Vedic astrology and western astrology have vast differences in their presumptions, methodologies and results. Which one originated earlier and whether one of them influenced the other are the questions no one can answer for certain today. Without lending into that controversy we will outline important differences in the two systems, which are as follows:
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Different Zodiacs:
Western astrologers generally use Tropical Zodiac based on equinoxes whereas Vedic astrologers use Sidereal Zodiac based on fixed stars. This gives different positions to many planets and we get a different horoscope.
- House Cusps:
In western astrology beginning of the house is treated as the cusp while in Vedic astrology it is in the middle of the house. It may cause a difference in many house placements.
- Aspects:
Western astrology recognizes only square, trine and sextile aspects and it is based on exact degrees of planets. Aspects here are only between planets or planets to special points like Ascendant and mid-heaven. In Vedic astrology planets in one sign aspect other signs or planets in the forward direction only. Strength of aspect is measured in a certain way. Then there are special aspects of some planets like Mars, Jupiter and Saturn.
- Timing Methodology:
In western astrology, progression or transit is the only means to time events. In Vedic astrology there is a fully developed dasa system. Dasas have no reference to transit but are interpreted only in the birth horoscope and divisional charts. There are general purpose Dasas, conditional Dasas and special purpose Dasas. Then there are planetary Dasas like Vimshottari dasa and Rasi Dasas like Chara dasa.
- Lunar Nodes:
Vedic astrology recognizes lunar nodes as Rahu and Ketu and even dasa years have been assigned to them treating them shadowy planets. Western astrology talks of north nodes (correlated with Jupiter) and south node (correlated with Saturn).
- Vargas or Harmonic Charts:
Varga charts are unknown to western astrology but are extensively used in Vedic astrology. If ‘time of birth’ is correct up to minute, different charts for different activities of life can be devised correctly. There is Navamsa chart for spouse and general purposes, Dasamsa for profession, Dwadasamsa for parents, Vimsamsa for spiritual life and so on. This is very important in predictive Vedic astrology. Importance of Vargas can be realized by the fact that the main birth chart remains same for 2 hours on an average while Vargas change even within 2 minutes.
- Other differences:
There are some other important differences also. Like sun is benefic in western astrology but a malefic or cruel planet in Vedic astrology. Besides, sun sign is very important in western astrology unlike Vedic astrology. Extra- Saturnine planets Uranus, Neptune and Pluto used in western astrology find no mention in Vedic astrology classics. On the other hand, Vedic astrology uses Upagrahas or Aprakash grahas like Dhoom, Vyatipat, Chaap, Parivesh, Gulika, Mandi etc not known in western astrology. Finally, Vedic astrology recognizes some yogas like Gajakesari yoga which are important in chart interpretations.
