Vedic Astrology or jyotish is the oldest system of astrology still in use in the world today. It comes from the subcontinent that is now called India. In former times, it wasn’t called India. It was known as Bharata. Vedic astrology comes from the Vedas, ancient books of knowledge dating back to about 3000 BC. The word ‘veda’ means knowledge in the archaic Sanskrit language. Prior to this time, the knowledge had been transmitted from guru to disciple through an oral tradition dating back even further in time. Though the Vedas cover all human concerns, they are more widely known for their elucidation of the sciences of karma, yoga, reincarnation, meditation and self-realization. In recent times, Ayurvedic medicine has seen a resurrection of interest throughout the world as well.

When the Greek civilization was enjoying its day in the sun, Vedic astrology migrated west, much like the spice trade. Thirsty for knowledge and eager to solve the mysteries of the universe, the Greeks immediately took to this ancient science and began applying it. Unfortunately, something is usually lost in transmission from one place to another and in translation from one language to another. The Greek version which has come to be widely used throughout the Western world is a miscalculated, altered and watered-down version of the original system of Vedic astrology. The Greek version or ‘western astrology” is the one commonly found in the newspaper under “Horoscopes.”

Western astrology is based on a movable zodiac and the planetary positions are calculated according to the sun's position in relation to the earth, both of which are movable points. Western astrologers say that the zodiac begins on or about March 22nd each year when the Sun enters zero degrees of Aries, the first sign of the zodiac. This is known as the vernal equinox.

Vedic astrologers do not take an arbitrary date like March 22nd as the start of the zodiac year. Instead, they look for a fixed point of reference to determine exactly when the Sun enters zero degrees of Aries. They observe the fixed stars or constellations and use them as a backdrop to gauge the movements of the planets in and out of zodiacal signs. For example, zero degrees Aries, the first sign of the zodiac, corresponds to the first constellation known as Ashvini, the horse. Zero degrees Ashvini equals zero degrees Aries. When the Sun enters zero degrees Ashvini, the zodiacal year begins.

As the earth spins on it axis, it has a slight wobble called nutation. This causes the vernal or spring equinox, the day when night and day are equal in duration, to move backwards about 50 seconds each year. Consequently, what Western astrologers believe to be zero degrees of Aries today is in actuality about six degrees of Pisces, the previous sign. This means that there is a 23 degree difference between the Western zodiac and the Vedic zodiac. Therefore, when we compute a person’s Vedic birth chart and compare it to the Western calculation for the same chart, we find that the planets' positioning in relation to each other does not change and that most of the planets will be in the same houses in both systems. However, many of the planets will end up in the previous zodiacal sign in the Vedic system because of the 23 degree differential. For example, someone with the Sun positioned in Cancer in the Western system may have their Sun in Gemini, the previous sign, in the Vedic calculation. The same applies to the rest of the planets and the Ascendant or Rising Sign.

In Western astrology, the sun signs change on the 21st or 22nd of each month, while in Vedic astrology, they change between the 12th and 16th of each month. For instance, instead of Aries extending from March 21st to April 21st in the Western system, the Sun moves into Aries in Vedic astrological calculation about 23 days after the dates given in Western astrology.

When I began my astrological studies about 27 years ago, I studied both the western and Vedic systems of astrology and found the Vedic to be far superior. It is much more comprehensive in relation to the tools available and more accurate in determining the outcome of people’s lives and circumstances. I have found that when I do a chart for someone who has some prior knowledge or experience of astrology, they generally say that the Vedic chart is much more accurate than any western chart they may have had prepared for them in the past.

Many western astrologers are now learning about Vedic astrology and, as a result, are abandoning their western approach. I have seen this many times. But I have yet to see a Vedic astrologer give up the Vedic system to pursue the western method.

The signs and planets generally have the same meaning and symbolism in both systems. Vedic astrology uses more detailed calculations and more comprehensive methods, such as major and minor periods of planetary influence based upon a 120 year life cycle. This life cycle is alluded to in the Vedas and agreed upon in the Old Testament of the Bible and even by scientists who study biorhythms. The 120 year life span is divided and subdivided into various periods or cycles of planetary influence, such as a one year minor period of the Sun within a twenty year major period of Venus, just as we divide hours with minutes and minutes with seconds — cycles within cycles.