Vedic Astrology, also known as Jyotish or Vedic Science is the oldest study of astrology still used today. It translates to “Light of Science” and dates back more than 6000 BC.
A typical birth chart shows the position of the planets and stars at the moment you were born. It is a snap of the energy you first meet when you emerge into the world and one which is thought to stay with you throughout your life.
The main difference between Western and Vedic astrology is that Vedic astrologers use sidereal timing to calculate the movement of planets and stars, the same calculations which are used in science by astronomers. Western astrologers use the tropical calendar which is based upon the Sun’s movement through the year.
Vedic calculations take into account the small changes that occur over the natural course of time, making the year of the sidereal calendar slightly longer than the tropical calendar. This is the reason why the position of the signs shift degrees slightly over the years and why your star signs may be different when comparing it to a Western birth chart.
The 360° circle of the sky has been further divided in Vedic astrology, resulting in a further 27 stars/constellations, referred to as the Nakshatras. Within each Nakshatra is an additional division of 4 sections called Pada's.
The Nakshatra Wheel
Unlike Western astrology, there are also a further 16 divisional charts in addition to the main birth chart. These divisional charts are calculated from the birth chart and focus on specific areas of life.
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The 2 most commonly used birth charts in Vedic astrology are the South and North Indian birth charts. Both are calculated the same way and will give the same result. The only difference is the layout and that they are read differently.
A South Indian birth chart is always read clockwise from the ascendant and a North Indian birth chart is always read anti-clockwise from the ascendant.
Another difference is the zodiac signs are fixed in a South Indian birth chart. They will be in the same boxes as shown above, it is the houses that move according to your birth details. You will need to find the ascendant to start. Usually, this will be indicated by a line in one of the boxes and from there, the chart must be read clockwise.
In a North Indian birth chart, the houses stay fixed. Houses will always be in the same box as shown above, it is zodiac signs that move according to your birth details. The 1st house will always be the top middle box, so this will always be where the Ascendant is, from there the chart must be read anti-clockwise.
Before the constellations were given names by the Greeks. They were referred to as the 1st, 2nd 3rd, 4th, 5th, 6th, 7th sign and so on. When looking at your birth chart, the numbers in the boxes will traditionally refer to the sign, not the houses.
Aries 1, Taurus 2, Gemini 3, Cancer 4, Leo 5, Virgo 6, Libra 7, Scorpio 8, Sagittarius 9, Capricorn 10, Aquarius 11 and Pisces 12.
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Below is a South Indian birth chart. The 1st house is indicated by a line in the box, it is in Leo which is shown by the number 5. Ma means Mars. We see in this chart that Mars is in the 1st house, so we know this person is a Leo Ascendant with Mars in the 1st house.
As this is a South Indian birth chart, we need to read it clockwise. Virgo is in the 2nd house shown by the number 6. Ketu is in the 3rd house in Libra 7, Scorpio 8 is in the 4th house and Jupiter is in the 5th house in Sagittarius 9, ect.
The 1st house of any South Indian birth chart will be indicated by a line in the box, it can also be indicated by the word, Lagna, Asc, As. Look for this first if you are reading a South Indian birth chart.
Below is the same birth details using a North Indian birth chart. The 1st house is in the top middle box and it is read anti-clockwise. Both charts give the same result.
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Out of both charts, the South Indian birth chart can be an easier one to start learning with. The layout is more simple and may be easier when looking into aspects later on.
Once you are able to memorise the order of the zodiac signs, you will be able to know which sign is in which houses by knowing the ascendant of the chart alone. This will also make remembering your own chart a lot easier in the future.
For example, if the ascendant is Cancer then the 2nd house will be Leo, 3rd house will be Virgo, 4th house will be Libra and 5th house Scorpio. If the ascendant is in Taurus, the 2nd house will be Gemini, 3rd house will be Cancer, 4th house will be in Leo and 5th house will be Virgo, and so on.
Without a time of birth, it is not possible to calculate the ascendant, nakshatras or houses. Though it can be worked out by researching the calculations throughout the day you were born, it would also be easier after the age of 30, after major events have taken place and you have some understanding towards those events.
Nakshatras change every 3 minutes and 20 seconds. When twins are born, they are likely to be born within the beginning, middle or end of that 3 minute change. This is likely to cause a change in the ascendant for the divisional charts, as well as the pada in the ascendant of the main chart and houses in the divisional charts.
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To start reading your own birth chart, first find where your ascendant is placed. The following box will be the 2nd house depending on which chart you are looking at. (Refer to first images above)
Take note of the houses which have multiple planets in your birth chart, you may find them to be key areas in your life where more ups and downs occur. When planets share the same house they may help each other or they can irritate each other, planets represent and stand for different things.
For example, lets say we have Saturn and Rahu in the 2nd house, both are karmic planets. Saturn is the planet of discipline, hard work and delay. Rahu is the planet that wants to satisfy its desires instantly, doesn't want to work hard but wants to gain quickly and would do the ‘wrong things’ to get there. When these 2 planets sit in the 2nd house of resources, Rahu can feel irritated. Saturn is a strong planet and Rahu will not always get its way. Where we have Rahu shows the desires we want to pursue in this life time but Saturn sharing the same house with Rahu may cause events in which a person then has to work hard for years to reap any reward. This is the most simple interpretation, many other things within a chart will also impact such combinations.
Make sure you do your own research into your placements, do not just go with what the 1st article or astrologer says. There are too many questionable interpretations online and no astrologer can truly predict your future, that is always in your own hands. In my personal opinion, astrology is best learned as part of understanding the bigger picture.
A good starting point would be to understand the meaning of what each planet, house and sign represent. Then start looking at your own birth chart.
Which houses are your planets and signs placed in? Start combining each of the planets, signs and houses to research them. For example, Sun in Capricorn in 7th house, or Rahu and Venus in Libra in 3rd house. This will give you a good basic interpretation and understanding of your birth chart when putting it altogether.
After understanding the basics of your chart, it will be easier to understand how the planets aspect one another from different houses and the impact they have on each other.
Astrology covers much of the psychology of the human mind and areas in between the natural cycle of life. Many find it to be thought-provoking and gain new insight and perspective on the unique qualities each of us have, as well as the different experiences we might go through.