How to Make a Kundli Step by Step

You can make a simple kundli (Vedic birth chart) at home with just birth date, time and place, plus either software or basic planetary tables. This guide walks you step by step: choose a chart style, draw the grid, mark signs, add the lagna (ascendant) and place planets, then shows when to switch to online tools for accuracy.

You will not get certain predictions from this. You will get a structured diagram of houses, signs and planets that you can use as a symbolic map for reflection, using our birth chart basics guide or any Vedic textbook.

What You Need to Make a Kundli #

What is a kundli in Vedic astrology? #

In Vedic astrology, a kundli is a diagram of the sky at the moment of birth, drawn from the birth place. The chart is split into 12 equal sections called signs (Aries to Pisces) and 12 houses (areas of life).

The same birth data can be drawn in different layouts (North, South, East Indian), but the underlying information is the same: which sign was rising on the eastern horizon, and where the 9 Vedic planets were placed in the zodiac.

For a fuller conceptual overview, you can read our article on what a kundli is in Vedic astrology, but you do not need that to follow the practical steps here.

Exact data required: date, time, place of birth #

To make a kundli, you need four basic fields. Without them, you can only get a rough symbolic chart, not a birth-time specific one.

If you use an online tool, you usually just enter city and time; the software maps this to time zone and coordinates.

Why birth time accuracy matters #

The ascendant (rising sign) changes about every 2 hours. A 15–20 minute error can move some planets into different houses, especially near house cusps (borders).

If your time of birth is uncertain by more than 30 minutes, treat the exact house positions as approximate. In that case, Moon sign and whole-sign houses are more stable than fine house cusps.

Symbolic, not predictive: how to use this guide #

This guide treats the kundli as a symbolic map, not as medical, financial, legal or psychological advice. It does not promise events or outcomes.

You can use the finished chart to reflect on patterns and themes using structured material like our birth chart basics guide. Any practical decisions should rely on real-world information, not on the chart alone.

Step 1: Choose Chart Style (North, South, East) #

North Indian vs South Indian vs East Indian layouts #

There are three main ways to draw the same birth data in Vedic astrology:

• North Indian: Diamond-shaped grid. Houses are fixed, signs move.
• South Indian: Square grid of 12 equal boxes. Signs are fixed, houses move.
• East Indian (Bengali/Odia): Rectangular grid, different numbering style; less common in English resources.

In all three, the underlying logic is the same: 12 signs in zodiac order, 12 houses starting from the rising sign, and the same planetary positions.

Why beginners can start with one style #

If you are learning structure, it is better to master one layout than to switch between several. Most English-language books and many online tools show the North Indian or South Indian style.

You can always translate between layouts later once you clearly understand which box is a sign and which box is a house.

Which layout this guide uses and why #

This guide uses a simple North Indian-style layout. Reason: house numbers are fixed to specific boxes, which makes it easy to see the difference between sign number and house number when you are starting out.

If you prefer South Indian charts, you can still follow the same steps. Just remember: in South Indian charts the sign boxes are fixed in position, and you will label houses starting from the lagna sign box.

Step 2: Mark the Zodiac Signs in the Chart Grid #

Drawing a blank kundli grid #

Take a blank sheet and draw the North Indian grid:

1. Draw a large square.
2. Inside it, draw a diamond by connecting the midpoints of each side.
3. From each corner of the diamond, draw lines to the square corners, making 12 smaller quadrilaterals (boxes).

In North Indian charts, each box always represents a house number, not a fixed sign. You will write sign numbers inside those house boxes.

Zodiac sign order: 1 to 12 from Aries to Pisces #

Vedic astrology usually labels signs by number, from 1 to 12:

1. 1 = Aries (Mesha)
2. 2 = Taurus (Vrishabha)
3. 3 = Gemini (Mithuna)
4. 4 = Cancer (Karka)
5. 5 = Leo (Simha)
6. 6 = Virgo (Kanya)
7. 7 = Libra (Tula)
8. 8 = Scorpio (Vrischika)
9. 9 = Sagittarius (Dhanu)
10. 10 = Capricorn (Makara)
11. 11 = Aquarius (Kumbha)
12. 12 = Pisces (Meena)

Memorise this order. You will use it constantly to move forward or backward from the ascendant sign.

