Magha
The tenth constellation oe lunar mansion used by Vedic Astrologers; It extend from 00.00 Leo to 13.20 Leo, the sign is ruled by Sun (Leo) and the star is governed by Ketu.
Magi Astrology
A branch of astrology with principles and rules of interpretation developed by the Magi Society in the year 1625.
Magical Angle
Two planets that are Trine, Conjunct or Quincunx - unless Saturn is involved.
Maha Dasha
The major planetary period, used in Vedic Astrology for presdiction purpose, most commonly used Vimshottari Dasha the Maha dashas run from 6 to 20 years.
Maheswara
A planet used in Jaimini system of astrology for longevity purposes.
Major Aspect
The conjunction - 0 degrees , sextile - 60 degrees, square - 90 degrees, trine - 120 degrees, and opposition - 180 degrees are major aspects; also called Ptolemaic aspects.
Makara
Vedic Astrology term for zodiac sign of Capricorn.
Malefic
Planets, Mars, Saturn, Rahu, Ketu, waning Moon and badly aspected Mercury are considered as malefic planets.
Mandi
Mandi also know as Gulika, is the son of Saturn and a malefic but have no physical existence just like Rahu and Ketu. It is calculated by dividing the day into 8 portions, the first portion ruled by Saturn is Gulika.
Mangal
Vedic Astrology name for zodiac planet Mars.
Mangala Dosha
The Mangal Dosha or Mars blemish is attributed to Mars by being placed in 1st, 4th, 7th, 8th or 12th house form Ascendant. The 2nd house is also considered by South Indian astrologers. It affects domestic and family life of a person by creating hurdles and problems like physical, mental or financial troubles, it can also bring death to one's spouse. It is said that this blemish loses its effect if marriage takes place after 28 years of age. There are many combinations for cancellations to Mangal Dosha mentioned in ancient texts of astrology. If this blemish is not cancelled then the spouse with similar blemish present is chosen for marriage or remedies of Mangal Dosha should be performed.
Map
Another name for horoscope.
Mars
Mars is the fourth planet from the Sun and it is the first planet outside Earth's boundary. It is the ruler of zodiacal sign of Aries and Scorpio and astrological first and eight houses, its exaltation sign is Capricorn, debilitation sign is Cancer and determent sign is Libra. The Mars is of masculine gender, karaka or significator of the strength and power, as relationship significator it denotes siblings, as body part significator it governs the chest. As per planetary cabinet it have the status of army commander, its temperament is violent, angry and rash, its element is Agni or fire, its primary quality or Guna is Tamo or dull or ignorant, by caste it is Kshatriya or warrior and its nature is malefic.
Masculine Planets
Saturn, Jupiter, Mars and Sun are masculine planets and Mercury is convertible; masculine when with masculine planets and feminine when with feminine. When unaspected its sex is determined by its sign.
Masculine Signs
All Air and Fire signs are masculine signs. We can also say all odd numbered signs of the natural zodiac as masculine signs.
Match Degrees
When two planets match degrees, they are in the same degree of either the same sign, or the same degree of two different signs.
Matutine
Stars or planets rising before the Sun in the morning.
Mean Motion
The normal speed of a planet through the zodiac.
Mean Time
True Local Time.
MC or Medium Coeli
Meaning "the middle of the skies", also referred to as the MC, is the point at the moment of event for which the horoscope is cast, where the Ecliptic crosses the meridian of the place of birth. It is also know as the 10th house cusp.
Meen
Vedic Astrology name for zodiac sign of Pisces.
Mercury
Mercury is the planet closest to the Sun in our Solar System. It is the ruler of zodiacal sign of Gemini and Virgo and astrological third and sixth houses, its exaltation sign is Virgo, debilitation sign is Pisces and determent sign is Sagittarius. The Mercury is of neuter gender, karaka or significator of the speech, as relationship significator it denotes the maternal uncles, as body part significator it governs the hips. As per planetary cabinet it have the status of royalty as crown prince, its temperament is volatile and versatile, its element is Bhoo or earth, its primary quality or Guna is Rajo Guna or imperious and passionate, by caste it is Vaishya or trader and its nature is benefic when associated with benefic planets otherwise malefic.
Meridian
A great circle, encircling Earth that passes through the North and South Poles, also know as longitude.
