Vedic Astrology vs. Western Astrology
Being born and raised in the Midwestern portion of the United States, I grew up with the Western astrology with which most of us are familiar. As I grew more interested in astrology, however, I began to hear more and more about the predictive power of Vedic astrology. My first thought was, “What is Vedic astrology, and how can it be different from my astrology?” If there was a way to better use the stars to predict my future, well then, I wanted in on it.
Vedic Astrology refers to Indian/Hindu astrology, which originated in ancient India and was noted by ancient sages in the Vedic Scriptures. This system is also known as “Jyotish.” Vedic 
astrology, the “science of light,” deals with cosmic patterns that are thought to determine our destiny.
What’s the Difference?
This belief that cosmic star and planetary patterns determine our karma and our destiny is the same that is held by those that practice Western (Tropical) astrology. So what is the difference? The main discrepancy between the two types is that Vedic astrology uses the fixed zodiac, while Western astrology uses the moving zodiac. (Because the earth tilts on its axis—known as the Precession of the Equinoxes—the zodiac appears to be moving at about 1/60th of a degree per year, which would make the current relative/movable zodiac almost an entire sign of the zodiac off from the the fixed zodiac. Because of this difference, you will most likely be one sun sign back in Vedic astrology from the one you have in Western astrology.)
Is it possible that it is more predictive?
It is entirely possible that Vedic astrology is more predictive than other types of astrology (such as horary or electional), but as with any predictive system, it depends largely on the knowledge and accuracy of the astrology. The premise behind why Vedic astrology might be more accurate lies in the concept of “dashas;” dashas are predictive timelines based on the positions of the planets in the fixed zodiac. Because these “planetary ruling periods” are unique to Vedic astrology, it is possible that Vedic astrologers can be more accurate when predicting trends and changes in your life.
As far as I’m concerned, there is little difference between Vedic astrology and Western astrology; it seems to me that the only difference is whether you ascribe to the idea that using the fixed zodiac is more accurate than using the movable zodiac, and all else depends on the astrologer.
So readers, here is my $64,000 question: Which do you use—a fixed zodiac or a moving one?
Hi, Anna.
Thanks for a great post! My answer, though, is a bit of a cop-out. But before answering, let me draw a comparison:
I have lots of Tarot decks. I use different Tarot decks for different purposes. Some I use for giving readings. I’ll use different decks for the way I feel about the reading, the person I’m reading for, or I’ll let the person I’m reading for choose. I use other decks for meditation and still other decks for magick. Of course, there’s a crossover between them.
So the answer to your question: I use both Jyotish and Western astrology. I choose one or the other depending upon why I’m going to be using a chart.
To answer your question, I use sidereal or Vedic astrology. Vedic astrology is very precise in it’s definition of the characteristics of planets and houses. Also, Vedic astrology is not only a predictive tool, but also prescribes remedial measures.
Horary astrology also exists in Vedic astrology, it is known as Prashan Shastra/Lagan.
Excellent post! Actually, I am a Western Astrologer who uses the Tropical Zodiac because it works. However, I want to point out that it isn’t only Vedic Astrologers who use the Sidereal Zodiac – there are a handful of Western Classical Astrologers who use Sidereal also. However, I have a theory as to why the Tropical Zodiac works so well, and it is because of another measurement: Declinations! In fact, I am aware of astrologers who ONLY use Declinations in their readings, and they are very accurate. I do know some things about Vedic Astrology, but if I were to use that system, I would not deviate from their use of Sidereal because it isn’t made to do so. As far as being more predictive, I think we are speaking of culture here, because most Western minds want to embrace free will, rather than fate (which to me, is free will that was practiced before incarnation anyway). The best is using each of these separately, and then combining the results to get a larger picture. It has been said that Western Tropical is like the outside of the hand, and that Vedic or Jyotish is like the inside of the hand. Just different points of view!
Any branch of knowledge must have three ingredients: predictive, preventive & prescriptive. Vedic astrology does have all these ingredients.
In fact Electional (Muhurt) astrology is the best known branch of Vedic astrology. And western astrology have recently introduced it in their scope.
Those who are interested in it may like to go through blog:
Electional Astrology – http://hinduelectionalastrology-shridhar.blogspot.com/
related to Vedic electional astrology.
…. V K Shridhar
[…] Vedic Astrology vs. Western Astrology […]
Hi all people who think that vedic ways believed in fate needs to understand that in vedic culture it is always said everything is your karma(means everything is your action) , please tell me where does fate fit in here? Now coming to astrology it means that there are several external forces influencing us , but if you transcend it consciously through meditation or pure will it will not leave a trace of karma within your self(externally may be but within you you are absolutely still and unfettered).
