Today's Planetary Transits

Lesson notes

• The Sun changes sign about the 14th to 17th of every month. Each change is a Sankranti; Makar Sankranti in January is when the Sun enters Capricorn.
• From your Moon, the transiting Sun does well in houses 3, 6, 10 and 11. It's a short boost - about a month each.
• Eclipses happen when the Sun and Moon line up near Rahu and Ketu. That's why Rahu and Ketu are called the eclipse points.
• Your transit checklist: 1. Where are Saturn and Jupiter from your Moon? 2. Are you in Sade Sati or dhaiyya? 3. What does your dasha promise - and is a transit triggering it?

Practice questions and answers

What is Makar Sankranti?

Answer: The Sun entering Capricorn. Makara = Capricorn.

Which is a good house for the Sun's transit from your Moon?

Answer: 10. Sun: 3, 6, 10 and 11 from the Moon.

True or false: Eclipses happen near Rahu and Ketu.

Answer: True. Rahu and Ketu are where the Sun's and Moon's paths cross.

Which planets should you check first in a transit reading?

Answer: Saturn and Jupiter. The slow movers set the big themes.

Step 1: the current positions

Start each reading by listing where the planets are now in the sidereal zodiac. As of November 2026:

The daily horoscope page lists the current sky for every Moon sign.

Step 2: count houses from your Moon sign

For each planet, count from your Moon sign (your Moon sign is the 1st). Use the favourable houses from Lesson 25:

Step 3: the panchang (five limbs of the day)

The panchang is the Vedic almanac, with five elements for each day:

The weekday rulers

Step 4: tara bala, your personal nakshatra check

Count from your birth nakshatra to today's nakshatra, divide by 9, and look at the remainder (a remainder of 0 counts as 9):

Example: birth nakshatra Rohini (4th), today's nakshatra Hasta (13th). Count from Rohini to Hasta: 13 − 4 + 1 = 10. 10 ÷ 9 leaves 1: Janma tara, a mixed day.

Step 5: chandrashtama

When the transiting Moon is in the 8th sign from your birth Moon (about 2¼ days a month), traditional astrology advises avoiding major new starts, arguments and risky travel. It is a simple, practical check.

Step 6: combine with your dasha

Today's sky works within your dasha. If your antardasha lord is strong and the Moon transits a favourable house from your natal Moon, it is a good day to act on that planet's themes. If the transits are mixed but the dasha is strong, the day is still workable.

Worked example: a daily reading

Moon sign Aquarius, birth nakshatra Shatabhisha (24th), on a day when the Moon transits Gemini in Ardra (6th) on a Thursday:

• The Moon in Gemini: the 5th from Aquarius, not a favourable Moon house: emotions or children's matters may need attention.
• Saturn in Pisces: the 2nd from Aquarius, Sade Sati setting phase: careful with family money and speech.
• Jupiter in Leo: the 7th from Aquarius, very favourable: partnerships and agreements are supported this year.
• Tara bala: from Shatabhisha (24) to Ardra (6): count 24, 25, 26, 27, 1 ... 6 = 10. 10 ÷ 9 leaves 1: Janma tara, mixed.
• Thursday: Jupiter's day, good for teaching, finance and agreements.

Reading: a decent day for partnerships and agreements under Jupiter's yearly support, but keep an eye on mood and family spending, and do not overcommit.

Building a daily habit

1. Each morning, note the Moon's sign and nakshatra.
2. Count the Moon's house from your Moon sign.
3. Check tara bala and chandrashtama.
4. Remember the slow-planet background for the year.
5. Write one line about the day in a journal; review it after a month.

After a few weeks you will see how the sky's patterns line up with your own days. That is the best way to learn transits.

Key takeaways

• List current sidereal positions, then count houses from your Moon sign.
• The panchang gives the day's tithi, vara, nakshatra, yoga and karana.
• Tara bala and chandrashtama are quick personal checks.
• Slow planets set the year; the Moon sets the day; the dasha frames everything.

