What Is Vedic Astrology & How it Differs From Western Astrology?

What is Vedic astrology?

The origins of Vedic astrology, also known as Jyotish, is a traditional system of ancient Hindu astrology from ancient India. Vedic is based on the belief that the positions of the planets at a person's birth provide insight into their personality, potential, and life path.

You can trace the history of ancient Indian astrology back to the Vedic texts written in Sanskrit, some of the oldest sacred texts in the world. These texts contain knowledge about the planets, stars, and other celestial bodies and their influences on human life.

What's the Difference Between Vedic and Western Astrology?

It's based on your birth time using the sidereal zodiac, which differs from Western astrology since it focuses on the tropical. Sidereal is based on the fixed star's constellations and the actual positions of the planets, while tropical is based on the seasons and the apparent positions of the planets of the solar system.

One of the critical differences between Vedic and Western astrologers is the use of the "Dasha" system. The Dasha system analyzes the planetary positions in your birth or natal chart over time to determine the timing of important events in your life.

Another important aspect is "Yogas," which are specific planetary combinations in a chart and indicate particular characteristics or life events.

It also includes the analysis of the "Kundali" or "Janam Patri," an astrological chart created based on the exact time, date, and location of the person's birth. This chart predicts significant events and gives a general overview of your life.

How Do you Know Your Vedic Sign?

How Do you Know Your Vedic Sign?

To determine your Rashi, or your sign, you need to know the exact time, date, and location of your birth. Once you have this information, you can use an online calculator or consult a Vedic astrologer to determine your sign.

Here's how you can calculate your sign:

1. Gather your birth details, like the date, time, and place.

2. Calculate the exact degree of the zodiac sign rising at your birth. This is known as the "Ascendant" or "Lagna" in Vedic astrology. Again, look for a calculator online.

3. Look up the degree of the Ascendant in a Vedic astrology table

4. Determine the sun rising at the time of your birth is your Sun sign.

What Planets Are Used in Vedic Astrology?

• Mars (Mangala): energy, courage, strength, and passion.
• Mercury (Budha): intelligence, communication, and relationships.
• Jupiter (Guru): Wisdom, knowledge, religion, and wealth.
• Venus (Shukra): love, pleasure, and beauty.
• Saturn (Shani): restriction, discipline, and responsibility.
• Rahu: illusions and the material world.
• Ketu: spirituality and the release from the material world.

The planets exert their influence through the twelve zodiac signs. The twelve houses of a chart. And the interactions between them.

How to Read Your Vedic Astrology Chart

Reading a chart, also known as a "Kundali" or "Janam Patri" in Vedic astrology, can be a complex process, and it's best to consult a professional Vedic astrologer for a detailed interpretation. 

First, however, here is a basic overview of how to read a Vedic astrology chart:

The first step is to understand the layout of the chart. A chart is divided into 12 houses, each representing a different area of life, such as career, relationships, and home life.

The chart also includes the 12 zodiac signs (or your horoscope), determined by the Sun's position at the time of a person's birth.

Look at the motion of the planets in the chart. Each planet is associated with a different aspect of life, such as the Sun representing the self and the moon representing emotions. Each planet's sign and house placement indicates the person's potential and challenges.

Analyze the aspects between the stars and planets. The relationships between the planets, known as aspects, can indicate how the planets' energies interact and influence each other.

For example, a beneficial aspect between the Sun and Jupiter can indicate the potential for success and growth. In contrast, a challenging aspect between Mars and Saturn can show obstacles and delays in achieving goals.

Look for patterns in the chart. Specific patterns or combinations of planets, known as "Yogas" in Vedic astrology, can indicate specific characteristics or life events.

Look at the Dasha (periods of planetary influences) and transits (current positions of planets) to understand the timing of events in the person's life.

It's important to remember that chart interpretation is complex, and getting help is advised.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which is more accurate Vedic or Western astrology?

The question of which type of astrology is more accurate—Vedic or Western—has been debated for centuries and is still controversial. Both types of astrology offer a way of understanding and interpreting the natural laws that govern our lives, but there are critical differences between them.

