How the king and minister are chosen
The seven weekdays are ruled by the seven visible grahas: Sunday by Surya, Monday by Chandra, Tuesday by Mangala, Wednesday by Budha, Thursday by Guru, Friday by Shukra and Saturday by Shani. The graha who rules the weekday of Chaitra Shukla Pratipada, the first day of the lunar year, becomes the king of the year. The graha who rules the weekday on which the Sun enters Mesha, the start of the solar year, becomes its minister.
The other eight offices go in the same way to the lord of the weekday of a solar event: the Commander (Senapati) to the day the Sun enters Simha; the lord of the summer crops (Sasyadhipati) to its entry into Karka; the lord of the winter grains (Dhanyadhipati) to Dhanu; the lord of the treasury (Dhanadhipati) to Kanya; the lord of clouds and rain (Meghadhipati) to the Sun's entry into the Ardra nakshatra; the lord of juices and liquids (Rasadhipati) to Tula; the lord of metals and minerals (Nirasadhipati) to Makara; and the lord of fruits (Phaladhipati) to Meena. The daily panchang shows the ten for the year of the day you choose, counting each event's day from sunrise at your place. Some almanacs use slightly different lists of offices.
How it is read
Benefic grahas such as Guru, Shukra, Budha and Chandra in the high offices are taken to promise good rains, plenty and peace; malefic ones such as Shani, Mangala and Surya to bring heat, conflict or scarcity, though each has good qualities too. These forecasts are traditional and general; they are read with interest at the new year rather than as personal predictions.