In Vedic astrology, each house takes a whole sign even if the Ascendant sign falls on the first degree. In Western astrology, one sign can cover up to three houses.
Western astrology does not take account (at least until recently) of Rahu and Ketu, the shadow planets, which are important characteristics of human karma and other important moments. Westerners use the planets Uranus, Neptune, Pluto, and now even Chiron. However, in order to check their influence, we need hundreds of years. Moreover, modern Western schools now begin to consider smaller planets and even comets.
Vedic astrology uses only the Sun, the Moon, Mars, Mercury, Jupiter, Venus, Saturn and the two lunar nodes, Rahu (Dragon Head) and Ketu (Dragon Tail). Thus, the Vedic astrologer works with nine planets, and in the interpretation of some moments also makes use of 10 upa-graha or invisible planets such as Dhuma, Vyatipata, Paridhi, Indrachapa, Upaketu, Mandi, Gulika, Kala, Yamakantaka, Ardhaprahara and Mrityu.
Western astrology attaches great importance to the position of the Sun in a specific sign (it is there for one month), whereas Vedic astrology works based on the position of the Moon in a sign (2 days) and Lagna, the Ascending sign, which varies every 2 hours on average. From the position of Vedic astrology, it is rather strange to see people read their psychological characteristics, the prognosis for the future and determine their compatibility with others on the basis of the month they were born.
Western astrologers use mostly transits of the planets for predictions, as well as progression, Solar and Lunar. So far there are few who have mastered the knowledge well and can make successful predictions. I have heard from people who have been teaching Western astrology and advising for many years that their system is unable to make successful predictions. Therefore, they began styling themselves as psychological astrologers, humanistic, etc., although in my view their psychological analysis is quite superficial.
Vedic astrology pays approximately 10% of attention to transits. The remaining predictions are made based on the various systems: Das (periods), primarily Vimshottri-dasa, whereas a basis it is taken as a position of the Moon in a particular Nakshatra (Lunar mansion). Vedic astrology uses many different systems of periods of the planets, Dasa systems, the most common of which is Vimshottri-dasa, a 120-year cycle of the nine planets. Also, in Vedic astrology, there are different systems of the signs periods, when signs and not planets rule certain spheres of human life. In both cases, each of the periods is ruled by a certain planet or a sign that brings into play the potential of a birth chart. In total, there are about fifty systems of periods (of the planets or signs) that allow the Jyotish to achieve high accuracy in predicting events of human life, especially the time of their occurrence. In Western astrology such systems of periods are absent.
The Greeks were is the possession of this knowledge, but later on it disappeared, was lost. Some Western researchers and astrologers have been trying to restore this «Greek» system. According to many people dealing with Western Astrology for a long time and acquainted with such kind of knowledge, this system of periods amazes with its accuracy. During almost every one of my courses, several people attended who had been previously practicing Western astrology for many years. Afterward, most of them completely went over to the Jyotish (Vedic astrology), and the rest combined both systems.
Vedic astrology uses 27 Nakshatras (Lunar mansions) which are of great importance, they make it possible to see much deeper any person’s chart, any event. Some Western astrologers have lately also started using this knowledge. The Arabs, in their turn, obtained it in the process of conquest, copied it from the Vedas, and gave it their name. Greeks and Persians also had knowledge of the Nakshatras.
The position of the planets in the Nakshatras (firstly of the Moon, the Ascending sign, the Sun) enables to reveal quite a lot. Each Nakshatra takes 13° 20´ degrees and is divided into 4 parts (Pads). Nakshatras show quite exactly under what star a person was born.
Western astrologers use only one chart, the natal. Vedic astrologers say: yes, it is the most important one, but there is also the no less important moon chart, plus 16 extra charts (Vargas), which help to see in detail all aspects and areas of life, to penetrate deeply into human psychology, including the subconscious. Vedic Astrology also has many tools that are unique and are not used in Western astrology. These are Karaki or indicators that provide an understanding of different categories of people or other spheres of human life, and also other prediction methods such as: Ashtakavarga, Sudarshan Chakra Chakra Sarvatobhadra, Saham, etc. as well as dozens of Lagnas, argalas, Sahams, various chakras, varshaphal, ayurdaya, avasthas, Prashna, navatara, upagrahas, nadis, etc. All of them are a part of the objective reality and always act together. In Western astrology it is considered maximum 5% of the real picture.
Vedic astrologers use yogas - connections of the planets. There are thousands of yogas (planetary combinations), only a few hundred basic. There are still schools in India that teach only yogas, and due to this can analyze a chart well enough and fairly deep. Western astrologers know nothing about it.
The system of aspects’ interpretation is also different. An aspect in astrology means an influence of one object to another (“one planet looks at the other”), that is, the influence is transmitted over the distance. In Vedic astrology different planets «give» different aspects according to their nature, in Western astrology aspects of all the planets are the same. In Jyotish the aspects are asymmetrical (that is, the aspect of 90 degrees ahead of the planet is not the same as the aspect of 90 degrees in back of the planet), in Western astrology aspects are symmetrical. In Western astrology there are many aspects and they are calculated on the basis of the degrees of the planets, in Jyotish there are not so many aspects and they are calculated based on the houses of the planets (the planet in one house «looks» at all the planets in another house and the sign of the house). In Western astrology aspects themselves can be good and bad, in Jyotish planets are considered to be favorable or unfavorable and not their aspects. Also, there are no aspects of the signs in Western astrology, whereas in Jyotish along with the aspects of the planets there are aspects of the signs.
