A yoga in a birth chart is a pattern of planets that has a name. For example, Jupiter in an angle from the lagna or the Moon, with help from a good planet, is Gajakesari. Jupiter in its own sign or exaltation sign, in an angle, is Hamsa. Old books describe hundreds of yogas. This is not the same as the yoga in the daily panchangam. That one is called the nithya yoga. It is one of 27, and it changes about once a day.
☕ Patterns in the chart, with names
Long ago, astrologers saw some planet patterns again and again in birth charts. They gave each pattern a name. These named patterns are yogas. Yoga means 'joining'. Brihat Parasara Hora Sastra is one of the main old books. It has several chapters on yogas.
Some yogas are about one planet's strength. Take Mars, Mercury, Jupiter, Venus or Saturn. If it is in its own sign or its exaltation sign, and in an angle, it forms a yoga. The angles are houses 1, 4, 7 and 10. These five yogas are Ruchaka, Bhadra, Hamsa, Malavya and Sasa.
Other yogas are about the planets near the Moon or the Sun. Planets on either side of the Moon form Sunapha, Anapha or Duradhara. Planets on either side of the Sun form Vesi, Vosi or Ubhayachari.
A yoga is one part of a chart. It is not the whole answer. Astrologers also look at the strength of the planets, the rest of the chart, and the dasha. Having many yogas or few yogas says little by itself.
The yoga in the daily panchangam is different. It is called the nithya yoga. Vishkambha, Priti and Siddha are examples. It comes from the Sun and Moon positions added together. It is the same for everyone on a day, and it changes about once a day.
A few well-known yogas
- Gajakesari: Jupiter in an angle from the lagna or the Moon, helped by a good planet, and not weak.
- Hamsa: Jupiter in its own sign or exaltation sign, in an angle.
- Malavya: Venus in its own sign or exaltation sign, in an angle.
- Sunapha: a planet other than the Sun, Rahu or Ketu in the 2nd from the Moon.
- Amala: only good planets in the 10th house from the lagna or the Moon.
- A chart yoga is not the same as the day's nithya yoga in the panchangam.
- Yogas are not a score. One well-placed planet can matter more than many yogas.
- A yoga is read together with the strength of the planets that form it.
- Some yogas change with a few minutes of birth time. The app marks these.
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between a chart yoga and the panchangam's yoga?
The panchangam's yoga is the nithya yoga. Add the Sun's and Moon's positions, and divide the circle into 27 parts. It is the same for everyone on a day. A chart yoga is a named pattern of planets in one person's birth chart.
What is Gajakesari yoga?
It is one of the best-known yogas. Jupiter is in an angle (house 1, 4, 7 or 10) from the lagna or the Moon. A good planet joins it or looks at it. Jupiter is not weak, not too close to the Sun, and not in an enemy's sign. Many people see it as a helpful pattern.
What are the Pancha Mahapurusha yogas?
They are five yogas, one for each of five planets. Mars gives Ruchaka. Mercury gives Bhadra. Jupiter gives Hamsa. Venus gives Malavya. Saturn gives Sasa. Each forms when that planet is in its own or exaltation sign, and in an angle.
Which yogas does the Nava app show?
The You tab lists the yogas that form in your chart, taken from the classical books (mainly Brihat Parasara Hora Sastra). It shows how each one is formed. It shows the helpful sides only. It leaves out yogas that the old books read harshly. Some yogas would not form if you were born five minutes earlier or later. These are marked 'depends on the exact birth time'.
Deep dive: how a yoga is checked
From a rule in a book to a line in your chart.
🧩 Every condition must be true
A yoga has a list of conditions. Which planet? In which sign? In which house? With which other planets? The yoga forms only when every condition is true. For example, Gajakesari needs Jupiter in an angle, and help from a good planet, and Jupiter not weak.
Houses are counted from the lagna, and the lagna changes fast. So some yogas depend on the birth time. The app checks each yoga again, for a birth five minutes earlier and five minutes later. If the yoga would not form at one of these times, the app marks it.
📖 Read more
For the day's nithya yoga, read Yoga, the panchangam limb. For houses and the lagna, read lagna, rasi and birth star. For the planets, read the nine grahas.