The knowledge of Jyotish has been passed on in Sankrit and many of the basic terms in Vedic Astrology are still used in Sanskrit. The basis for a Jyotish analysis of a person's life is the calculation of the Birthchart, or Janma Kundali. In this chart the  "Grahas" (poorly translated as planets) are positioned in their respective Rashis (Signs of the zodiac). Each Rashi (sign) falls in exactly one Bhava (house).The planets aspect each other, and the planets have lordships over the "Bhavas", or houses. The effects of the planets, signs and houses influencing each other, described by a  vast number of  rules, reveal a stunning amount of detail about a person's personality, education,profession, social life, health, relationships, spiritual development, and so on. The birth chart only shows WHAT a person can expect in life, but not WHEN.

  For the precise timing of when the many tendencies found in the birth chart will manifest, Jyotish has the unique system of  Dashas, completely unknown in Western astrology. Dashas are planetary periods that rule very precisely defined periods of one life. The main periods (Maha dashas) last anywhere between 6 and 20 years, and in its period, a planet will have a dominating influence in the life of a person. Each main period itself is subdivided in 9 subperiods, each ruled by a different planet. Just like the main periods each sub-period is characterized by the articular qualities and significations of the ruling planets. The dasha system is so accurate, that it can explain changes in life from day to day with an amazing precision.