Meridian Distance
Measurement along the celestial equator between any point and the upper or lower meridian; can also be defined as a portion of the semi-arc, usually expressed in degrees of time.
Mesha
Vedic Astrology name for zodiac sign of Aries.
Meteorological Astrology
The use of astrology for forecasting the weather conditions, earthquakes, and storms.
Metonic Cycle
The 19 year cycle wherein the conjunctions of the Sun and Moon occurs in the in the same places in zodiac.
Midheaven
The 10th house cusp or starting point; most commonly used term for Medium Coeli also know as the M.C.
Midnight Mark
Mean local time at birthplace when it is midnight at Greenwich, England.
Midpoint Crossing
For a Midpoint Crossing to take place, 3 or more planets has to be involved. It occurs whenever a planet while in transit crosses a point that falls at the midpoint of 2 other planets.
Midpoint Tree
Graphical representations of all the midpoints in a horoscope which fall within a specified orb of a given planet.
Midpoints
The exact midpoint between two planets as measured in degrees and minutes of arc.
Mithun
Vedic Astrology name for zodiac sign of Gemini.
Mitra
The 8th Nakshatra from the birth Nakshatra, and it's trines. Denotes friendship and good relations. Used primarily for Muhurata in determining but is also used in the Ashtakoot Guna for marriage compatibility.
Modes or Modality
The three modalities are different styles or manners of expression of signs of the zodiac and are know as cardinal, fixed and mutable.
Monomoiria
This is the apportioning of individual degrees to each of the planets starting with either the sign ruler and continuing in descending or the triplicity lord, and varying with sect.
Moola
The nineteenth constellation or lunar mansion, used in Vedic astrology. Its location is from 00.00 degrees Sagittarius to 13.20 degree Sagittarius. The sign is ruled by Jupiter (Sagittarius) and the star is governed by Ketu.
Moon
It is the only natural satellite of the Earth. It is the ruler of zodiacal sign of Cancer and astrological fourth house, its exaltation sign is Taurus, debilitation sign is Scorpio and determent sign is Capricorn. The Moon is of feminine gender, karaka or significator of the mind and emotion, as relationship significator it denotes the Mother as body part significator it governs the face. As per planetary cabinet it have the status of royalty as Queen, its temperament is fickle and changeable, its element is Jala or water, its primary quality or Guna is Sattva or serenity, by caste it is Vaishya or trader and its nature is benefic when waxing otherwise malefic.
Moon Chart
A horoscope, which Moon sign is taken as first house or the ascendant.
Moon's Nodes
Rahu and Ketu or Dragon's head and tail are two Moon's nodes.
Movable Signs
The Cardinal signs of the zodiac, namely, Aries, Cancer, Libra and Capricorn.
Mrigashira
The fifth constellation or lunar mansion, used in Vedic astrology. Its location is from 23.20 degrees Taurus to 6.40 degree Gemini. The sign is ruled by Venus (Taurus) for half part and by Mercury (Gemini) for the next half and the star is governed by Mars.
Mudda Dasa
The Mudda Dasha is one of the numerous dasha or planetary periods used in Vedic astrology. It is however used in solar return or Varshphal solar return chart and shows the planetary periods for one year.
Muhurta
Muhurata or Election Astrology is a branch of astrology which finds out the most auspicious time for starting any activity.
Mundane Astrology
The branch of Astrology which deals with world events rather than the individual.
Mundane Parallel
Equal distance of two planets from any angle.
Music of the Spheres
Ancient astronomers, held that the Earth was the centre of the universe and that the planets and stars occupied positions surrounding the Earth. These were divided into sphere with corresponded to a note in the musical scale. The spheres supposed generate a sound was called the Music of the Spheres.
Mutable Signs
Mutable or Common Signs are Sagittarius, Virgo, Gemini and Pisces. They are adaptable, changeable, flexible and versatile. Their nature can be described as a balance between fixed and movable signs. They adept themselves as per their surroundings and current needs. Negative traits for this mode are they can be fluctuating, inconstant, indecisive and vacillating.
Mutual Application
An applying aspect in which the two planets are moving toward one another because one is advancing and the other is retrograde.
Mutual Reception
<
This occurs when two planets are placed in each others sign of rulership or exaltation.
Mystic Rectangle
A configuration formed by at least four planets, comprising two trines and two sextile aspects.
Astrology Terms starting with letter:
Written by Sanjay Sharma, © 2011, revised March 2021
