Differences between Western Astrology and Jyotish (Vedic Astrology)

[Alan Annand]

Jyotish is generally considered to be the mother of all astrology, dating back 5,000 years. From India, the practice of astrology fanned out into the rest of the ancient world, evolving en route into its Chinese, Arabic and western variants. Western astrology likely arose as a result of Jyotish having migrated over time and distance through the Arab world and then into Europe, courtesy of the Gypsies, Greeks, and Moorish invaders.

Because western astrology has developed far from its original source, some original principles and techniques have undergone transformation or outright loss. Although the differences in the two systems are many, they can be summarized as follows:

Western astrology uses the tropical zodiac, which is based upon the seasons. Essentially, this system says that on the first day of spring, when the Sun appears to move from south to north of the equator, the Sun enters the first degree of Aries. As for the other planets, their zodiacal positions are determined relative to that of the Sun.

Jyotish uses the sidereal zodiac, or the starry background of the constellations, to determine the zodiacal position of any planet. On the first day of spring, a Vedic astrologer would look beyond the Sun and see it in the constellation of Pisces, roughly 24 degrees earlier in the "zodiac" than suggested by a western astrologer.

Western astrology uses all of the known planets in the solar system, ie, the visible ones as well as the outer planets Uranus, Neptune and Pluto. In addition, many western astrologers use several of the asteroids, eg, Pallas, Athena, Juno, Vesta, and Chiron in their charts.

Jyotish, which existed for millenia prior to the invention of telescopes, uses only the two luminaries Sun & Moon, the five visible planets Mars, Mercury, Jupiter, Venus & Saturn, and the moon's nodes Rahu & Ketu, which are accorded the status of planets.

Western astrology principally makes use of only the birth chart (the map of the heavens that shows where all the planets were positioned at the moment of birth relative to the specific place of birth) to analyze and
interpret the character, health, relationships, career, etc, of the client.

Jyotish uses the same birth chart of course, but also employs several other amshas (divisional charts) to cover a range of subjects such as relationships, career, etc. Among these, the navamsha (9th harmonic) is considered so vital that no Vedic astrologer conducts a serious analysis of the birth chart without it.

For predictive purposes, most western astrologers rely heavily on transits, or the motion of current planets through the zodiac relative to the original birth chart, to make predictions. Some astrologers, depending on their level of expertise, use other techniques called directions or progressions (eg, equating each day after birth to each year after birth) to complement transits.

Jyotish uses a scheme of planetary periods whose sequence is triggered by the Moon's position at birth. These dashas (major periods of 6-20 years) and bhuktis (sub-periods of several months to a few years) provide the background against which individual karma unfolds. If transits are the actors on a stage, dashas and bhuktis provide the stage setting, without which the drama has no context.

Western astrology is oriented principally toward psychological understanding of the client, with a self-empowerment approach that assumes anyone with adequate effort can make the best of a bad situation.

Jyotish has an undeserved reputation as being fatalistic when in fact it recognizes karma comes in three forms – fixed, unfixed and mixed – and that some people are inherently lucky or unlucky no matter what they do, while others are capable of tipping the scales in the direction of their efforts.

In the eyes of some, Western astrology might be considered the more "open-minded" of the two, having welcomed experimentation with techniques and theories. But during the same time that western astrology has evolved far from its original sources, Jyotish has remained faithful to its roots, despite the passage of so many centuries.

Western astrology as commonly practiced today generally provides a psychological understanding of the client, but is somewhat less capable of what Jyotish has to offer – a perspective contextualized by an understanding of karma, and the ability to make predictions from the mundane to the sublime.

We must acknowledge, however, that just as there are many fine carpenters who work without modern power tools, so too are there many astrologers who achieve good results with the western system. Based on my experience with both systems, Jyotish has a greater array of techniques, and in the hands of equivalent practitioners, offers greater capacity to render results for the client.

