1 Sayana And Nirayana Chakra: Understanding Ayanamsha By Deborah Allison This is the second in a series of articles that highlight

the unique features and tools of Vedic Astrology when compared to other astrological traditions. All Vedic astrologers have to deal with the identity crisis that inevitably occurs when clients who are used to Western chart readings, or who simply skim the "Your Horoscope" column in the local newspaper, encounter Jyotish for the first time. Even Jyotish "diehards" may not really understand why there is not alignment between something as basic as the calculation of what sign and degree a planet occupies in these two systems. The answer lies in the point of reference used for this all- important calculation. Western Astrology relies on what is known as the Tropical Zodiac (Sayana cakra), which uses the Vernal Equinox as the point of reference. The Indian system - Jyotish - uses the Sidereal Zodiac (Nirayana cakra), which adopts a fixed star as the point of reference. The reason for the discrepancy between these two systems is that there is a "wobble" in the rotation of the earth on its axis. As a result, the Sun does not return exactly to the same point of 0 degrees Aries each spring at the vernal equinox as observed from a fixed star. It misses by a tiny amount (around 50 seconds of arc according to the most widely used reference point). This may not seem to matter much, but when it accumulates over the years, the vernal equinox is seen to slip back and back into the sign of Pisces then eventually Aquarius and so on. This phenomenon is known as precession of the Vernal Equinox. At the present time, the discrepancy between these two systems is about 23 degrees, 57 minutes. This ever-increasing difference is known as the ayanamsha (moving part). If you subtract the daily specific ayanamsha from the planet's position in a Western tropical chart, you will get its location in the Vedic Sidereal Chart. A Western Astrologer is going to fix the Vernal Equinox as 0 degrees Aries regardless of whether the Sun is actually observed against the backdrop of the stars in the constellation of Aries on that particular day and year. In fact, eventually, there can be the bizarre situation where the Sun is actually observed by astronomers in the sign of Libra and a Western astrologer says it is in Aries - the opposite sign of the zodiac! This may be a contributing factor to the typical modern astronomer's negative opinions about astrology. However, as all astrology is, at its heart, a divination system, the important thing is how well the astrologer integrates any system with the cognitive faculty of intuition. Jyotish, in turn, always establishes the planetary position against the backdrop of the fixed stars so that real-time observation matches the chart positions. The Sayana cakra or Tropical Zodiac is used in Jyotish to a limited extend for some aspects of calendar calculations. However, the all-important mapping of the heavens for the purposes of

2 divination strictly uses the positions of the planets against the Fixed or Sidereal Zodiac the Nirayana cakra. Since the stars in the constellation of Aries are very dim, the reference star used for "pointing" to the all important beginning of the zodiac of 0 degrees Aries is one of the brightest stars in the heavens. Westerners refer to it as Spica but it is known as Citra in Jyotish. Citra is the marker star for one of the 27 nakshatras that bears the same name. Its brightness is reflected in the symbolism of that nakshatras which is known as "the shining jewel." The ayanamsha based on using Citra as the reference star is known as the Citra Paksha ayanamsha or the Lahiri ayanamsha and is the most widely used in India. However, if you have had your chart done by several Jyotishis, you may find some minor discrepancies in the positions of your planets. This is due to the fact that there are variant opinions on the ayanamsha, and in some charts, this can result in dramatic displacements either in the main chart or in some of the subtler divisional charts.

