Dear friends
The ancient Indian culture of the Vedic times is an extremely rich and exalted culture. During this period, which goes back several thousand
years B.C., the various arts and sciences attained a pinnacle of ascendancy unmatched in any other culture in history. The brilliance of the advocates
of this culture lies in the fact that they inculcated it in their daily chores of life. Over a period of time, the Vedic culture became a way of life in India.
Civilisations rose and fell, but the Vedic culture survived because it had become a physiological constituent of its practitioners.
Indian astrology has always been an inseparable limb of the Vedic culture. It has been labelled as the ‘eye’ of the Vedas, the repository of knowledge.
It is only appropriate that this knowledge be made available to the sincere seeker who does not have easy access to it. The VEDIC ASTROLOGY is being
published with this aim of disseminating knowledge related to astrology and Vedic culture. To achieve this end, the editors and the publisher of the
VEDIC ASTROLOGY seek the cooperation and indulgence of all the sincere seekers of ancient wisdom.
The Differences between Western & Vedic Astrology
1. Definitions
In truth, there is no unified approach used by most Western astrologers. They may favor using Outer Planet transits or Progressions or Directions for their primary predictive tool, and some include additional bodies like asteroids, the comet Chiron, Arabic Parts (Greek Lots), Fixed Stars, Hypothetical Points, and Uranians and Plutonians, or even adopt radically different approaches like the Huber method, Evolutionary Astrology, or Symmetrical Astrology (aka Cosmobiology).
Similarly, there are literally thousands of Vedic astrological approaches, including -- among the most popular systems -- Parashari, Jaimini, Laghu Parashari, Krishnamurti Paddhati, and Shri Pati Paddhati. In point of fact, the "bible" of Vedic astrology, called Brihat Parashara Hora Shastra, is actually a compendium of independent approaches, some of which actually contradict others. This has led some Jaimini astrologers to call their approach Parashari (since there are many Jaimini chapters in BPHS), further confusing the issue.
For the purposes of this article, I am focusing on modern Western astrology as practiced by many professional astrologers (ignoring the multitudinous variations), and on Parashari astrology as explicated in Phaladeepika and much of BPHS.
2. Fundamental differences between Western and Vedic astrology
Zodiac
The most foundational difference between Western and Vedic astrology is each system's choice of Zodiac. Western astrologers use the Tropical Zodiac, where the beginnings of the twelve signs are determined by the Sun's apparent orbit around the Earth, i.e. the onset of the four seasons, i.e. when the Sun crosses the Equator (going North at Spring which defines Aries and South in the Fall indicating the beginning of Libra) and its uppermost and lowest points (the Summer and Winter Solstices).Vedic astrologers, on the other hand, use the Sidereal Zodiac, which is based upon the physical positions of the constellations in the sky. They choose a starting point (most commonly the place in the sky opposite to Spica) for the beginning of Aries, and proceed in equal 30 degree segments for subsequent signs.
While planets in signs are used extensively in Western astrology as the major definer of the expression of a planet, Vedic astrology uses signs differently, and reviewed in my article The Vedic Signs at: http://www.learnastrologyfree.com/vedicsigns.htm
House System
In addition, most modern Western astrologers use one of the many house systems that places the degree of the Ascendant as the beginning of the First House, with either unequally- or equally-sized houses. Vedic astrologers, by and large, use Whole Sign Houses, where the Ascendant can fall anywhere in the First House, and each house comprises all of one sign. Many also use Bhava/Shri Pati houses for a portion of their work.Planets and Sign rulerships
Western astrologers use all of the major planets including Uranus, Neptune, and Pluto, and most attribute rulership of Aquarius to Uranus, Pisces to Neptune, and Scorpio to Pluto. Vedic astrologers, on the other hand, stick to the visible planets, i.e. those through Saturn, using the traditional rulerships, of Aquarius to Saturn, Pisces to Jupiter, and Scorpio to Mars.While planets in signs are used extensively in Western astrology as the major definer of the expression of a planet, Vedic astrology uses signs differently, as reviewed in my article The Vedic Signs at: http://www.learnastrologyfree.com/vedicsigns.htm
Aspects, Orbs, Aspect Patterns & Chart Shape
Western astrologers use an assortment of aspects, always including the five Ptolemaic aspects (conjunction, sextile, square, trine, and opposition), with tight orbs of 10 degrees or less, determined by the type of aspect. Planets only aspect other planets and the angles (Ascendant and Midheaven).Vedic astrologers use a different approach: each planet associates with all planets in the same house, and aspects the opposite house and any planets in that house. Mars, Saturn, and Jupiter also have additional (unilateral) special aspects to both planets and houses.