[Chandler Stephon Armstrong]

Hi Alan,

Thanks so much for you great introduction to Vedic Astrology! As a practitioner of Western Astrology, but also having an interest in Vedic Astrology as well, I really appreciate your balance overview!

All to often it seems the Western and Vedic Astrologer that I've spoken with have been overly defensive of "their" system - and tend to critisize eachothers version and interpetations in order the prove that "Their way is the right way".

Personally, I've gained a lot of insights from both systems, and hope to find more time to study the Vedic Teachings.

I would also like to point out, however, that I found some very close correlations between the "harmonic charts" of the more advance western technques and the derivative charts that are used by more advanced western astrologers...

I personal believe that any western astrologer could learn a lot by studing the vedic teachings.. and while they don't necessary need to "convert" to vedic astrology, can still add a lot to their understanding by the study of both...

Looking forward to seeing a lot more here! I know you have so much more to share!

[Alan Annand]

Hi Chandler -

Thanks for your comment, which prompts me to further expand on this subject...

Three decades ago, the now-deceased British astrologer John Addey wrote a book called HARMONICS which explored the meanings of the various "harmonic" charts that can be derived by sub-dividing the signs into thirds, quarters, ninths, etc, and placing the natal planets within these newly-created sub-zodiacs. But for a man who was both a seasoned astrologer and a scientific type, his book was a curious failure.

Admittedly, it was adopted by the British Faculty of Astrological Studies (BFAS) into their reading list, and the subject of harmonics was given the honor of being placed in their curriculum, where I believe it remains to this day, albeit with little emphasis. Part of this failure to have harmonics accepted by mainstream western astrology lies squarely on Addey's shoulders himself.

Despite the prodigious amount of literature available on the subject from the great authors of Vedic Astrology, Addey seemingly chose to ignore it all. Although it's been 30 years since I read the book, I believe he scarcely gives a nod to the whole topic of Hindu astrology, and certainly failed to follow its leads in terms of pursuing what could have been very fertile reserach into the whole subject.

Instead, like many other western astrologers, rather than honor the past and/or build upon it, he sought to create something that was wholly new and inventive, and by concentrating on some of the minor/trivial harmonics, failed completely to make a convincing argument for their use. The poor subject practically died stillborn, and were it not for the nurturing of the BFAS, we would never know Addey's name or the concept of harmonics.

Some day, perhaps, another astrologer will take up the subject and re-introduce it to the west, and people will get excited and start calling themselves Harmonic Astrologers. Mmm, who doesn't love the taste of old wine from new bottles?

Cheers, and holiday greetings!

- Alan

[Alka]

Hi Alan
Well written! yes, vedic astrology has so many astrological tools other than these by the help of which one can get accurate predictions - uses of different chakras i.e. diagams for different purpose- like in mundane astrology Koorma chakra and Sangghata chakra helps a lot to determine about the natural calamity or any other disturbance along with place also. and also different vargas - apart from navamasha - the 9 harmonic there are almost 60 different vargas for different areas of life and the saptamansha chart i.e the 7th harmonic acts as the accurate tool for determining the exact time of birth also-- which you mentioned above.
However, I work on western system too as I found elaborated and marvelous work done on the transits here. sometimes I wonder that what about the result if mathematical astrology of Vedic system and predictive part of Western system is taken together ? Any suggestion on this?

[Alan Annand]

Hi Alka -

Having worked both sides of the street (for more than a dozen years on either side), I now find little reason to go back to the western system. In terms of technique alone, there is not much (other than progressions) that western offers beyond what Jyotish uses. And specifically with reference to transits, Jyotish uses far more techniques, eg, the concept of ashtakavarga (house strengths) and argala (reinforcement vs blockage) to assess whether any given transit will produce dramatic results or fizzle out unnoticed.

If one is attached to Uranus, Neptune and Pluto, clearly there's a reason to persevere with the western system, otherwise little argument... from my point of view.

In fact, I believe that the reason Vedic astrology is enjoying growing popularity among both astrologers and their clients is because it is a more powerful tool. But as I said in my original essay, the role of the practitioner is of course vital, and cannot be separated from the total experience of the client.