3 Astrology &Astronomy The Zodiac is a band of stars that surround us on all sides. A circle is considered to be made of 360 degrees, so also we refer to the zodiac in terms of 360 degrees as a large circle in space around our solar system. The Zodiac is comprised of 12 major divions of stars, which are the constellations you"ve heard the names of so often: Aries, Taurus, Gemini, Cancer, Leo, Virgo, Libra, Scorpio, Sagittarius, Capricorn, Aquarius and Pisces. Signs are 12 in number, and therefore each occupies 30 degrees of the circle around us, and 12 times 30 equals 360 degrees total. The planets are rotating around the Sun in different orbits and at different speeds. Hence, they are always moving. At the time of a birth, they are in certain signs as viewed from the Earth, and those are the signs we draw them in within the chart for that person. Each of the 12 constellations has a few special clusters of stars. There are 27 such special clusters stars the Nakshatras more or less equally placed The Moon just so happens to move through these 27 stars at the rate of roughly one per day, making the roughly 27 day lunar orbit. In the same way that each planet is in a sign as viewed from the Earth, similarly each planet is "backed up" by a Nakshatra that rules the zone of space the planet is currently moving through. Since they are 27 in number comprising the entire 360 degree Zodiac, the stars rule 13 degrees, and 20 minutes each, which when multiplied totals 360 degrees again.The Nakshatras, or 27 stars, are like signs their domain of influence t fall within their 13 deg. 20 min angles. Nirayana and Sayana systems are mainly two systems of ancient astrology .They are known as (Western or Tropical Astrology(Sayana)and (Vedic or Sidereal astrology(Nirayana). Western Astrology uses the Tropical Zodiac,whereas Vedic Astrology uses the Sidereal Zodiac. These two systems used the same sign names, but the difference lies in the fact that, due to the Earths gradually increasing tilt on it"s axis(precession of equinox), the Equinox no longer coincide with the starting points on the usual signs' Westerners who judge the starting point of the Zodiac by the Sun"s Spring Equinox, namely the Western Astrologers, no longer judge planetary positions by the background of the stars, but rather by the Sun"s relative relationship with the Earth. Western Zodiac and the Sidereal or Eastern Zodiac are in disagreement at the current time by about 24 degrees. When westerners say a planet is in Aries, we usually say it is in Pisces, and so on, because 24 degrees is almost one whole sign difference. Program gives options to view western star positions also. But they are not used in predictions. Both type of positions have some validity, because reading planetary patterns by itself is common. The Western Zodiac has more to do with the natural phenomena of our immediate world, like the seasons, whereas the Siderial Zodiac has more to do with the greater picture of the Universe remaining constant over centuries independent of earth's own precession. But a problem arises here. Accurate planetary positions are calculated at present by sayana positions of planets.All vedic

4 astrology predictions were formulated at a time when elliptic and and celestial equator coincided. The exact year of this coincidence is left as a matter of dispute.Most Indian astrologers are using Lahiri's Ayanamsa .But Ayanamsa,s differing about one degree from Lahiri value are also commonly used. This makes the time of start of a Dasa by about one year(since the Moon,s position differs by one degree). Apart from the Decimal Number system and Vedic Mathematics and astounding discovery of ancient Indians is the the discovery that the period precession of equinoxs is 25758 nirayana years!!. The greatest of Science Book ever written SURYASIDHANDHA (ranslated by Rev.E.Burgess to English ) gives Vedic planatory Analysis of ancients. Planets The Vedic Astrological system doesn"t use the three outer planets Uranus, Neptune and Pluto. The planets we do use, Sun, Moon, Mars, Mercury, Jupiter, Venus, Saturn ,Rahu and Ketu . Planets seem to slow down, stand still, then proceed backwards, then again stop, turn around and go forwards again. This is retrograde motion of planets. The Lagna If you watch the Eastern Horizon, and if you could see the Zodiac behind that Horizon, you would find that the constellations, or Signs of the Zodiac are rising there at the rate of one sign roughly ever two hours. These big huge 30 degree (1/12th) sections of the circle of space that surrounds us at all times are rising one after the other all day long.The reason the Sun rises and sets each day is because the Earth is turning. So, as the Sun rises, Signs of the Zodiac, alsorises because of the turning of the Earth. At any given moment, if you look East, the Sign rising is the "Rising Sign" or "Ascendant" or "Lagna". These all mean the same thing. And just like with the planets, it is the exact degrees-minutes-and seconds that we are interested in with the Lagna.The Lagna is very important. It is the body and overall life. Afflictions to the Lagna are significant. It is the starting point of the chart. The Lagna is the first house, and sets up the chart. The Lagna is based on the place you were born, as well as the time. The significance of the rising sign is that it determines the overall nature of one"s body. The lagna has most to do with the body, then the overall life in general. So, if a lagna is a materially good sign, and the lagna or first house is affected by materially helpful planets, then the overall life will be smoother and the person will be healthy and good looking. The opposite influences will produce the opposite results. HOUSES There are twelve houses in a chart. The chart is also called the "Kundali Chakra". The twelve houses govern all the various parts of our lives. The houses are domains in space. When you stand anywhere on the earth, at that moment you are surrounded by space all the way around you. Space even surrounds theearth which is below your feet. You are standing on a ball floating in space so space surrounds you and your earth ball on all sides. If you look directly East and point your hand at the Eastern horizon where the Sun rises, you are pointing in the direction of what is known as the first house.

