What is Vedic astrology?
Vedic astrology, or Jyotish (“the science of light”), is the traditional astrology of India. Its roots lie in the Vedanga Jyotisha, a calendrical text, and it was systematised in classical works such as Parashara’s Brihat Parashara Hora Shastra and Varahamihira’s Brihat Jataka.
The sidereal zodiac
Western astrology uses the tropical zodiac, which begins at the March equinox. Jyotish uses the sidereal zodiac, which is fixed relative to the stars. Because the equinoxes slowly precess, the two zodiacs drift apart by about one degree every 72 years. The gap — the ayanamsha — is currently about 24°. This is why your Vedic signs are often one sign earlier than your Western ones.
The building blocks
- Nine grahas — Sun, Moon, Mars, Mercury, Jupiter, Venus, Saturn and the lunar nodes Rahu and Ketu. More on the grahas.
- Twelve rashis — the zodiac signs, from Mesha (Aries) to Meena (Pisces). More on the rashis.
- Twelve bhavas — the houses, each governing areas of life. More on the bhavas.
- 27 nakshatras — lunar mansions that give Jyotish much of its detail. Explore the nakshatras.
- Divisional charts — such as the Navamsa (D9), used to refine the reading of the birth chart.
- Dashas — planetary periods, above all the Vimshottari Dasha, used for timing.
The Moon comes first
Where Western astrology emphasises the Sun sign, Jyotish gives special weight to the Moon. Your Moon sign (Chandra Rashi) and birth nakshatra drive the dasha system, transit readings such as Sade Sati, and traditional compatibility matching.