The Four Types of Mundane Charts
Mundane astrology employs four main categories of charts, each cast for a specific type of beginning — a nation's founding, the Sun's entry into a key sign, a new lunar cycle, or a special astronomical event. Together they provide coverage from the year-long overview down to a single fortnight.
2.1 — Foundation Chart (National Horoscope)
A chart cast for the moment a nation comes into existence — independence, constitution ratification, first swearing-in of leadership, etc. This is the natal chart of the entity. All subsequent mundane analysis references this chart.
Key Principles
- Treated exactly like a natal chart — the birth chart of the collective entity
- The lagna and lagna lord describe the general character of the nation
- Dasas are run on this chart to time major national events
- Transits and progressions are measured from this chart
Classic Examples
- USA — July 4, 1776 (Declaration of Independence)
- India Independence — August 15, 1947
- India Republic — January 26, 1950
- Any modern nation or institution at its founding moment
2.2 — Solar Ingress Charts (Varsha / Samvatsara)
Charts cast for the moment the Sun enters a cardinal or key sidereal sign. These mark the beginning of natural time cycles and are the backbone of mundane prediction.
Solar New Year — Mesha Sankranti (Aries Ingress)
- Sun enters sidereal Aries (~April 14 each year)
- Primary mundane chart for the year — called Jagatlagna (world ascendant)
- Governs the full sidereal year ahead
- The ascendant of this chart is the "king of the year"
- The lord of the weekday is the "minister of the year"
- Cast for the capital city (or any location) to localize predictions
Capricorn Ingress — Makara Sankranti
- Sun enters sidereal Capricorn (~January 14)
- Important for financial and agricultural predictions for the civil year
- The conception of clouds and rains is timed from this ingress
Solar Month Charts
- Cast for Sun entering each of the 12 sidereal signs
- Each chart governs approximately 30 days
- Used for monthly mundane predictions
2.3 — Lunar New Year Chart (Chaitra Shukla Pratipada)
Chart cast for the New Moon in sidereal Pisces (first New Moon after Sun enters Pisces), marking the start of the Vedic lunar year. Particularly important in Indian mundane predictions. Used alongside the solar ingress chart.
New Lunar Month Charts
- Cast for each New Moon (Amavasya — exact Sun–Moon conjunction)
- Governs the ~29.5-day lunar month
- Amanta definition: month starts and ends at New Moon
Fortnight Chart (Paksha Chart)
- Cast for the New Moon (Amavasya) for Krishna Paksha
- Cast for the Full Moon (Purnima) for Shukla Paksha
- Governs ~14.75 days; used for fine-grained monthly analysis
2.4 — Special Event & Transit Charts
Certain astronomical events are so significant that dedicated charts are cast for their exact moment. These charts can mark turning points lasting years, months, or generations.
| Event | Duration of Effects | Mundane Significance |
|---|---|---|
| Solar Eclipse | As many years as the eclipse is hours long | Major political and natural upheavals; affects the region where eclipse is visible |
| Lunar Eclipse | As many months as the eclipse is hours long | Affects the masses, public mood, and agricultural conditions |
| Planetary Conjunctions / Oppositions | Generational (years to decades) | Jupiter–Saturn conjunctions (~20 years): power shifts; Saturn–Rahu: crises and disease |
| Ardra Pravesha | Seasonal (one monsoon season) | Sun's entry into Ardra nakshatra; primary chart for monsoon and rainfall prediction |
| Planetary Station | Days to weeks | When a planet turns retrograde or direct; intense, concentrated planetary energy |
Each of these chart types works on a different time scale, from the full-year solar new year chart down to a single fortnight. Skilled mundane astrologers layer all applicable chart types to achieve precise predictions, just as natal astrologers use the birth chart together with annual charts, dashas, and transits.