How signs are fixed in each layout (with simple diagram description) #

In the North Indian chart, the house positions (1st, 2nd, 3rd, etc.) are fixed in the grid. You always write the sign number of the ascendant into the 1st house box, then fill further houses by counting signs forward.

If you were using a South Indian chart, the sign boxes 1–12 are fixed in set locations, and the lagna is marked by a special symbol or by writing "L" in the rising sign box. Houses are then counted from that lagna sign box.

Step 3: Find the Ascendant and Make the Lagna Chart #

What is lagna (ascendant)? #

The lagna or ascendant is the zodiac sign rising on the eastern horizon at the moment and place of birth. It is like the "starting point" of the chart.

The basic birth chart built from the rising sign is called the lagna chart. In it, the 1st house starts at the lagna sign, and the rest of the houses follow in zodiac order.

Using software or an ephemeris to get lagna degree #

Finding the exact lagna by hand needs spherical trigonometry and a full ephemeris. For learning, it is more practical to use an online calculator to get the ascendant sign and degree.

1. Go to our free Vedic birth chart calculator.
2. Enter date of birth, accurate time, and birth city.
3. Submit and note the "Ascendant" or "Lagna" sign and its degree, for example, "Ascendant: 18° Virgo".

If you prefer tables, you can use a printed ephemeris or a Panchang that lists lagna tables by date, time and latitude. The logic is the same: you want "which sign" and "which degree" was rising.

Marking the lagna sign and numbering the 12 houses #

In a North Indian chart, pick the box used for the 1st house (traditionally the box slightly to the right of the top center, but you can fix any position as long as you stay consistent).

1. Write the sign number of the lagna in the 1st house box. Example: if lagna is Virgo, write "6".
2. In the 2nd house box (moving anti-clockwise), write the next sign number. If the 1st is 6 (Virgo), the 2nd is 7 (Libra).
3. Continue around the chart anti-clockwise until all 12 house boxes have a sign number from 1 to 12, looping back after 12.

You now have a complete lagna chart with all 12 signs placed into houses relative to your rising sign.

Difference between sign number and house number #

This is a common beginner confusion. A sign is a 30° segment of the zodiac (Aries, Taurus, etc.). A house is a segment of the chart counted from lagna, representing an area of life.

In the lagna chart, each house contains exactly one whole sign (this is a "whole sign" house system). So house 1 will always be the lagna sign, house 2 will be the next sign, and so on.

Step 4: Place the Planets in the Kundli #

The 9 Vedic planets and their symbols #

Vedic astrology usually uses 9 primary grahas (planets in the symbolic sense):

1. Sun (Su or "Su")
2. Moon (Mo or "Mo")
3. Mars (Ma or "Ma")
4. Mercury (Me or "Me")
5. Jupiter (Ju or "Ju")
6. Venus (Ve or "Ve")
7. Saturn (Sa or "Sa")
8. Rahu (Ra) – North node of the Moon
9. Ketu (Ke) – South node of the Moon

You can use any clear abbreviations you like, as long as you are consistent across charts.

Getting planetary sign positions for your birth time #

Again, the simplest method is to use our free Vedic birth chart calculator. It will list each planet with its sign and degree.

1. Enter your birth details and generate the chart.
2. Find the planet table or list, usually under headings like "Planetary Positions".
3. Note, for each planet: sign, degree, and whether it is direct or retrograde (R). For basic chart drawing you only need sign and degree.

If you work with a printed ephemeris, you will need to interpolate between daily positions to adjust for your exact birth time. For learning purposes, software is faster and more accurate.

