Gochara refers to the current movement of planets through
Rashis in Hindu astrology. It is predictive astrology based on the movements of
planets.
There are several ways of using gochara in predictive
astrology.
One method involves the consideration of birth nakshatra
(birth star), in which the moon would be moving at the time of a person’s
birth.
When the nakshatra of birth and the nakshatra which is the 10th
or 16th or 19th from it are afflicted by malefic planets such as Rahu, Saturn,
Mars, Ketu and Sun, the native is believed to be subjected to pain and
suffering and may even face death.
A few days before his death, King Dasharatha of Ayodhya
informed his son Rama of his astrologers prediction that the nakshatra of his
birth occupied by Sun was about to be afflicted by Mars and Rahu and that,
therefore, some great calamity was to befall him shortly.
Another method of Gochara is to study the position and
strength of the seven planets at the time of birth, as also the ascendant in
relation to the sign which a particular planet is transiting at the moment of the
query. Whether a planet is auspicious or inauspicious in a horoscope is decided
by an examination of its position in relation to the place (house r sign) where
sun was situated at the time of the native’s birth; this method is extended to
all the seven planets.
A third method lays emphasis on a study of the janma rashi
or the moon sign – the rashi or sign, in which moon was situated at the time of
the native’s birth. The position of the various planets, as reckoned from the
janma rashi at a particular time is considered using a Gochara horoscope, and
queries answered.
Excerpts and notes taken from –
Encyclopedia of Hinduism Volume IV published by India
Heritage Research Foundation – page 300.