Astrological Terms under Letter D

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Dakshinamurti

- An aspect of Shiva. A mystic functionary situated, according to legends, around the Tropic of Capricorn, and guiding the influx of spiritual forces to earth. The nodes of Moon are said to be intimately connected with him.

Dakshinayana

- The beginning of the southward sojourn of Sun after the summer solstice.

Danda Yoga

- An auspicious planetary combination formed in several ways. If Venus aspects Jupiter placed in the 3rd house, while the lord of the 3rd is in exaltation, Danda Yoga is formed.

Dasa Chhtdra

- The last portion of a planetary ruler ship. This duration is often inauspicious.

Dasamamsa

- One-tenth division of a zodiacal sign. Each of it consists of 30 with different planets ruling and different Vedic deities presiding.

Data Yoga

- A planetary combination formed by Jupiter in ascendant, Venus in 4th house, Mercury in the 7th, and Mars in the 10th house. It makes an individual very affluent and generous.

Debilitation

- Also known as Neecha. It represents the weakest position of a planet. At this position the auspicious effects of the planet are eliminated unless cancelled by Neecha Bhanga Raja Yoga. The planets are debilitated as follows: Sun in Libra, 100; Moon in Scorpio, 30 Mars in Cancer, 280 Mercury in Pisces, 150; Jupiter in Capricorn, 50; and Venus in Virgo, 270; and Saturn in Aries, 200. Debilitation of a planet occurs 1800 away from its exaltation point.

Debility

- A weak or afflicted condition of a planet. Being in Detriment or in Fall are potent essential debilities.

Decanate

- The partitioning of each Sign into three equal parts of 10 degrees each. Each part is known as a decanate. Every Sign is composed of 30 degrees.

Decennia

- One of the Greek time lord systems based upon the minor periods of the planets, counted in months: Saturn 30, Jupiter 12, Mars 15, Sun 19, Venus 8, Mercury 20, Moon 25.

Decile

- Minor aspect of 36°. Considered fortunate, also known as semi-quintile.

Declination

- The arc of measurement in degrees north or south of the celestial equator.

Decreasing in light

- Waning. Usually said of the Moon as it approaches the Sun in the order of the signs on its way to a conjunction (New Moon) after leaving its opposition (Full Moon). When decreasing in light, the Moon forms a series of sinister aspects to the Sun.

Decumbiture

- A lying down due to illness. A chart cast for the time a person first becomes ill or takes to the sickbed. Horary rules are used to interpret a decumbiture chart. The Ascendant signifies the sick person.

Deeptamsa

- Range of an expecting planet; the focal point of an expecting planet; the orb within which the aspect of a planet can be effective.

Degree

-A degree is 1/360 of a circle. In Astrology, degrees are the commonly-used unit of measurement.

Deham

- A term used in Kala Chakra Dasa. If differs for different quarters of an asterism.

Depression

- Another name for fall. One of the essential debilities.

Descendant

-The opposite point from the ascendant, located on the cusp of the Seventh House. This point explains the nature of our interactions with others.

Descending

- Planets appear to be descending between the tenth house cusp via the descendant and that of the fourth, when they begin to ascend. Descending planets are considered weaker than ascending ones.

Destroyer

- That planet in a primary or other direction that brings life to an end by making a malefic contact with the apheta.

Detriment

- A planet is weaker and in its detriment when it is in the sign opposing that which it rules.

Devarishis

- Also known as Devarshis. The sages of the highest order. They dwell in the region of gods.

Devendra Yoga

- A planetary combination formed by ascendant placed in a fixed sign, ascendant lord in 11th, the lord of 11th in ascendant, and the lords of 2nd and 10th houses in mutual exchange. This combination is powerful in making the individual extremely beautiful , loved by pretty women, owner of vast wealth and villas. He attains a very high social status.

Dhana Karaka

- The planet producing wealth, viz., Jupiter.

