The better part of wisdom is accepting things that are out of our control. Think of a sailor on the open sea—they can’t control the wind but they can always adjust their sails. Navigating the world becomes far easier with the insights of astrology. It can influence our decisions on a deeper level than a weather report or daily news update.
Find Your Tropical Sign. When most people outside of India ask, “What’s your sign?” they are usually inquiring about your Sun sign in the tropical system of astrology. This is based on the position of the Sun at the time of your birth. You can look upyour zodiac sign here.
Did You Know?
Vedic astrology, sometimes known as Indian astrology, shares many points in common with western astrology. Both calculate a birth chart for the native based on the birth time and location, and both use the chart to make predictions about the life of the person. However, there are also some key distinctions:
- Vedic astrology uses the sidereal zodiac, whereas Western astrology uses the tropical zodiac.
- Vedic astrology includes the additional dark matter planets of Rahu and Ketu, whereas Western astrology doesn’t.
- Western astrology includes planets such as Neptune, Pluto, and other comets, whereas Vedic astrology doesn’t.
- Vedic astrology uses the science of nakshatras and a person’s moon sign to calculate suitable times for major life events. This is known as horary astrology, or prashna.
- Western astrology judges the zodiac signs based solely on the movement of the sun. This is known as the tropical zodiac, and it begins with Aries when the sun reaches the spring equinox.
Want to know more? Check out our article,Vedic vs. Western Astrology, What’s the Difference?
New to Vedic Astrology? Start Here
Vedic astrology has been practiced in human civilizations since before the beginning of recorded history. Don’t expect to master the science in one sitting. These articles will give you a clear “big-picture” view so that you can begin to understand your birth sign and what it reveals about your personality in this lifetime.
What is Vedic Astrology? | The Planets at a Glance |
The modern science of astrology gets its name from the ancient Greek word astrología, or the study of the stars. Astrology looks at how the movements of the stars and planets influence events on Earth, including the lives of individuals. Various forms of astrology have been practiced across human cultures since the beginning of recorded human civilization, but Vedic astrology is the oldest practice of astrology in the world. In this article, we explore the origins of Vedic astrology, how it works, and more. | The word “planet” comes from the Greek word planan, which means “to wander.” This refers to the constant motion of the planets through the twelve signs of the zodiac. In Sanskrit, the word for planet is graha, or “to grasp or seize.” According to Vedic astrology, each planet is actually ruled by a person who inhabits a higher dimension within our solar system. Led by the sun, the movement of the celestial bodies contributes to the unfolding of events on earth as well as the fates of each and every individual. |
READ MORE | READ MORE |
The 12 Signs of the Zodiac
The Zodiac, consisting of twelve distinct signs, is the foundation of the science of Vedic astrology. The movement of the planets through these signs creates a “map” of the many different events taking place on earth. This is known as an astrology reading or an astrology chart. A Vedic astrologer often calculates several birth charts which reveal different aspects of a person based on the particular arrangement of the planets within the chart.
Aries | Taurus | Gemini |
Cancer | Leo | Virgo |
Libra | Scorpio | Sagittarius |
Capricorn | Aquarius | Pisces |
The 27 Nakshatras
In India, practically everyone knows their birth nakshatra, as this is the main indicator of personality, along with a person’s moon sign. In Vedic astrology, the nakshatras are small constellations of stars that the moon travels through as it orbits Earth. In English, nakshatras are known as “lunar mansions.” A Vedic astrologer looks at the nakshatras along with zodiac signs to determine additional details about a person’s inborn traits. In addition, in electional astrology, also known as muhurtha, nakshatras are essential for determining suitable times for major life events.
Find Your Nakshatra: Use ourNakshatra Calculator to look up your birth star.
| Ashwini | Pushya | Swati | Shravana |
| Bharani | Ashlesha | Vishakha | Dhanishta |
| Krittika | Magha | Anuradha | Shatabhisha |
| Rohini | Purva Phalguni | Jyeshta | Purva Bhadrapada |
| Mrigashira | Uttara Phalguni | Mula | Uttara Bhadrapada |
| Ardra | Hasta | Purva Ashadha | Revati |
| Punarvasu | Chitra | Uttara Ashadha |
The Planets in Vedic Astrology
Get an in-depth understanding of your birth chart by learning about each of the 9 planets of Vedic astrology, including guides for each planet in all 12 signs of the Zodiac.
The Sun | The Moon | Mars |
Mercury | Jupiter | Venus |
Saturn | Rahu | Ketu |
Further Reading
Vedic vs. Western Astrology: Difference? | What is Vedic Astrology and How Does It Work? |
|---|---|
| In the practice of astrology, there are two main types: Western, also known as tropical astrology, and Vedic, also known as sidereal astrology. This article explores the main differences between the two traditions. | Various forms of astrology have been practiced across human cultures since the beginning of recorded human civilization. In this article, we explore the origins of astrology, how it works, and more. |
