What is Vedic astrology (Jyotish)?
Vedic astrology, or Jyotish, is the traditional astrology of India. It casts a chart from your birth time and place using the sidereal zodiac, and reads life timing through the Moon's nakshatra and the Vimshottari dasha system. Its sign positions sit about 24 degrees earlier than in Western astrology, which is why many people have a different sign in Vedic astrology.
How this chart is calculated
- 01Your birth time is converted to universal time using your birth city's coordinates and time zone, including historical daylight saving.
- 02The Sun, Moon and planets are computed with astronomical ephemerides (VSOP87 / ELP), then shifted to the sidereal zodiac with the Lahiri ayanamsa (about 24.2° in 2026).
- 03The sign of the ascendant becomes the first house (whole-sign houses), and we compute 16 divisional charts, nakshatras, dignities and yogas.
- 04The Vimshottari dasha is derived from the Moon's nakshatra at birth: a 120-year cycle ruled in turn by 9 planets.
Vedic vs Western astrology
| Vedic (Jyotish) | Western | |
|---|---|---|
| Zodiac | Sidereal (aligned with the actual constellations) | Tropical (starts at the spring equinox) |
| Sign offset | About 24° earlier than Western | — |
| Main focus | Ascendant, Moon sign and nakshatra | Sun sign |
| Timing | Vimshottari dasha | Transits and progressions |
| Planets | 9 grahas, including Rahu and Ketu | Includes Uranus, Neptune, Pluto |
| Houses | Usually whole-sign | Usually Placidus or other quadrant systems |
Vedic astrology FAQ
What do I need to cast a Vedic chart?
Your birth date, birth time (as exact as possible) and birth city. The city sets the coordinates and time zone, which determine your ascendant and houses; with the same date and city, a two-hour difference in birth time can change your ascendant.
Why is my Vedic sign different from my Western sign?
The two systems use different zodiacs. Western astrology uses the tropical zodiac and Vedic astrology uses the sidereal zodiac; they currently differ by about 24 degrees (the Lahiri ayanamsa), so most people's Sun sign moves back one sign in Vedic astrology.
What is a dasha?
The dasha is Vedic astrology's timing system. The widely used Vimshottari dasha divides life into periods ruled in turn by 9 planets over a 120-year cycle, starting from the Moon's nakshatra at birth. Each period has sub-periods for shorter timing.
What if I don't know my exact birth time?
You can cast the chart with an approximate time. Planet signs and dashas usually change little, but the ascendant and houses may differ, so hold house-related conclusions loosely. For more precision, a reader can help rectify your time from major life events.