The 30 tithis in brief

The numbers repeat in the waxing (shukla) and waning (krishna) halves of the lunar month. Purnima (full Moon) and Amavasya (new Moon) are the 15th and 30th tithis, and Ekadashi (the 11th) is a widely observed fasting day.

Rahu kaal and other daily periods

Many Indian calendars also mark Rahu kaal, a roughly 90-minute period each day ruled by Rahu, traditionally avoided for new starts. Its time depends on the weekday and local sunrise and sunset. Yamaganda and Gulika kaal are similar daily periods some traditions also avoid.

A one-page daily checklist

Spend two minutes on this each morning and you will build a practical feel for the sky faster than any book can teach.

You have completed the course

This is the last lesson of the AstroWord Vedic astrology course. You can now read a birth chart, judge planets by sign, house, aspect and strength, build a dasha timeline and time events with transits. Keep practising on real charts, starting with your own from the birth chart tool, and revisit any unit whenever you need a refresher.

Using the current sky for planning

Combine the daily checks with the bigger picture when choosing dates:

1. Pick the right season with your dasha and the slow-planet transits (Lessons 28 to 31).
2. Pick the right week with Mars, the Sun and Venus or Mercury in favourable houses from your Moon.
3. Pick the right day with a supportive weekday, a good tithi, a favourable tara and no chandrashtama.
4. Pick the right hour by avoiding Rahu kaal.

This four-step funnel is a simplified version of muhurta, the Vedic art of electional astrology. For very important events, such as weddings and griha pravesh, families traditionally consult an experienced astrologer who also checks the Lagna at the chosen time.

Keep learning

The sky never repeats exactly. Keep a simple transit journal, revisit the lessons on dashas and transits, and compare each month's events with what the planets were doing. Over time you will develop the intuition that experienced astrologers rely on.

Common beginner mistakes

• Using tropical positions. Always use the sidereal zodiac (Lahiri ayanamsa).
• Over-reading the Moon. One "bad" Moon day is minor compared with your dasha and slow transits.
• Ignoring the panchang. The tithi and nakshatra add useful detail for planning.
• Forgetting the Lagna. A transit good from the Moon and the Lagna is stronger than one good from the Moon alone.

Frequently asked questions

How do I read today's horoscope in Vedic astrology?

Find your Moon sign, then count where today's Moon and the other planets fall from it. Check the panchang and tara bala, and frame it all within your running dasha. The daily horoscope page does the counting for you.

What is a panchang?

The Vedic almanac. It gives five elements for each day: tithi, vara, nakshatra, yoga and karana.

What is tara bala?

A daily strength check that counts from your birth nakshatra to the day's nakshatra and assigns one of nine taras, from Janma to Parama mitra.

What is chandrashtama?

The roughly 2¼ days each month when the Moon transits the 8th sign from your birth Moon, a time traditionally avoided for important beginnings.

Where are Saturn and Jupiter now?

As of November 2026, Saturn is in sidereal Pisces (until around June 2027) and Jupiter is in sidereal Leo (since 31 October 2026).

What is Rahu kaal?

A period of about 90 minutes each day, ruled by Rahu, that many Indian traditions avoid for starting new work, journeys or purchases.

What is the most auspicious tithi?

It depends on the activity, but the Purna tithis (5th, 10th and 15th) and many Nanda tithis are widely considered good for auspicious beginnings.

Which planet's position matters most for today?

The Moon's, because it changes sign every 2¼ days and sets the day's mood. For the year, Saturn's and Jupiter's positions matter far more.

Is it necessary to check the panchang every day?

No, but it helps when choosing dates for important tasks. Many people simply note the tithi, nakshatra and Rahu kaal each morning.

How do I find my birth nakshatra for tara bala?

Use the free nakshatra calculator with your birth details. It gives your janma nakshatra and pada.

Can I use today's sky without knowing my birth time?

Partly. Your Moon sign and nakshatra are usually correct even with an approximate birth time, so Moon-based transit checks and tara bala still work. Lagna-based readings need an accurate time.