Putting each planet into the correct sign box #

Once you know each planet’s sign, you can place it into the chart:

1. On your lagna chart, look for the box with the sign number that matches the planet’s sign.
2. Write the planet abbreviation inside that sign/house box. Example: if Mars is in Scorpio (8), and in your chart Scorpio is the 3rd house, write "Ma" in the 3rd house box.
3. Optionally, write the degree next to the abbreviation, like "Ma 12°".

Repeat for all 9 planets. Some boxes may contain several planets; some may be empty.

Reading which house each planet falls in #

To see the house of a planet, you simply ask: in which house box is this planet drawn? That house number gives the area of life connected with that planet in the lagna chart.

For example, if your Sun is in the box you labelled as the 10th house, then in your lagna chart the Sun is in the 10th house, regardless of the sign number in that box.

Worked Example: Simple Kundli From Real Data #

Sample birth details used in this example #

We will use made-up but realistic data to show a complete example:

• Date of birth: 10 March 1993
• Time of birth: 07:45 (7:45 am), local time
• Place of birth: Pune, India (approx. 18.5°N, 73.9°E)
• Time zone: UTC+5:30

Suppose the online calculator gives this ascendant: "Ascendant: 22° Aquarius". Aquarius is sign number 11.

So in our North Indian lagna chart, we write "11" in the 1st house box. Then, counting forward: 2nd house = 12 (Pisces), 3rd = 1 (Aries), 4th = 2 (Taurus), and so on until the 12th house.

Table: sign and house positions of planets #

Assume the calculator lists these planetary positions (simplified for illustration):

Here, the column "House number from lagna" is derived by matching each sign to its house in the Aquarius lagna chart.

How the final North Indian chart looks (described step by step) #

To sketch the final chart for this example:

1. Draw the North Indian grid and label houses 1 to 12 lightly in pencil.
2. Write sign 11 (Aquarius) in the 1st house; then 12 (Pisces) in 2nd, 1 (Aries) in 3rd, 2 (Taurus) in 4th, 3 (Gemini) in 5th, 4 (Cancer) in 6th, 5 (Leo) in 7th, 6 (Virgo) in 8th, 7 (Libra) in 9th, 8 (Scorpio) in 10th, 9 (Sagittarius) in 11th, 10 (Capricorn) in 12th.
3. In the 2nd house box (Pisces, 12), write "Su" for Sun.
4. In the 6th house box (Cancer, 4), write "Mo" and "Ju" for Moon and Jupiter.
5. In the 8th house box (Virgo, 6), write "Ma" for Mars.
6. In the 3rd house box (Aries, 1), write "Me" for Mercury.
7. In the 12th house box (Capricorn, 10), write "Ve" for Venus.
8. In the 10th house box (Scorpio, 8), write "Sa" and "Ke" for Saturn and Ketu.
9. In the 4th house box (Taurus, 2), write "Ra" for Rahu.

You now have a complete, hand-drawn lagna chart for these sample details. You could then study each planet’s sign and house meaning using further material, for example our article on what lagna rashi means.

How to Make a Kundli Online (Accurate Method) #

When to use online kundli tools instead of manual math #

Manual drawing teaches structure, but manual astronomical calculation is no longer practical for most people. Use online tools when:

• You need exact degrees of planets and lagna.
• You want divisional charts (like Navamsa) and nakshatra positions.
• Your birth time is near a sign or house change and you need precision.

The online method and the hand-drawn method complement each other: software gives accurate numbers, while drawing by hand builds understanding.

Step-by-step: using our free birth chart calculator #

1. Open the free Vedic birth chart calculator in your browser.
2. Enter date of birth in DD/MM/YYYY or the given format.
3. Enter birth time in 24-hour format and check AM/PM if required.
4. Type your birth city and select the correct option so latitude, longitude and time zone auto-fill.
5. Submit to generate the chart.
6. On the results page, look for the list of planetary positions and the ascendant sign and degree.
7. You can then copy those positions into your hand-drawn chart if you want a physical copy.