Vedic astrology is based on the movements and positions of the nine classical planets, the two shadow planets, and the lunar nodes. Vedic astrology considers these positions at the time of birth and their relationships with each other.

In contrast, Western astrology focuses on the 12 zodiac signs — Aries, Taurus, Gemini, Cancer, Leo, Virgo, Libra, Scorpio, Sagittarius, Capricorn, Aquarius, and Pisces. It is believed to offer a deeper understanding of human nature and our personalities and insight into the timing of significant events in our lives.

Why is my Vedic sign different?

This is because the traditional twelve-sign zodiac system of astrology is based on the Tropical zodiac, which follows the seasonal cycle of the Earth's orbit around the position of the Sun. 

While the Vedic system is based on the Sidereal zodiac, which follows the fixed stars and is synchronized with visible star patterns in the night sky. Due to the precession of the Earth's axis, the zodiac is roughly 24 degrees ahead of the Tropical zodiac. As a result, there can be up to a two-sign difference between your Vedic and Western signs.

The difference between the two zodiacs is due to the "precession of the equinoxes" caused by a slow wobbling of the Earth's axis. This wobbling causes the position equinoxes (the point at which the Sun crosses the equator) to shift, affecting the zodiac signs' alignment with the stars.

As a result, it's currently shifted about 23.5 degrees ahead of the tropical zodiac. That means if you were born between the 21st of March and the 20th of April, in Western astrology, you are an Aries... while in Vedic, you are a Pisces.

What role does karma play in my chart?

For example, the placement of Saturn in a particular house or sign can indicate that the person will face challenges or obstacles, possibly resulting from negative actions in a past life. Similarly, the placement of Jupiter in a particular house or sign can indicate that the person will have opportunities for growth and success in that area of life, possibly as a result of positive actions in a past life.

Vedic astrology also uses the "Dasha" system. The Dasha system is believed to be influenced by past karma and can indicate when a person will experience the effects of past actions.

How did ancient Indian culture use astrology in Ayurveda medicine?

Thousands of years ago B.C., ancient Indians believed that the planetary movements and stars were deeply connected to the health and well-being of humans and that our lives were affected by the alignment of the stars and planets. That's why they used astrology to help diagnose and treat illnesses in Ayurveda (a Sanskrit word for medicine.

For example, when a person was sick, the Ayurveda practitioner would look to fix the imbalance using the position of the heavenly bodies to figure out what was causing the illness. The practitioner would then use herbs and other natural remedies to treat the illness based on the results of the readings.

What do the houses in Vedic Astrology signify?

In Vedic astrology, the houses (also known as "bhavas") represent different phases of life. Those phases help predict your experiences.

Each of the houses represents a certain aspect of your life. Such as your relationships, career, and spiritual development. The specific significance of each house can vary depending on the specific tradition of Vedic astrology being used --- but generally, the houses are divided into 12, and each house has a specific significance.

Some of the key significations of the houses are:

• First House: Self, physical appearance, personality, health, and overall vitality
• Second House: Wealth, speech, family, and food...
• Third House: Siblings, journeys, and communication...
• Forth House: Mother, home, and emotional well-being...
• Fifth House: Children, creativity, speculation, and creativity...
• Sixth House: Health, enemies, and debts...
• Seventh House: Marriage, partnerships, and relationships...
• Eight House: Longevity, transformation, and inheritance...
• Ninth House: Father, higher education, and religion...
• Tenth House: Career, social status, and reputation...
• Eleventh House: Income, gains, and elder siblings...
• Twelfth House: Losses, expenses, and spiritual growth...

The thing is, the houses are not fixed. That means their meanings are not mutually exclusive. The significance of a house can vary depending on the position of the other planets in the individual's birth chart.

Conclusion

If you've enjoyed this article, I want you to know it's just the tip of the ice burg. I encourage you to seek answers using this Indian and ancient method. It can serve you much like western astrology. A great place to start is my Ultimate Guide to Astrology for Beginners Guide. 

It's been used by tens of thousands worldwide for thousands of years and can even be found in ancient Hindu scriptures.

And this isn't just one of two systems. There are many astrology systems all over the world. You should learn about as many systems as possible and see how they play out.