The North Indian and South Indian Birth Charts

Most astrologers have their preferred chart format between the North Indian and South Indian charts. They both have their merits, and one often finds the one they are accustomed to easier to understand. However, it is possible to learn to study a horoscope in both the North Indian and South Indian formats easily. I believe that arguments in this regard are futile and that one must use what works best in their usage. An astrologer should also know enough of both formats to translate the chart into the format they prefer for reading. 

South Indian Chart 

The South Indian chart is a square that depicts the zodiac exactly as it is laid out, with the Earth in the middle. A circle is difficult to draw, but a square is easier to draw without tools. So the 360 degrees of the zodiac are drawn as a series of squares. The 12 squares are the representation of a Rashi of 30 degrees. In this chart, the Rashis are always associated with the same boxes. So, in every South Indian chart, the top leftmost box is Pisces/Meena. One can visualise this chart as a drawing of the earth at the centre of the chart and the boxes around it as the zodiac belt. 

When you fill the South Indian chart with details, you place each Graha in the Rashi box it is in. The ascendant or Lagna is denoted by a diagonal line in the appropriate Rashi box or with the words As or Asc. The houses are counted from the Lagna box in a clockwise direction. This is why you will find most people who use this chart using their fingers to count back and forth. It takes practice to be able to visualise the house numbers at a glance. But the dignity of planets is immensely easy to determine in this system. With practice, aspects are also easy to visualise in this chart.

Advantages/Disadvantages Of South Indian Chart 

• It better resembles the astronomy of the chart. 
• Very easy to see the dignity of the planet at a glance. 
• You can shift the Lagna and view the chart from any other planet without redrawing the chart. One chart serves all the purposes. 
• Easy for side-by-side synastry comparison of two charts.
• All boxes are the same size so it is easier to fit in the planet names.
• The boxes are not numbered because the Aries/Mesha box always represents Rashi, and there is no need to indicate which Rashi is associated with which box. Some people do label the boxes with house numbers for ease of use. 
• It is very easy to see Jaimini aspects and Yogas in this format.
• It is extremely easy to see movable/fixed/dual or male and female Rashis in this chart. 

The North Indian Chart

The North Indian birth chart is sometimes referred to as the diamond chart. It is a rectangle that is divided by a diamond and diagonal lines. The topmost diamond in the North Indian chart is always the first house. The centre four parallelograms in the North Indian chart present the Kendras or the 1st, 4th, 7th and 10th houses. Visualising the Kendras and the Trikonas in this chart format is easy. However, the Rashis that each section represents have to be indicated by the Rashi number as follows:

1. Aries/Mesha
2. Taurus/Vrishab
3. Gemini/Mithuna
4. Cancer/Kark
5. Leo/Simha
6. Virgo/Kanya
7. Libra/Tula
8. Scorpio/Vrischik
9. Sagitarius/Dhanus
10. Capricorn/Makara
11. Aquarius/Kumbh
12. Pisces/Meena

One must count anti-clockwise in this chart for the house progression. 

Advantages/Disadvantages Of North Indian Chart 

• It represents the Kendras well.
• It is easy to see the Trikonas.
• One can determine the Lagna at a glance.
• One will have to redraw the Lagna chart to see the Moon chart and other Lagna charts. An experienced astrologer will not need to do so. 
• Some houses are smaller in the drawing, and it is difficult to fit many planets into the odd space.
• Jaimini aspects are more challenging to see. 
• Jaimini Argalas are easier to visualise.