What extra data you get online: nakshatra, navamsa, dasa periods #

Online tools usually give several extra layers beyond the basic lagna chart:

• nakshatra: the lunar mansion of the Moon and other planets, splitting the zodiac into 27 parts.
• Navamsa chart (D9): a divisional chart often used for marriage and life-direction analysis.
• Dasa and bhukti periods: symbolic time periods based on the Moon’s nakshatra.

These are advanced topics. For now you can note them and later study them through structured resources like the broader birth chart basics guide.

Special Cases: No Birth Time, Newborns, Marriage Focus #

Making a kundli without birth time (and its limits) #

Without a birth time, you cannot reliably know the lagna or house structure. You can still do a sign-based chart:

1. Set the chart as a "Sun-rise chart" or simply use the Moon’s sign as a starting point.
2. Mark signs 1–12 as usual.
3. Place planets into their signs using the date of birth only.

In this case, you should treat any house-based interpretation with caution. Sign placements are more stable than house placements without time of birth.

Kundli for a newborn baby: practical tips #

For a newborn, hospitals often record time to the nearest minute. Check whether the time is from the delivery room clock, and whether it was later adjusted to official time.

• If uncertain, note a possible error range, for example ±5 minutes.
• Use software to calculate lagna and planets; then draw the chart by hand for learning.
• Remember that the chart is a symbolic map, not a health or fate guarantee for the child.

Basics of making a kundli for marriage comparison #

For marriage comparison, you usually create one lagna chart and Moon chart for each person, then compare patterns. Technically this is the same process: accurate date, time and place for each person, then draw both charts.

Modern matching methods often rely on multiple charts and nakshatra analysis. The technical chart-making steps stay the same; only the interpretive rules change.

How to Make a Lal Kitab Kundli vs Standard Lagna Chart #

What is a Lal Kitab kundli structurally? #

A Lal Kitab kundli uses a different structural rule. In many Lal Kitab traditions, each house number is fixed to a specific box, similar to North Indian charts, but the focus is more on house-based placement than on sign-based dignity.

You still have 12 houses and 9 planets drawn in a square or rectangular grid, but interpretation rules follow Lal Kitab texts rather than mainstream Vedic classics.

House-based vs sign-based chart: key difference #

In a standard lagna chart with whole-sign houses, each house equals one sign, starting from the lagna sign. So planet placement is described as "Mars in 7th house in Taurus", for example.

In many Lal Kitab systems, more weight is on which house a planet occupies than on its sign. The same planet may be described mainly by its house number, with signs acting as a secondary factor.

When to use a regular lagna chart instead #

Use a regular lagna chart when you are learning core Vedic ideas about signs, houses and planets, and when you are following sources that quote standard classics.

Use a Lal Kitab kundli if you are specifically studying Lal Kitab methods. Keep the two systems conceptually separate so that house-based Lal Kitab rules do not get mixed with sign-based Vedic rules.

Next Steps: Reading the Kundli You Made #

Houses, signs and planets: what to learn next #

Once you can draw a chart and place planets, the next step is learning what each house, sign and planet symbolises. For example, 1st house as self and body, 7th as partnerships, 10th as career-type matters, etc.

A structured resource like our birth chart basics guide will help you tie these pieces together in a systematic way.

Why lagna rashi and moon sign both matter #

Two key reference points in a kundli are the lagna rashi (ascendant sign) and the Moon sign. Many techniques look at houses from both of these points.

You can read more on what lagna rashi means to understand why the rising sign is treated as the starting house in the lagna chart.

Where to study detailed birth chart basics #

From here, useful topics to study include: house meanings, sign qualities, planetary significations, aspects, conjunctions and basic timing systems. Each of these builds on the chart you have just learned to draw.

Whatever you explore next, treat the kundli as a framework for reflection and discussion, not as a fixed script of your life.