ayanamsha

May 11, 2004

||OM NAMO BHAGAVATE VASUDEVAYA||

Dear shri Raman,

Here are the few basics of ayanamsha :

Unlike Western astrology that is based on the Tropical zodiac, the Vedic system of astrology (jyotish) employs the Sidereal (or true) position of the planets. The difference between the two, due to the precession of equinox, is called the "Ayanamsha". The mundane astrology we use the tropical or Sayan zodiac. The Siderial zodiac is nothing but the Nirayan. Ayan means direction.

The apparent position of the planets (including Sun) in relation to the constellations is subject to this precession of the equinox which , basically, is the earth's slight backward movement through the constellations (aprox. 50.25 seconds per year) as it wobbles on it's axis.

There are several different Ayanamsha in use today but the one most widely used by traditional astrologers is the Lahiri ayanamsha which is sanctioned by the Indian government. This puts the degree of precession for (Oct) 2002 at approximately 23:53:26.

One of the greatest controversy's within the jyotish community is the question of which is the correct Ayanamsha. Many well-known and knowledgeable astrologers use different Ayanamsha values and all swear by their results. I believe the main reason for this is the tendency to correct the Ayanamsha rather than the T.O.B. which is very rarely 100% reliable ~ even with hospital records!

The date of coincidence of the Tropical and the Sidereal zodiacs was found to be 285 AD and the Ayanamsa (precessional distance) was called Lahiri's Ayanamsa. Different scholars gave different dates but the Indian Govt in order to standardise the Ayanamsa value took the initial point ofthe zodiac as the point in the ecliptic opposite the star Chitra (Alpha Virginis) which was the vernal equinoctial point on the Vernal Equinox dayof 285 AD. The rate of precession of the Vernal Equinox was taken as 50.3 seconds per sidereal year.

In Vedic Astrology, Ayanamsa value is deducted from the Tropical longitudes of planets to get the Sidereal longitudes. Hence the longitudes of planets in Western astrology (Tropical) and Vedic astrology differ by (aprox) 50.25 seconds per year. Obviously Natal charts cast in these 2 systems will not be the same!

The Tropicalists (Western astrologers) maintain that the Vernal Point is presently in the 6th degree of Pisces whilst Siderealists (Vedic astrologers) maintain that the Sidereal starting point remains to be 0 degrees Beta Arietis (Aswini) and that the Sidereal zodiac doesn't change ~ What IS changing is simply the degree of precession.

The important thing to remember is that the majority of traditional jyotish pundits use Lahiri, the ayanamsha that has been sanctioned by the Calendars Reforms Committee (Indian government) since 1954. Lahiri being the name of one of the major signatories.It's an undeniable fact that the intellect will invariably find a way to fit a square peg into a round hole. If the peg has to be altered to make it fit, then so be it ~and so it is with the Ayanamsha! If the events of life don't fit, usually due to wrong birth details or the inexperience of the astrologer, then why notchange the Ayanamsha to make it fit.

Lahiri is the Ayanamsha which are approved by the government of India and is the preferred Ayanamsha for the majority of traditional astrologers.

The value of the aynamsha vary much. The old Keropanti Ayanamsha used by late Bal Gangadhar Tilak is of 17 degrees. The earths precision and the phenomenon of precision of equinoxes is the root key behind the concept of ayanamsha.

Actually one must take the ayanamsha in good and perfect spirit. Actually the Sayan and Niryana systems are both used by the vedic seers. It is just like the two temperature scales: Celcius and Farenhiet. The conept behind the usage of Sayan and Niryana zodiacs is based on total different points which I am not discussing here. If one is interested of course it can be dealt with in details.

Yours

Dewavrat Buit

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