Thanks
sri
Vedas are the creator of this Astrology …. Different saints added their observation relating to their experience of the efffects in human life. Western astrology ia just a derivation from it which fails to understand the deep message , logic & meaning of vedic astrology. Western astrology only deals with parts of vedic one… like without understanding of dasas ,i dont understand how can one predict th enxt course of action. Vedic astrology is a pure logical derivation understanding the effects of planets & their degree of impact. Western astrology fails to capture the crux of the matter.
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This is for me like a shock , i would say… I remember taking a western astrology class and my teacher kept telling me about my sun sign cancer and i would always reject that . I never felt like a Cancer , i do have my venus there in Vedic Astrology but my Sun , mars and mercury are in gemini . I guess is time for me to take a good look at vedic astrology .
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Hi,
I am a Vedic Astrologer. I have read your post and it has portrayed the difference of both types of astrology methods very nicely. I have studied both types of astrology and then decided to persue vedic astrology as it gives more accurate picture. However, the difference between both forms of astrology is very small.
Vedic astrology has been there for years. Its precise and traditional approach of prediction. It depends on different astrologers and their method of approach to choose between fixed or a moving zodiac sign.
Excellent post!!My belief is on vedic astrology as it is predicted with the alignment of planets and the word “Guru” which is the mostly used word in vedic astrology.Guru is the head of all the planets.It determines a man’s life “time”.
I am not adept at any astrology but am trying to learn.
Why is it that in my Jyotish chart I have the Sun, Ascendant,Mars,and Ketu in the first house and Venus and Mercury in the 12th house. But when you look at my Western chart it places my Sun in the 12th house with Venus and Mercury. I am really confused. Any explanation would be appreciated. Thank you!
Excellent Post. I have read your post. your post is very useful. A good astrologer knows that to simply look at one aspect of a chart such as a Sun sign, will giving you only a glimpse of one aspect of the person.
Fabulous post… Referring to the above post,,I feel that Vedic astrology takes us more close to self being as Vedas are into existence from ages. On the other hand, western astrology is more about the sophisticated world that we live in and illustrates what we can have in this imaginary world.
I recently decided to look further into Vedic astrology after finding that western astology seemed to leave a gap in some instances. Vedic astrology is more solid and comprehesible to me. Then again you may end up missing a few insights by ignoring western astrology all together.
When it came to trying to understand myself and my whole life, Vedic astrology cleared a lot of confusion up and answered some long standing questions for me. In western astrology my I have Sagittarius sun with 3rd Decanate Sagittarius rising. The really didn’t seem to fit. When I learned about Vedic astrology it shed a whole new light on my life. I had Sagittarius sun with 3 rd Decanate Scorpio rising! NOW I had some answers and my whole life and things I have gone through made sense. And I got clear, consice answer as to what I need to work on in this life.
ok, this is nice topic. today i shock to know that there is difference between western astrology (the one i believe from childhood) and vedic astrology. i will just put a little words from Carol Allen in her website: http://www.soulmatestars.com
“Western Astrology was devised by the Greeks and the Babylonians around 2,000 to 3,000 years ago. They believed that, since the Sun is the center of the Solar System, the relationship of the Earth to the Sun is most important.
According to Vedic astrology, looking at the relationship of the Earth to the Sun is not an accurate approach to measuring the signs due to what’s referred to as the “precession of the equinoxes.” The Earth is spinning like a top in one direction but wobbling slightly in the other. This causes the equinoxes to precede about 50 seconds every year. What this means in simple, layman’s terms is that every 72 years, we lose an entire day in our revolution. Therefore, every 72 years, the signs must shift backward by a day to remain astronomically literal.
The Western system does not adjust for this. Thus, the astrology that is predominantly practiced in Western Civilizations is no longer astronomically observable. When a Western astrologer says, “Venus in Sagittarius,” you can look at night with your naked eye at the star group Sagittarius, and Venus will not be there – it will be one sign back in Scorpio. This is a major reason astronomers do not believe in astrology.
The Vedic system, however, does adjust for the precession of the equinoxes. When Western Astrology was devised, the two systems had the same dates for the Sun signs. Over the centuries, they have drifted apart by around 25 days.
Thus, most people are the Sun sign prior to the sign they have always believed. It shifts the whole chart backward 24 degrees, often changing not only the Sun sign, but the rising sign and Moon sign, as well as the positions of all the planets in the chart.
Isn’t that incredible? It means that if you’ve ever shunned a Scorpio because you thought he might be a spy, or thought a guy was too blunt because he was a Sagittarius… you were dealing with a completely different sign! Poor guy…”
i think i put more believe in vedic astrology
Very usefull informaction
Very interesting to read your comments.
