic Astrology term for an Astrological House.
Bhava bala
A mathematical method used in Vedic Astrology to determine the strength of a house.
Bhava Karaka
Vedic Astrology term meaning the "house significator", it refers to the planet that represents or signifies a house.
Bhava Lagna Chart
The Bhava Lagna chart is different from the normal birth chart. In normal birth chart each zodiac sign is a house with equal length but the range of the Bhava or houses is mathematically calculated for Bhava Lagna chart and the houses and rashis do not co-incide and houses are unequal.
Bhava Madhya
The middle point of a astrological house, calculated as a point half way between twe house cusps.
Bhava Sandhi
Vedic Astrology term used for house cusp.
Bhavat Bhavam
The house or planet which is as far from the house concerned or planet's lordship house, as the concerned house or planet is from the ascendant or Lagna. This technique is used for predictive purpose in Vedic Astrology. For example if the 8th house lord is placed in the 8th house from the 8th house (which will be the 3rd house) then the matters signified by this house and planet is supposed to be enhanced.
Bhayat
This is used in Vedic Astrology for calculating the dasha balance at birth. It denotes the expired portion of the Nakshatra depending on how far the Moon has already traveled in that particular Nakshatra or lunar mansion.
Bhinnashtaka Varga
It is a part of
Ashtakavarga system of prediction. The individual bindus or points that a planet gains in the 12 signs which shows the effects of each planet's strength in transit in any particular sign. Each planet's Bhinnashtaka Varga is useful in determining specific issues that the transiting planet is the significator of. For e.g. Jupiter's Bhinnashtaka Varga is useful in determining the numbers of children one may have.
Bhratru Karaka
Bhratru karaka is the natural significator of brothers. It is mostly used in Jamini Astrology. The planet which obtains third highest degree of longitude in any sign automatically become the Bhratru karaka.
Bicorporeal Signs
Bicorporeal signs, also known as "double bodied" signs of Gemini, Sagittarius, and Pisces. In ancient times this term was originally used by Ptolemy, Bicorporeal referred to all of the mutable signs, which are the three signs mentioned above plus Virgo.
Biquintile
A biquintile is a minor aspect of 144°, created by subdividing a circle (360°) into five parts. As the name indicates, a biquintile is equivalent to two quintiles (72° aspects). The great astronomer Johannes Kepler devised quintiles and biquintiles for his astrological work.
Bindu
A benefic point or dot, used in ashtakavarga system of Vedic Astrology.
Birth Chart
The horoscope calculated for the moment of birth with positions of planets and the rising sign or ascendant.
Bitter Signs
The expression "bitter signs" was used in ancient and medieval astrology to denote the fire signs, which were said to be fiery, hot, and bitter.
Blue Moon
The Moon can sometimes appear bluish because of atmospheric conditions, but the expression "once in a blue Moon" refers to a month during which two full moons occur. This happens only once every few years.
Boomerang
A boomerang is a configuration resembling a yod but involving a fourth planet. In a yod, two planets form a sextile (60°) aspect and both in turn form a quincunx (150°) aspect with a third planet. In a boomerang a fourth planet is placed opposite (180°) the third planet so that it forms semisextile (30°) aspects to the remaining two planets. This term was coined by astrologer Joan McEvers.
Boreal Signs
Boreal signs is a traditional term referring to the northern signs, Aries through Virgo. The term is derived from Boreas, the Greek personification of the north wind.
Bowl Pattern
A bowl, or hemispheric, pattern is a horoscope in which all of the planets are spread out in one half of the chart so as to create the visual impression of a bowl.
Brahma
A is special qualification that a planet has to meet to become a 'Brahma'. Brahma is used to determine the first dasha in the Sthira dasha system, and is also used in the Jaimini system for longevity calculations.
Brihaspati
Vedic Astrology name for Jupiter
Brihat Parashara Hora Shastra
The classic book of Vedic astrology written by father of Vedic Astrology Sage Parashara the father of Vyasa. Brihat Parashara Hora Shastra is said to be 5,000 years and contains basic principles and advanced predictive techniques.
Broken Signs
The archaic term "broken signs" (also called mutilated signs or imperfect signs) refers to certain signs that, when on the ascendant and afflicted, are said to result in a twisted body or twisted limbs. The broken signs are variously listed, usually including Leo and Pisces, sometimes Scorpio or Virgo, and occasionally Capricorn and Cancer.
Brutish Signs
The archaic term "Brutish signs" refers to Leo and the last or the third Decan (the Leo Decan) of Sagittarius, which, when occupied by planet/s under unfavorable aspects or are afflicted, is said to produce natives with coarse, "brutish" natures.
Bucket Pattern
A bucket pattern is a specific planetary arrangement in horoscope in which all planets but one are on one side of an astrological chart and the isolated planet is called the handle or singleton. It represents a point of focus for the native's life. A bucket chart is sometimes also called a funnel chart.
Budh
Vedic Astrology name for planet Mercury
Bull
The Bull is another name for the sign Taurus
Bundle Pattern
A bundle, or cluster, pattern is a horoscope in which all planets are arranged or are contained in 120° arc.
Business Astrology
Business astrology is included within the branch of Financial astrology. Both relate to business, but are very different. Financial astrology focuses on the study of the financial stock and share markets but business astrology focuses on the day-to-day workings of an individual company and its owners. Business astrology also reveals which occupations are best suited for certain individuals and also in choosing the best timing to start a new venture, to market a new product, and to reorganize the structure of a company, as well for reviewing the part the employees play in the efficient workings of a company.
Astrology Terms starting with letter:
Written by Sanjay Sharma, © 2011, revised March 2021