Dhanayogas

- Planetary combinations for wealth.

Dignity

- The sign that a planet rules naturally is its sign of dignity. A planet is essentially dignified when it occupies its natural sign of dignity or its sign of exaltation; it is accidentally dignified when placed in its natural house. It is in domal dignity when in its own sign.

Direct motion

- Movement of a planet in the order of the zodiac signs from Aries to Taurus to Gemini, etc. Retrograde motion is opposite to direct motion.

Directions

- A term synonymous with progression.

Directions by house

- The houses are assigned compass directions with the Ascendant pointing East; the Descendant, West; and in the northern hemisphere above the Tropic of Cancer, the IC, North (away from the Ecliptic or path of the Sun); and the MC, South (toward the Ecliptic).

Direct Station

- The point in a planet's retrograde cycle when it is standing still , preparing to change from retrograde motion to direct motion. Coming at the end of a retrograde cycle, it often indicates a situation that has been stagnant or "stuck" for awhile, reached a crisis point, and is now beginning to resolve.

Disjunct

- Another name for the quincunx aspect.

Dispositor

- The planet that rules the sign or dignity another planet occupies. For example, if Mars is in Libra, the dispositor of Mars is Venus.

Dissociate aspect

- An aspect within orb but out of sign. Dissociation disperses and thus weakens the strength or focus of an aspect.

Distributor

- The planet that is the current bound lord in a circumambulation.

Diurnal

- From the Latin diurnus, daily. Refers to the southern (upper) hemisphere of a horoscope, the "day" section of a horoscope, that part of the heavens that appears above the Earth's horizon.

Diurnal arc

- The time expressed in right ascension that it takes a planet or degree of the zodiac to move from its rising point on the horizon to its setting point.

Diurnal planets

- Saturn, Jupiter, Sun.

Diurnal signs

- Libra, Scorpio, Sagittarius, Capricorn, Aquarius, and Pisces, signs whose natural positions are in the diurnal or southern hemisphere of a horoscope.

Dodekatamoria

- Also known as "twelfth part". This is the division of a sign into 13 equal sections, based upon the Moon's monthly cycle against the background stars.

Domal Dignity

- A planet in its own sign.

Domicile

- A zodiac sign where the planet is most comfortable and therefore has authority.

Double

-bodied Signs - Gemini is known as one of the double-bodied signs (dual signs) because it has two "bodies" in its symbol, the symbol of the Twins. The other dual signs are Sagittarius (part man, part beast) and Pisces (two fishes).

Draconic Chart

- The natal Dragon's Head (ascending node) becomes 0-degrees Aries of the Draconic chart, or 'draconic equinox' and other planets and points are adjusted accordingly.

Dragon's Head

- Caput Draconis, or Moon's North Node. The sign and degree occupied by the moon when crossing the ecliptic from south to north lattitude. It is usually considered somewhat benefic, and is the opposite of the Dragon's Tail (Cauda Draconis), the South Node, which is considered malefic. In Indian astrology, the Dragon's Head is called Rahu and the Dragon's Tail is called Ketu and both are considered malefic, though less so for ketu.

Dragon's Tail

- Cauda Draconis, or Moon's South Node.

Duad, dwadasama, dwadachamsha

- A twelve-fold subdivision of the signs(each composed of 2 1/2°) developed by Hindu astrologers. The first duad of each sign is sub-ruled by the natural planetary ruler of the sign; the second duad is sub-ruled by the ruler of next sign in the zodiac and so on. These "signs within a sign," by virtue of their planetary rulers, account for subtle shadings of expression found in different degrees of the same sign.

Dual Signs

- Gemini; Sagittarius; Pisces.

Dwadishamsha

- Division in Indian Astrology of the zodiac into segments of two and a half degrees. Popularised in the modern era in the West by Alan Leo, this division was also used by the ancient Greeks, in the dodecatmoria.

Related Links


• Vedic Astrology glossary starting with letter D