A Detailed Guide to Reading a Prashna Kundali
“A Prashna chart is not merely a horoscope—
it is the whisper of the universe at the very moment a question is born.”
Prashna Astrology, or Horary Jyotish, is a sacred dialogue between the seeker and the cosmos. It is both an ancient science grounded in timeless principles and an intuitive art shaped by the astrologer’s inner clarity. While the fundamentals shared below form the skeleton, intuition is the breath that animates a Prashna chart.
In this guide, I explore the key techniques that help astrologers interpret a Prashna Kundali with depth and accuracy as well as spiritual insight.
1. The Ascendant: The Soul of the Prashna Chart
The Lagna (Ascendant) acts as the anchor of the entire reading. Its strength, dignity, and the condition of its lord reveal whether the question is sincere, confused, or hidden behind layers of emotion.
A strong Lagna lord or benefics placed in the Lagna often indicate an honest question and a querent truly seeking guidance.
Conversely, a Lagna troubled by malefics, or a Lagna lord that is combust or retrograde, may hint that the querent is unsure, anxious, or masking deeper concerns.
Example:
A career question asked with Virgo rising and Mercury combust in the 5th suggests a mind overrun by worry, excessive analysis, and lack of mental clarity.
✨ Medha’s Pro Tip:
When the Lagna lord is afflicted, meditate briefly before analysis. Prashna works best when the astrologer’s mind is calm and receptive.
2. Arudha Lagna: The Mask of Perception
Arudha Lagna reveals how the situation appears rather than how it is. By comparing the Lagna with Arudha Lagna, the astrologer distinguishes reality from perception.
For example, a strong Lagna but an afflicted Arudha indicates that life is stable, yet the querent perceives chaos or pressure.
In my years of experience of looking at horoscopes, I will admit that the truth and the perception of truth are often two different planets in the sky.
3. Moon & Chandra Lagna: The Emotional Weather
The Moon is the emotional lens through which the question is born. Its placement reveals the person’s mental state who is asking the question.
- A well-supported Moon indicates calmness and emotional clarity.
- A Moon afflicted by malefics often shows anxiety, fear, emotional turbulence, or obsession.
Example:
A Moon in the 8th house with Saturn and Rahu suggests that the question arises out of deep fear, insecurity, or repeated negative thoughts.
✨ Medha’s Pro Tip:
If the Moon is afflicted, gently ask the querent to clarify the real fear behind the question. Often, the Prashna is not the first question they ask—but the one they finally admit.
4. House-by-House Insight: The Architecture of the Answer
Every house in a Prashna chart carries a distinct meaning:
1st House: Mind, physical condition, intent of the querent
2nd House: Speech, wealth, domestic matters
3rd House: Communication, courage, siblings
4th House: Home, peace, mother, property
5th House: Children, education, creativity
6th House: Competition, illness, enemies
7th House: Marriage, partnerships, alliances
8th House: Secrets, transformation, longevity
9th House: Fortune, dharma, blessings, father
10th House: Career, authority, outcome of actions
11th House: Gains, fulfillment of desires, networks
12th House: Losses, foreign connections, moksha
I believe that a correct prediction requires endless years of studying house lords, aspects, conjunctions, yogas, and underlying doshas. Every house is a gate, and every gate opens only when approached with the right key. It takes time to fine-tune the edges of one’s key in order to make it the right fit.
5. Dashas & Transits: Cosmic Timing
Although Prashna is time-specific, dasha periods and transits amplify or weaken predictions.
When Prashna indications align with the querent’s running dasha or current transit, the result becomes far more reliable.
Example:
If the question is about marriage, and the Prashna shows a strong 7th lord while the querent is undergoing a Venus–Moon dasha, the likelihood of marriage increases significantly.
✨ Medha’s Pro Tip:
Always cross-check dasha and transit support. Aligned timelines create the strongest predictions.
6. Divisional Charts: The Finer Blueprint
Divisional charts sharpen interpretation by revealing subtler layers of planetary strength.
- D-9 (Navamsa): Marriage, dharma, inner strength
- D-10 (Dasamsa): Career, authority, public life
- D-3 (Drekkana): Siblings, courage, physical vitality
A planet may appear powerful in the main chart but weak in divisional charts, altering the prediction’s direction.
7. Yogas & Doshas: The Signatures of Fate
Certain yogas or doshas dramatically influence outcomes:
- Raj Yoga: Victory, growth, favorable results
- Kemadruma Yoga: Isolation, lack of emotional support
- Kala Sarpa Yoga: Delays, karmic entanglements
These configurations add depth, but their effects must always be understood in the context of the question. How the yoga or a dosha is beneficial or an obstacle? Carefully study can help you see different aspects of such occurance in a kundali.
8. Retrograde, Combust & Debilitated Planets
Planetary states profoundly affect timing and clarity:
- Retrograde: Delays, returns, reconsideration
- Combust: Ego issues, confusion, weakened functioning
- Debilitated: Fragility, failure—unless cancellation exists
Something I always advise my students is that when a planet loses power, it invites the astrologer to look beyond the obvious. Weak or debilitated planets are the surprise element. We might think they have little to no power, but turns out, they are the ones responsible for major changes in one’s life.
9. Rahu & Ketu: The Karmic Axis
Rahu represents obsession, illusion, sudden events, foreign ties, and material desire.
Ketu symbolizes detachment, past karmas, loss, and spiritual awakening.
Their placement reveals important karmic threads in the situation.
Example:
Rahu in the 10th during a job Prashna hints at foreign involvement or ambition-driven actions.
Ketu in the 4th may disturb home peace or indicate spiritual withdrawal.
✨ Medha’s ProTip:
When Rahu or Ketu influence the Lagna or Moon, pause the reading for a moment of silence. Karmic questions require karmic awareness.
Tender Wisdom Disclaimer:
I believe, Prashna is a sacred map and only humility opens the door to its guidance. Please know that this article is meant purely for educational exploration. Prashna Astrology is a sophisticated discipline that requires years of study, deep reflection, and constant practice. It should not be used as a substitute for professional advice in critical matters of health, marriage, or career.
Those choosing to interpret Prashna charts independently do so at their own responsibility. Always seek the counsel of an experienced and trustworthy astrologer for important life decisions.
Written by Medha — an award-winning celebrity astrologer, researcher, teacher, and speaker. If you’d like to explore how the stars shape your unique path, reach out to her for a personal consultation.