5 The first house governs the 30 degree span of space where the Eastern horizon is. Directly across from it, or on the Western horizon is the 7th house. From the first to the 7th are the 2nd through 6th houses.Directly over your head is the 10th house. That is, straight up into space where the high noon Sun beams down on us is the 10th house. Straight below your feet covering the span of space on the other side of the earth from you, is the 4th house. So the first house governs the Eastern horizon, the 2nd house is just below the Eastern horizon, the 3rd house is deeply below the Eastern horizon, the 4th house is directly underneath you, the 5th house is underneath you and behind a little bit. The 6th house is underneath you and behind you quite a bit. The 7th house is behind you covering the Western or Sunset horizon. The 8th house is just over your shoulder when you turn your head around and look behind you. The 9th house is above the top back part of your head, the 10th house is straight over your head, the 11th house is what you see when you look upwards but not straight up. The 12th house is just slightly above the eastern horizon and this brings us back around to the first house which governs the eastern horizon. In this way, the entire 360 degree circular span of space surrounding you and your earth are divided into 12 equal 30 degree sections, each of which has a number from 1 -12 and is known as a house. Studying the parts of life that these houses govern is a large part of astrology. For example, the 10th house, i.e., the span of space directly over head, governs power, position and our career to a large degree. Any planets in this span of space at the time of our birth greatly affect our career, power and status in life. As you study astrology, you will find this to be unfailingly true and eventually you will become so familiar with the effects of planets that effect this house that you will be able to tell much about the success and failure of any one's career who's chart you glance upon. In conclusion, the 12 houses are always present. At every moment the 12 houses are present surrounding you and your earth.

6 Western Astrology and Vedic Astrology the difference: Page Title: sayana and nirayana Western Astrology and and Vedic Astrology the difference Related Links : |Services |Free Reading |The Difference Between Sun Sign in Western Astrology and the Lagna or the Birth Sign in Hindu Vedic Astrology There are many ways to say sensible and interesting things about another person using numerology, tarot, palmistry, Western astrology and of course Vedic astrology. It's obvious how various methods give us different information because they regard subjects from different angles. So it is with Vedic astrology. (1. View the Resources or 2. Get your FREE Vedic Astrology Reading) Although it is very tempting to compare your Indian horoscope with your Western horoscope and perhaps even to try to see which one of the two compares the best, this is exactly what you should NOT do. Here you have two different methods that may work well side by side however each must be interpreted and approached in different manners. That is the joy of the two systems of astrology. Just like Western Medicine and Aurvedic (Herbal) Medicine, two different systems of treatments for the same sickness or symptoms. The Hindu system of astrology (Visit the Home Page) uses the concept of fixed Zodiac. The western system uses the concept of moveable Zodizc. What is the Difference between Sun Sign of Western system and the Lagna of Hindu system ? Or why I am getting a different birth sign here ? Lagna is not the Sun Sign or the Rising Sign of Western System. Western System Sun Sign ( Explanation of - The difference between the Sun Sign and the Lagna Lagna is calculated in here and the reading is based on the Lagna) In Western System of Sun Sign, all the people born in one month belongs to the same sign. Every year approximately around 21 of March to 20 th April The Sun is moving in the Aries Constellation. So all the people born in that month belongs to the Sign of Aries. If you were born in between those two dates then you are a Aries Born. ( EX. Aries 21 March to 20 April, Taurus 21 April to 21 May, Gemini 22 May to 21 June, Cancer 21 June to 22 July, Leo 23 July to 23 August, Virgo 24 August to - 23 September, Libra 24 Sept to 23 Oct. Scorpio 24 Oct to 23 Nov., Sagittarius 23 . Nov. to 21 Dec., Capricorn 22 Dec. to 20 Jan., Aquarius 21 st Jan to 18th Feb. , Pisces 19th Feb to 20th March .) This is a rough system just to give some kind of a reading for people who does not know their time of birth. But for people who knows the time of birth, the rising sign or the Lagna is the better option More.....Read the Difference Between Sun Sign and Lagna

7 Can same thing happen to everybody born in that month ? I can not imagine that. Can you ?. Eastern system use Ayanamsha The "ayanamsa" is the distance or the difference at present moment of time between the fixed and movable Zodiac. The Hindu system of astrology is known as Nirayana System because: The earth revolves around the Sun once in 365 days 5 hours 48 minutes and 46 seconds. Considered from the earth, the Sun appears to complete one round of the ecliptic during this period. This is called a tropical year .In the span of a tropical year, the earth regains its original angular position with the Sun. It is also called the year of seasons since on this Earth-Sun cycle depends the occurrence, and timing, of seasons. If we consider the revolution of the Sun around the earth from one vernal equinox (around 21st March, when the day and night all over the globe are equal) to the next vernal equinox, it takes one tropical year to do so. However, if at the end of a tropical year from one vernal equinox to the next, we consider the position of the earth with reference to a fixed star of the zodiac (The Ayanamsha is based on the position of the constant star Spica), the earth appears to lie some 50.26 seconds of celestial longitude to the west of its original position. In order for the earth to attain the same position with respect to a fixed star after one revolution, it takes a time span of 365 days 6 hours 9 minutes and some 9.5 seconds. This duration of time is called a sidereal year .The sidereal year is just over 20 minutes longer than the tropical year; this time difference is equivalent to 50.26 seconds of celestial longitude.