I am looking at my Vedic chart Rashi – and at my D-9 chart. And at the 3rd of my charts, according to western astrology system.
I only looked up the western astrology for myself a month ago, after years of analysing my Vedic chart.
Re: my western chart = like switching ten 100w. lightbulbs on!! All became revealed.
Then looked at other charts I have, of family, from Tropical perspective. Same result.
With a twist….D9 is uncannily accurate.
With another twist…..after long perusal I find that actually – ALL the charts are relevant, are true. (NB: I am talking about character and personality traits here; and psychology / mind etc., not predictive aspects at all).
Uranus in my 12th house in Rashi. Uranus in my 1st house in Tropical. Uranus in 12th definitely applies. But Uranus in 1st conjunct Sun really really hits the nail on the head. With force!
Saturn in 1st house with Rahu, in Rashi. Saturn in 2nd house in Tropical. BOTH apply equally.
Moon in 5th house in Rashi. Moon conjunct Neptune in 5th house in tropical:= THIS IS WHERE ALL THE LIGHTBULBS CAME ON. Suddenly, answers to practically all the puzzling I wanted answered, in one fell swoop. From these experiences, have to say, read the charts in conjunction as it appears they complement each other.
Hope I didn`t go on too long or bore anyone too much.
thank you so much for the venue
Irene.
Vedic astrology is 100% accurate and Western astrology is only 25-30% accurate.
Vedic(Hindu) astrology- 100% accuracy,
Chinese astrology- 46.67% accuracy and
Western astrology- 26.67% accuracy.
You have written a well maintained post which describes the difference between vedic and western astrology & where is the difference lies.The main thing is that which astrologer you choose to get accurate advice regardless of which astrology technique do you use.
Astrology is a guide to help us navigate ourselves on a better path throughout life and importantly it is derived from the ancient holy book of India “Lal Kitab”. Get the deeper knowledge of jyotish or learn astrology by the famous Acharya Rajender Singh. He dedicated his whole life for astrology and believes in spreading knowledge of astrology worldwide.
I have the impression almost all the responses are heavily biased and attempting to popularize Vedic astrology. I have no investment in either as I have studied them out of deep curiosity, love of knowledge and cultural research, and not as a craft to make money with. I cast and read charts, and have read ancient and modern texts and methods so, while my position is not professional, it is that of a serious researcher with little bias. I have grown up in a Western culture so, my bias comes from my cultural default position. What my observations are, after reading many charts and always using mine as in-depth study ground – Vedic astrology is almost entirely irrelevant both predictively and descriptively while Western astrology can be extremely accurate. I wasn’t willing to accept this discrepancy for a long time and gave Vedic astrology more than one try, including paying for readings by different Vedic astrologers who, I hoped, might reveal a deeper reading, on account of their expertise. I am yet to stumble upon any relevant information. All my Vedic charts are so off that they are not even remotely comparable or discussable. Even if I wished, and I did wish, to read something true in them, I couldn’t find anything that I could honestly and without an extreme stretch call somewhat accurate. And in this I include life events, health predispositions and facts that are indisputable, not just character readings (that are because of the sign difference). So, I have attributed this to the fact that I have grown up in a culture that has an entirely different value structure and responds to different points of gravity. So, perhaps in India the table is turned and Vedic astrology is much more accurate than Western on account of cultural gravity, but it seems to me that most people who defend it so vehemently (especially Westerners but also Indian who want to popularize it worldwide) are simply professionally too invested in it and feel compelled to promote it.
Vedic system astrology together with it the dasa system and more so the new vedic method called kp astrological system is very useful for predicting the future of people with precision.
Great Post on Vedic and Western Astrology. Vedic Astrology, in Real started from India. Indian Sage and saints used to practice astrology for predicting. And that too with out any Modern technology. In Western astrology, Astrologer have different set of rules to predict, what can happen next.
Very nice and eye opening post. Looking forward for more post.
Vedic chart don’t work for me, I only find myself with western chart. When I look at my western chart a would say about 80 procent is truth and when i look at my vedic chart then I think that only 30 procent is truth, also meny of my friends find them self more in western chart then vedic chart.
I am Indian and was mostly exposed to Vedic astrology. Later out of curiosity, I began looking into Western astrology. What I have felt is that the Western astrology feels much more relatable and close to home in terms of my personality. The Vedic is also very accurate, but feels more distant in a way. The Vedic definitely has given more accurate information regarding my family….parents and siblings and also maybe my children, whereas I don’t see much in my Western chart.
Thank you for the information. your blog made me understand the major difference between vedic and western astrology.
Thanks for sharing valuable information about astrology in detail
Thanks for sharing valuable information about astrology in detail
Nice Article. Thanks for sharing a useful article.
Thanks for sharing such helpful information