As per astrology, a natal chart is a conventional map of the universe with respect to the individual at the centre. It is casted on the basis of the exact time and location of the native  for the purposes of getting the detailed characteristics, traits and peculiarity of an individual.

The other alternative names given to the natal chart are birth chart, horoscope, ascendant chart, Lagna chart etc. This Natal chart shows the positions of the sun, moon, planets, and potentially other celestial objects, all with reference to the native’s chart.

A Natal Chart is a chart indicating the position of the Sun, Moon and other planets in relation to the earth and to the Zodiac for any given moment of time. Before casting a horoscope, it is very important to know the exact time of birth as accurately as possible. A slight difference may alter the entire character of the horoscope.

The Year, date, time of birth along with the latitude and longitude of the place of birth are all necessary for the perfect prediction of the natal chart, by the Indian method of Astrology as well as western method of casting horoscope.

In the Western method, the natal chart represents the earth and the outer circle represents the space of the heavens which is divided into 12 equal sections called houses. The line that divides one house with another is called the cusp. The first house begins with the horizontal line on the left side of the circle. The Cusp of the 1st house is called the ascendant as the Sun, Moon, and other seven planets from this point on ascend.

The sign of the Zodiac rising at a person’s birth termed the ascendant, signifies a man’s outward appearance and everything which has to do with the personality. So ascendant is the most important factor of the natal chart.

The natal chart casted in western method can be converted to the Indian System also. There are two simple steps that can change the Western horoscope or the natal chart to the Indian method of Natal chart.

• Subtract from the longitude of the Cusp and from the longitudes of the planets, the Ayanmasa of the year of the birth. Ayanmasa is the “Procession of Equinoxes” and may be referred  to as the “Mean Obliquity of the Ecliptic”.
• The other important factor to be taken into account while converting the natal chart is that the planets Neptune and Uranus are not given cognizance in the Indian Astrology, reason being these planets have been discovered by Western Astronomers comparatively lately.

Rahu and Ketu play an important role in the natal chart casted in Indian Astrology. Actually, Rahu and Ketu are not exactly the planets. Rather they are Ascending and Descending Nodes of the Moon, the places where the Moon, in its orbit cuts the celestial equator. The nodes are called the tail and head of the dragon. Rahu is the dragon’s head and Ketu is the dragon’s tail.

Natal chart is the primary chart and on the basis of this chart, the other chart such as a Moon chart (Rasi Chart) or Navamsha Chart, Amsa charts are casted which further enhance the accuracy of the planet’s position and strength.

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