Western astrologers also place importance upon aspect patterns like Grand Trines, T-squares, Yods, etc. which are unused by Vedic astrologers. However, while many Western astrologers employ the seven whole chart shapes originated by Marc Edmund Jones (e.g. Bucket, Splash, etc.), Vedic astrologers have a very large set of delineations of whole chart patterns, seen as yogas.
3. Differences in Approaches and Methodology
Strengths and Weaknesses of Planets
In Western astrology, retrograde planets are seen as weak, but since Vedic astrology is oriented towards how planets appear in the actual sky, retrograde planets are seen as strong (because planets that are retrograde are at their closest approach to the earth, and therefore visibly both brighter and larger).Western astrologers also see planets occupying the sign opposite to the sign they rule as weak (which they call debilitated), while Vedic astrologers do not see such sign positions as weak. (This gets confusing to Western readers of Vedic texts, because Vedic astrologers do see planets in the sign opposite to their exaltation sign as weak, and call such planets either debilitated or fallen interchangeably.)
Modern Western astrologers seldom employ the concept of combustion (i.e. when a planets is near the Sun), but Vedic astrologers utilize combustion as a fundamental principle: a planets is weak when within 6 degrees of the Sun (and very weak within 3 degrees of the Sun).
Some Western astrologers interpret 8 lunar phases, but they generally don't assess Lunar strength by phase. Vedic astrologers place great importance on Lunar phase, and delineate 30 different Tithis, and consider the Moon as weak when it's within 72 degrees of the Sun, and strong when within one sign of opposite to the Sun. (They also see the Moon as weaker when waning than when waxing.)
Vedic astrologers consider true planets (Mercury through Saturn) that are within one degree of each other as at war, and this indicates a major weakness. This is not used in Western astrology.
When a planet is in the same sign in both the natal chart and the Navamsha chart (with the exception of it being in fall), this gives the planet strength, (in Vedic astrology), but this is not used in Western astrology.
In Vedic astrology, planets get directional strength (Dig Bala) by occupying specific angles: Jupiter & Mercury in the 1st, Moon & Venus in the 4th, Sun & Mars in the 10th, and Saturn in the 7th. Western astrologers do not use this concept.
The status of a planet's dispositor is rarely focused on in Western astrology, but in Vedic astrology, each planet's dispositor is seen as the soul of the planet, and is therefore very important. In fact, while exalted planets in Western astrology are always seen as very strong without qualification, in Vedic astrology, if the planet ruling the sign occupied by an exalted planet is weak by sign, then the exalted planet is not seen as strong. Similarly, Fallen planets are seen as invariably weak in Western astrology, but in Vedic astrology they are strengthened if their dispositor is strong, angular, or meets other criteria.
Mutual reception is used by some Western astrologers and by all Vedic astrologers. In Vedic astrology, it is called a Parivartana yoga, and has extensive interpretive meanings including strengthening planets in both the natal and divisional charts.
Benefics and Malefics
While Western astrology recognizes Saturn as challenging, the concept of benefic and malefic planets is employed to a much greater extent in Vedic astrology. E.g. Mercury is benefic unless solely under the influence of other malefics, the Moon is benefic unless within 72 degrees of the Sun, and Jupiter and Venus are always benefic. The Sun, Mars, Saturn, and the Nodes are malefics.House Meanings and Rulership
Houses in Western astrology are rarely classified beyond their angularity or lack thereof, and their elemental affiliation. In Vedic astrology, houses are classified by a multitude of criteria including good/bad, upachaya/apachaya (improving or not), kendras & trikonas, marakas, and more.The rulership of houses is used by some Western astrologers, but is at the core of Vedic astrological interpretation. The analysis of planetary yogas in the Vedic chart relies mainly upon the houses ruled by individual planets and pairs of planets.