To my beginning students, I always says: Study this system, learn the basic principles and apply them rigorously. All things being equal - your aptitude, your study, your practice - within two years you'll be better than anyone who's been using western astrology for five years, and after five years, you'll be better than those using the western system for 15 years. Not an idle boast, I've seen it play out time and time again.

- Alan

[Tova]

hi there i would love to try out jyotish, however i don't know my birth time (exact hour)...how can i do jyotish?

[Alka]

Dear Tova

For doing Vedic jyotish the exactness of birth time is necessary however if you dont have one then Vedic astrology has one branch of it known as prashna marg where you can know your future by without knowing your birth details. This is the birth chart created when the person - whose birth time is unknown - ask the specific question. For it help the Vedic astrologer can ask a number between 1-108 or there are other methods also which are used like kawri method etc. The method of reading of prashna chart differs from the reading of natal chart.
Further there is one chapter in Vedic astrology of lost horoscope by which the birth time of the native can be judged. However, it is very much intricate exercise. These both topics come under advance studies of Vedic astrology.


Tova said:

hi there i would love to try out jyotish, however i don't know my birth time (exact hour)...how can i do jyotish?

[Alan Annand]

Hi Tova -

As Alka wrote, there are a number of ways to sidestep the birth-time issue by resorting instead to a "prashna" chart, or what western astrologers call a horary (of the hour) chart prepared at the time the client poses his/her question(s). Other astrologers may use a prashna chart, not only to answer questions, but also to figure out the correct ascendant for your birth chart.

Astrologers can also attempt to figure out your correct birth time, and therefore your ascendant, by a process called rectification. This can be a lot of extra work, and requires the client to recall specific dates of key events in life, eg, death of parents, marriage/divorce, birth of children, first job, accidents and surgeries, etc. The astrologer then uses those key events and their timing to reconstruct your hypothetical birth chart, trying out different ascendants to see what best makes sense between a given chart and your life events.

Once that's sorted out to our satisfaction, we can then use the rectified chart to forecast future trends and events in the client's life.

But it all starts with what you know. Since the ascendant changes on average only every two hours, sometimes the range of time you know you were born, eg, "right after lunch", is enough to get the ascendant right. Other times, even an exact birth-time, eg, 06h49, could put your ascendant right on the cusp, ie, changing from one sign to another, and the astrologer will still have to ask a few questions to sort out whether it's, eg, Pisces or Aries rising.

As a client, you shouldn't worry too much about the technicalities. Do your part by researching your birth time and then let's see what you've got. Astrologers with many years of practice usually have become experienced in dealing with uncertain birth times. Every now and again, I seem to go through a flurry of them, as if God wants me to keep my rectification skills sharpened.

- Alan

[Tova]

hi alan,
I did try to do a rectification online, but the website was asking to charge me $50 for it, so i said no. I do not really have a vague clue as to when i was born, i've asked my parents on several occasions, but they couldn't recall. all i know is , that it was in the evening. could have possibly been around 8ish?? i dont' have a clear enough answer. what exactly is a prashna chart? and i don't really understand what is meant by the time i ask the question? does that mean the hour is recorded when i'm asking the question?

I would love to try out jyotish, i just have no reference or know how. are there any good websites for a prashna chart?

[Alan Annand]

Hi Tova -

Well, despite your saying you don't have the vaguest clue, you actually do know you were born in the evening, possibly around 8pm. So if you were approaching me to be your astrologer, I would just start with that and see what the chart looks like, then perhaps ask you a few questions to verify whether a chart with this or that ascendant made more sense.

As regards the prashna, all you need to know is this: it is a chart separate from your birth chart, using a current date/time/place, and is used to provide additional or supplementary information to the birth chart. There are no dedicated prashna sites per se, it is just a technique that all Vedic astrologers use.

If you're interested, we can discuss this further offline. See my website www.navamsa.com and phone [phone].

- Alan