The Building Blocks of a KP Chart

The coordinate framework

The zodiac is represented as a 360-degree circle divided into twelve equal signs of 30 degrees each. A planetary position can be expressed within its sign or as an absolute longitude measured from the beginning of Aries. Gemini 12 degrees, for example, is absolute longitude 72 degrees.

A degree contains 60 arcminutes, and an arcminute contains 60 arcseconds. These units measure angle. A minute of arc in a longitude table is different from a minute of clock time in a birth record.

Signs houses and cusps

A sign belongs to the zodiac coordinate system. A house belongs to a chart calculated for a moment and location. The cusp marks the boundary beginning a house in the adopted KP presentation. A planet's sign and occupied house therefore need to be read separately.

Nakshatras are 27 equal stellar sectors, each measuring 13 degrees 20 minutes. A pada is a quarter of a nakshatra. A KP sub is an unequal subdivision calculated from Vimshottari proportions; it is not the same as a pada.

The nine grahas

The standard Vimshottari framework uses Sun, Moon, Mars, Mercury, Jupiter, Venus, Saturn, Rahu and Ketu. In astronomical terms the Sun is a star, the Moon is Earth's satellite, and Rahu and Ketu are lunar-node points. Their shared astrological label does not change these physical distinctions.

Reading a position

Virgo 18 degrees 20 minutes equals 168 degrees 20 minutes of absolute longitude. A position at 301 degrees 15 minutes is Aquarius 1 degree 15 minutes. The sign ruler can be identified from the sign, while the star and sub-lords require the relevant stellar boundaries.