Vedic Horoscope

Vedic Horoscope is very different from Western Horoscope. So all Horoscopes are not alike. Vedic Horoscopes have very powerful unique predictive features. All horoscopes are based on the position of planets in the sky at the time of an event or birth. From thereon, the differences start. We will like the readers to remember three key unique features of Vedic Horoscope in this article.

1. Sidereal Zodiac. Vedic horoscope is based on the sidereal zodiac. Its primary feature is that the signs of the zodiac align to the sky nakshatra (constellations) of the same name. The signs therefore run between dates which are different from the tropical zodiac of western astrology. For example, Sun is in Aries in Vedic astrology from April 14 to May 14 whereas in Western astrology it is in Aries from March 21 to April 20. Subtract the Ayanamsa which is about 24 degrees currently from the Western horoscope planetary positions to obtain Vedic positions in the sky. Ayanamsha increases about one degree every 78 years due to earth’s precession (as per astronomy) to preserve the link between signs and constellations in Vedic Astrology.

2. Nava Graha (Nine Planetary Bodies). Vedic horoscope has nine planetary bodies: the three inner planets, Mercury, Venus and Mars, two outer planets, Jupiter and Saturn, the two Luminaries, Sun and Moon, and two shadow bodies, the two (South and North) Lunar nodes, Rahu and Ketu. While Graha is commonly translated as planets in English, the Navagrahas do not refer to the planets of the solar system. Western Astrology however is based on sun, moon and all the planets of the solar system, thus includes Uranus, Neptune and Pluto. Vedic astrology doesn’t require any information about these outer planets and is complete in itself.

3. Mahadasha/Antardasha System of Timing. One of the most powerful predictive feature of Vedic Astrology comes from the ability to time events precisely based on mahadasha/antardasha and finer dasha systems. There are at least one hundred and eight (Yogini, Kalachakra, Chara, Shoola, Narayan, Ashtottari etc..) dasha systems. The one most widely used and with most accurate predictions is Vimshottari Mahadasa system, which runs for a period of 120 years and is calculated from knowing the nakshatra position of moon at birth. This system of timing is unique to Vedic astrology. While other systems like Transit and Solar return similar to Western astrology are also used, dasa system is amazing in timing events.

Indian astrology is based on Vedic Horoscope and has developed over thousands of years into a scientific body of knowledge with amazing predictions to its credit, which is why most people in India are strong believers in Astrology. We will discuss other key features of Vedic horoscope in a future post.

Receive Free Predictions for Special Life Events, Horoscopes, Daily Transits and Much More!