Each year, the Vernal equinox will fall short by 50.26 seconds along the zodiac reckoned along the fixed stars. This continuous receding of the Vernal equinox along the zodiac is called as the precession of equinoxes This in other words, means that the plane of the equator intersects the plane of the ecliptic at a constantly shifting point. This point, the first point of Aries or the vernal equinox, goes on receding westward at a rate of approximately 50.26 seconds of arc each year. This is called the precession of the equinoxes. The result of this precession is a slow increase in the right ascensions of almost all fixed stars in the zodiac. This precession takes some 25,800 (or approximately 26,000) years to complete one circle. As will be seen, an appreciation of this precession is of paramount importance in the understanding of the basic concepts of Vedic astrology Ayanamsha: (The sayana and the niryana system)

8 It has been seen that because of the precession of equinoxes at a rate of 50.26 seconds per year, the distance between the Vernal equinox (the 1st point of the movable zodiac) and the 1st point of Mesha (Aries) on the fixed zodiac has been progressively increasing. This distance at any given epoch is called as the Ayanamsha .The ayanamsha thus indicates the difference between the fixed zodiac and the movable zodiac. The system that considers the fixed zodiac is called the Niryana (without ayana!) system, while the one that considers the movable zodiac is called the Sayana (with ayana!) system. The Niryana values of planetary longitudes can be obtained by subtracting the ayanamsha for a given time from the Sayana longitudes. The Niryana and the Sayana zodiacs coincided in the year 285 AD when the ayanamsha was zero. At the rate of precession of equinoxes stated above, the ayanamsha on the 1st of January, 1995 is 2347'26". The equinoctial precession completes one round in aproximately 26,000 years, as mentioned earlier, so that the fixed and movable zodiacs coincide regularly after this time span. The ayanamsha reckoned on the basis of considering the year 285 AD as the year when the Sayana and the Niryana zodiacs coincided.

The Sidereal and Tropical Zodiac The Ayanamsha is based on the position of the constant star Spica. Intermediary data can be calculated by interpolation. Some Western computer programmes offer the possibility

9 to make a calculation based on the sidereal zodiac. However, sometimes the ayamamsha for the sidereal zodiac used in such programs is slightly different than the Lahiri Ayanamsha. So, it is valuable to calculate the planetary positions by hand. Table 1: LAHIRI AYANAMSHA 1 January 1920 2245 1 January 1930 2253 1 January 1940 2301 1 January 1950 2310 1 January 1960 2318 1 January 1970 2326 1 January 1980 2335 1 January 1990 2343 1 January 2000 2351 How do you start? First you take the positions from the Western horoscope and deduct the relevant Ayanamsha. For example: a person born in 1950 has the Sun on 25 Pisces. The Ayanamsha for 1950 is 2310. Deduct this from the position of the Sun: 25 - 2310 = 150. Therefore, the Sun in the Vedic horoscope will be on 150 Pisces. Now let us make it a little bit more difficult. Another person born in 1950 has the Sun on 15 Pisces in the Western horoscope. The Ayanamsha for 1950 is 2310. Deduct this from the position of the Sun (2310 - 15 = 810 then 30 - 810 = 2150). The Sun is now 2150 Aquarius. Continue calculating in this manner with the remaining planets and the ascendant. THE NEW HOROSCOPE Now you are in for some surprises! It appears that someone, who thought their Sun sign was Pisces, now appears to have an Aquarian Sun! This can be a real shock. What is important is the complete image that has appeared. Most probably in the new horoscope the Piscean-energy will be visible in another manner (for example, perhaps the Moon will now appear in Pisces, or the ascendant will move to Pisces in the Vedic horoscope) . In addition, you must remember that you are naturally accustomed to Western Sun sign and Western horoscope, so the Eastern one will initially feel strange. Learning to be flexible and open to different approaches, which may give different results, is difficult at first. The secret is to open your mind to the possibilities within a new method