Vedic astrology uses a deeply studied upaya system (methods of the planetary influences harmonizing), as well as Ayurveda (medicine and psychology), etc.
In Vedic astrology much attention is paid to the personality, qualities of character and spiritual level and Sadhana (daily spiritual practice) of an astrologer. In Western astrology it is not important.
Vedic astrology was given by enlightened sages in meditation many years ago and was a part of the Vedas. Modern Western astrology is just fragments of some knowledge. Vedic astrology was transmitted by Parampara (the chain of disciples’ continuity) for many millennia. From India it spread to Persia (it was the Persian astrologers who predicted the coming of Jesus Christ), then to ancient Greece where it was still at that time closely connected with its roots. Later on, with the spreading of Christianity, astrology was resolved and then banned, much knowledge and many books were lost in Europe. In the 19th century in Europe astrology was completely forgotten, as it was believed that with the growth and development of technology it had become obsolete. It was revived in the 20th century and appeared more like a commercial project. It became popular for giving different kinds of predictions in the media (for the week, month, year, etc.), and mostly in accordance with the position of the Sun, which is, as a rule, far from objective; it was also mixed up with magic, etc. All this caused much damage to the very word Astrology.
Most importantly the Jyotish (Vedic astrology) places God in the center of the Universe, while Western astrology, with its characteristic materialist approach, keeps God out of the world picture, and aims at exploiting the resources of the material Universe. In Vedic astrology, there is an important principle of the Guru (spiritual teacher), or Ishta Devata, without the blessing of whom an astrologer has no right to engage in predictions, whereas in Western astrology there are no restrictions, even someone self-taught can engage in astrology. Jyotish in Sanskrit means «light», the Divine light, and Vedic astrology is the science of how to shed God’s light on people. The main objective of a real Vedic astrologer is to bring a person closer to God’s love, at the same time helping to solve problems existing in the material world.
Astrology is just a «stars’ science» and even the word itself is with the implication that a man is a master of nature (as in any other physical sciences).
The main objective of the real Vedic astrologer is to bring a person closer to God’s love and of the secondary importance, helping at the same time to solve all kinds of problems existing in the material world.
Early Christianity had rejected astrology in its struggle with the authority of Magi, Druids, shamans, and in general any competing spiritual outlook, even though Christ’s birth had been predicted and marked by the Ascending of the star, which is one of the branches of the astrology, prediction astrology.
Interestingly, the official prohibition of astrology was in the 4th century. Neither Jesus nor his disciples opposed astrology. The same applies to the Old Testament. Eight years ago in Israel, I was given a book of a well-known Rabbi about the planetary influences on human health and the fate of the USA, who adduces hundreds of evidence, relying on the Holy Scriptures and sayings of sages, confirming the authority of astrology.
In the 3rd century, after the church rejected a treatise on the Transmigration of a soul and formulated religious dogmas that could help as well in political issues, governing a state, astrologers were quite useless.
This prohibition had a positive outcome, as it forbade people to turn to fortune-tellers and astrologers for predicting the future. Only God knows the future. Astrology, apart from the approximate vision of the future, can tell quite exactly when to begin certain activities such as planting crops, taking medication, religious sacrifices, etc.
By putting aside this knowledge, civilization doomed itself to a lot of lean years, epidemics of many diseases, poverty. This prohibition broke the tradition of Western astrology and, most importantly, the spiritual basis of astrology was lost, it was alienated from the understanding of the law of causes and effects, i.e. the law of karma.
Although modern Western astrologers started using the words «karma» and «reincarnation», but obviously these words are new in their vocabulary. Even 50-100 years ago there were very few people in society who believed in the reincarnation of souls, and several hundred years ago it was possible to be burnt merely for expressing such ideas aloud.
Speaking about the scientific character of Vedic astrology, we mean three factors that are assigned primary importance by those who practice the science of Vedic Astrology:
- The basic principle is to mention the author of classic works on Jyotish (Vedic astrology) at discussing the astrological techniques, beginning with the great enlightened sages who lived thousands of years ago, too many famous astrology pundits of our time.
- If this technique is consistent with the Shastras principles (classical Vedic scriptures), then it must stand the test of logic and common sense (Nyaya), that is, it should be the logical extension of existing established principles.
- If the two factors above are confirmed, the proposed principle must also pass a test on a large number of randomly selected charts.
In conclusion, I would like to say that I am a supporter of objective and unprejudiced opinion, but in this article Vedic astrology is presented in a beneficial way. That is my opinion after about 20 years of studying and teaching this science.
Finally, many people now have noticed the growing popularity of Vedic astrology and have started to teach or advise actively without having proper skills and knowledge. On the other hand, there are intuitive and very spiritually advanced people who use Western astrology in consultations. Therefore, in this issue, personality determines the result.
A harmonious personality, even using unsuitable tools, can help you more than one who uses a precise tool but unskillfully. The same medication may be prescribed by two different doctors and the result will be different. The energy and development personality level of a doctor, a psychologist, an astrologer, a teacher can scarcely be overestimated.