Additional Methods of Analysis
Transits, especially by the outer planets, are the main predictive device used by Western astrologers, but some use progressions and/or directions too. Vedic astrologers rely primarily upon the Vimshottari dasa system (cycles and sub-cycles wherein specific natal planets are activated ), and secondarily employ the transits of Jupiter and Saturn (but not the transits by Uranus, Neptune, or Pluto). Some also employ other dasa systems.Lunar Mansions/Nakshatras
It is the rare Western astrologer who uses lunar mansions, but Vedic astrologers, who call them Nakshatras, use them for dasa calculation, electional astrology (Muhurta), and for natal work. In fact, the use of Nakshatras for Muhurta may even precede the use of the 12 signs in astrology.Harmonic/Divisional Charts
Harmonic charts, called Varga or Divisional charts in Vedic astrology, are essential to natal and predictive analysis in Jyotish, but are largely unused in Western astrology.Synastry
Western astrology is rich in methods of compatibility analysis including examining placement of planets in each other's houses, inter-aspects (between the charts), and a variety of combined (e.g. Composite) charts.
Vedic compatibility assessment is primarily done by examining the two partner's Moon positions, examining many Lunar attributes. In addition, the Navamsha chart is used in both in assessing the partner and in timing of relationships (and the changing relationship climate).
How was Astrology Created? :
Western Astrology vs. Vedic Astrology
•Greek- 2,000 years old
•Eastern- over 5,330 years old perhaps even more, around 25,000 years ago.
I
wish I could just leave this chapter to the bullet points above, but, I
will describe these two historic entities in a short chapter.
Eastern
astrology as in Vedic “Hindu” astrology has been around in India for
past 5.33 thousand years. Some say the sages of that time knew way more
than we do now, and some say those sages back then were visited by
beings from other worlds who taught them the science of planets and
predicting through their movement, like the civilization of Anunnaki
‘Those who came from heaven’, according to Sumerians, who lived in
Baghdad, Iraq back in that time. There are all kinds of tales and
legends regarding the true origins of this subject. But Vedic astrology
goes much more in depth than just your normal sun signs, moon signs and
planetary positions, which I will teach you in this book.
The
Greek astrology emerged through the roots of Vedic astrology, and the
reason why we can tell this is because Greek astrology is missing about
70% of Vedic astrology predicting method, including 27 other zodiac
signs which they never acknowledged, along with divisional charts.
Eastern
astrology doesn’t consider planets such as Uranus, Neptune, and Pluto
in your birth chart, as they are too far, and take too long to switch
zodiac signs in making any kind of impact on a single individual. The
two gas giants are only used to show the influence they will have on a
whole generation, and, neither are they are visible in the sky. The
sages back 5,000 years ago knew that only the planets that are visible
in the sky will impact a person individually, even though they were
aware of at least three other planets out in the vast space, but did not
consider them for astrological use. The third planet may not have been
Pluto, it actually might have been Nibiru.
I am
not bashing the Roman system, but I just do not see the depth in their
astrological system, and, the fact is I had my chart looked through the
Greek system which was totally wrong. I didn’t say anything to the Greek
astrologer, and just listened, but realized what every Vedic astrologer
was talking about. I am using the term ‘Greek’ and not Western, because
our normal sun sign based astrology was originated from Greece.
Not to mention, Greek System also got the degrees of the planets wrong. They went 23 degrees ahead of the Eastern system.
Degrees are points in the sky that determines the length of each Zodiac sign, and the location of the planet in those signs.
The
reason why two systems have different degrees is because the old Vedic
sages determined the position of the planets from the true rotation of
the earth in 24 hour time period, while the Romans determined the
degrees of the planet from the spring equinox point when Sun enters the
first degree of the first zodiac sign Aries. Equinox is known as the
point on the North and South Pole where the earth wobbles a bit, and
shows the planets moving faster from certain point from earth.
Mayan,
Egyptian and Hindu mapping of the sky are 99.999% same, and taken
seriously even by the scientific community on star movement and mapping.
