1. The Difference Between the Two Zodiacs
Firstly, our galaxy (Milky way comprising of our sun, moon, 9 main planets and asteroids/centaurs interspersed between them) is not static in comparison to the larger universe in its backdrop. The position of the milky way is slipping/moving in relation to the universe. This is called Precession in astronomy.Secondly, the wheel that we call the Zodiac comprising of 12 segments (signs) is an ' imaginary slicing ' of the visual sky done by us on/from earth. So when we put the above two factors together it is clear that the sky that we slice up today (the western or tropical zodiac) is not same as the sky that was sliced up by our ancestors thousands of years ago; during the Vedic astrology era (the Vedic or Sidereal Zodiac). Distant stars that were in the 'universe background' of the tropical/western zodiac now are not the same as the distant stars that were in the background of the Vedic/Sidereal zodiac then.It is because our visual sky has precessed or slipped away a bit since then and is continuing to slip away. This slipping effect between then and now is measured to be currently around 24 degrees, give or take 2 degrees, by various astronomers.
Vedic astrologers today continue use the ancient zodiac ignoring the above precession effect, because they believe that the ' larger background sky ' determines the zodiac (and therefore affect us via astrology) more than just the ' smaller foreground sky ' of our milky way.But modern astrologers use the exact position of the milky way because they believe that the foreground of the sky (the milky way which is our immediate solar system) has more impact on us via astrology than the distant background sky.
Therefore, it gives rise to a 24degree difference between the two zodiac systems. For example, when a child is born and a Vedic astrologer is asked to cast a natal chart for the child, s/he would look up at the sky and may say that Mars is at 3 Libra and Sun is at 20 Capricorn. But a western astrologer looking at the same sky for the same birth would say that Mars is at 27 Libra and Sun is at 14 Aquarius. Both planets would be 24 degrees ahead in the zodiac as each sign has 30 degrees. The same applies to the ascendant, angles and node positions. A Vedic ascendant at 15 Cancer would be at 9 Leo in a Western chart.
2. The Vedic Zodiac Further Analyzed
As explained before Vedic astrologers consider the ' distant background sky ' to be very significant. Therefore, they analyze that distant sky separately and simultaneously alongside the 12 segmented zodiac. They divide that distant sky into 27 segments called the Nakshatras (meaning asterisms) demarcated by distant star constellations. Each nakshatra spans across 13.33 degrees of the zodiac (i.e 360/27) and each zodiac sign contains 2.25 nakshatras (i.e 30/13.33). They have 27 names from Ashwini starting at 0.00 Sidereal Aries through Revathi ending at 29.59 Sidereal Pisces.
As those distant star constellations do not precess like the nearer milky way, their positions are the same now as thousands of years ago. (But do note that these distant stars move a wee bit too, as the entire universe is in a flux rather than static. However, the movement of these distant star constellations is so small that they can be considered static for Vedic astrology purposes)
Ancient Vedic astrologers were different to today's astrologers as they possessed other talents/superpowers in understanding subjects like astrology. They could see/understand things differently than us.One such ancient astrologer called Brahath Parashar who was also a great spiritual mystic, contributed greatly to Vedic astrology alongside a few others. They defined the characteristics/nature/manifestations of the following and their interplay.
a. The angles and houses in a chart.
b. The 12 Zodiac signs
c. The 27 asterism based nakshatra divisions
d. The 'Nine-main-things-in-the-sky'. (2 luminaries, 5 Planets closest to us, 2 mathematical node points of moon)
e. The ruler of each Nakshatra out of above 9.
f. The manner in which the above 9 things take turns in affecting a human's life through a system called 'Dasha system'.
3. What is the 'Dasha' System
The above 9 main things in our sky govern 3 Nakshatras each (i.e. 9 X 3=27). Also take control of our lives in the following sequence for given periods of time. They cover a total span of 120 years which was supposed to be the optimum span of human longevity. This cycle repeats after every 120 years and continues cyclically through continuous reincarnations of a soul.
1. Mercury - 17 years
2. South Node (Ketu) - 7 years
3. Venus - 20 years
4. Sun - 6 years
5. Moon - 10 years
6. Mars - 7 years
7. North Node (Rahu) - 18 years
8. Jupiter - 16 years
9. Saturn 19 years
The above sequence of planets and each planet's ruling period are two 'fixed factors' given to us by the ancient astrologers who must have had their own logic/vision to back up the theory. That logic was either not explained or not comprehensible to their audience. Therefore, we do not know why the above sequence and ruling periods happen to be so.
There is a rather complex method to find out how much of which planet's period is remaining when a person is born. It is calculated based on the answer to the question 'At what exact position within which Nakshatra was the natal moon at the time of birth?'. Then it is asked which of the 9 planets rule that particular Nakshatra. Then the 'Balance of the Dasha at birth' is calculated.For example if a person's natal moon was at 2.00 degrees sidereal aries, the moon would have travelled 15% of the way across Nakshatra Ashwini. (i.e 2/13.33 = 15%). The Dasha period span of each Nakshatra ruler is taken as the 100% period for the 13.33 degree span. So as Ashwini is ruled by Ketu and Ketu's fixed Dasha span is 7 years, it means the native will have 85% (100%-15%) out of those 7 years remaining as 'Balance of Dasha'. The native would have 5.95 years of 'Ketu Dasha forward' at the time of birth. (i.e. 7 years X 85%). So just before the native's 6th birthday, s/he would be done with the Ketu Dasha and start a Venus Dasha which will run from then onward for 20 years. Just before the 26th birthday the native would start Sun dasha which will be operational for the next 6 years.
That is not all, Dashas also have sub Dashas that are sometimes called 'Bhukthis'. Sub dashas also have the same sequence of the 9 planets in proportion to the main dasha period. Bukthis have further sub divisions and so on, much like 9 smaller cogs fitting into a larger cog and 9 of those fitting into an even larger cog. All within big wheelpowered by planets. The main Dasha and the next Sub-Dasha is said to set the tone for a particular phase of life.
Destiny or Karma determines the Nakshatra that houses the moon at birth and its exact degree position. Therefore, the moon determines the Dasha ruler and the balance period of the Dasha as well. This is why the Natal moon is given relatively higher prominence in Vedic astrology.
As a native goes through these Dashas, life's events unfold based on the strengths or weakness of the natal chart.
4.Assessing a Vedic Natal Chart
A Vedic natal chart is assessed based on a plethora of techniques which are too complex to detail here. But some of the main assessment approaches are as follows.
1. Malefic and Benefic planets for the native
2. The 9th Harmonic Chart (Navamsa chart) which is supposed to show past life Karma
3. Alternative ascendants such as 'Uppapada' ascendant etc.
4. 'Karak' signs and planets (i.e. the 'working' sign and planet) for each aspect/function of life.
5. Exhalted, Debilated or Neutrual sign placements of planets.
6. Friendly or hostile interplay between planets.
7. Aspect interplay between planets (eg. Not all aspects are operational between all planets. For example, Saturn is said to be dormant with trines and the forward square, but extra strong in the backward square)
If you would like a reading/consult regarding your chart or a couple reading for you and your partner, you may write to:
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