Strength & Analysis

Ayanamsa

अयनांश • Ayanamsha

Ayanamsa is the angular difference between the tropical and sidereal zodiacs, currently about 24 degrees, used to convert Western positions to Vedic positions.

What is Ayanamsa?

Ayanamsa (Ayanamsha, अयनांश) — Ayanamsa is the angular difference between the tropical and sidereal zodiacs, currently about 24 degrees, used to convert Western positions to Vedic positions.

Ayanamsa is the angular offset between the tropical zodiac (used in Western astrology) and the sidereal zodiac (used in Vedic astrology), caused by the precession of equinoxes. Earth's axis slowly wobbles over a ~26,000-year cycle, causing the vernal equinox to shift relative to the fixed stars. As of 2024, the Ayanamsa is approximately 24°. This means a planet at 0° Aries in Western (tropical) astrology is actually at approximately 6° Pisces in Vedic (sidereal) astrology. The most commonly used Ayanamsa in India is the Lahiri (Chitrapaksha) Ayanamsa, officially adopted by the Indian government. Other systems include Raman, KP (Krishnamurti), and Fagan-Bradley.

Examples

A person with Sun at 10° Aries tropically has Sun at approximately 16° Pisces in the sidereal/Vedic system.
The Lahiri Ayanamsa for 2024 is approximately 24°07', increasing by about 50 arc-seconds per year.
KP astrology uses a slightly different Ayanamsa value than Lahiri, leading to minor chart differences.

Practical Application

When converting between Western and Vedic charts, subtract the Ayanamsa from tropical positions to get sidereal positions. Always specify which Ayanamsa system you're using, as even small differences (arc-minutes) can shift borderline planets to different signs.

Common Misconceptions

The Ayanamsa isn't an error in either system — it reflects a real astronomical phenomenon (Earth's axial precession).
Different Ayanamsa values (Lahiri, Raman, KP) differ by only a few arc-minutes — not enough to affect most charts.
The Ayanamsa changes very slowly (~50 arc-seconds per year), so charts calculated even decades ago need only minor correction.

Related Terms

Vedic Astrologyवैदिक ज्योतिष
Rashiराशि
Lagnaलग्न

More Strength & Analysis Terms

Atmakarakaआत्मकारक

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Ayanamsa?

Ayanamsa is the angular difference (~24°) between the tropical zodiac (Western astrology) and sidereal zodiac (Vedic astrology), caused by Earth's axial precession. It's why your Vedic sign often differs from your Western sign.

Why does my Vedic sign differ from my Western sign?

The ~24° Ayanamsa correction shifts planets backward by nearly one whole sign. So if you're a Western Aries (tropical), you might be a Vedic Pisces (sidereal). This doesn't make either system wrong — they use different reference frames.

Which Ayanamsa is most accurate?

The Lahiri (Chitrapaksha) Ayanamsa is the most widely used and is officially adopted by the Indian government. KP and Raman Ayanamsas are also respected. The differences between systems are small (a few arc-minutes).

Does Ayanamsa change over time?

Yes, the Ayanamsa increases by approximately 50 arc-seconds per year due to ongoing precession. In about 26,000 years, the tropical and sidereal zodiacs will realign before diverging again.