Default Zodiac
Contents
In the "Preferences" dialog, "Zodiac" tab it is possible to specify which zodiac is used for any chart calculations. Typically, western astrologers use the Tropical zodiac, which has its starting point where the Sun is when it crosses the equator northwards. However, many eastern (Vedic) astrologers use a Sidereal zodiac that has a starting point that is fixed against the constellations, and is currently roughly 25-30 degrees earlier than the tropical zodiac’s starting point. The exact difference depends upon which ayanamsa that is used. The Draconic zodiac is used less commonly – it sets the 0 Aries point from position of the moon’s north node.
An ayanamsa is the longitudinal difference between the Tropical zodiac and a Sidereal Zodiac. This difference changes with time, due to the precession of the equinoxes, but may be defined as a fixed difference at a specific date, such as 1st Jan 1900. If you select Sidereal (Vedic) as the default zodiac then you can select ayanamsa in the Ayanamsa for Sidereal Charts. There are certain standard ayanamsas that are used by astrologers, and the most common of these are available for selection. Any that are not displayed may be selected by choosing the SVP 00°Ar00'00'' item, and selecting or entering a value into the SVP on 1st January 1900 textbox. (SVP stands for Sidereal Vernal Point).
Tropical |
Precessing vernal point - Normally used in western astrology |
Fagan-Bradley |
Standard western astrologers' sidereal ayanamsa |
Lahiri |
Official Indian government ayanamsa |
DeLuce |
According to Robert DeLuce in "Constellational Astrology" |
Raman |
According to B.V.Raman of India |
Usha-Shashi |
According to Usha-Shashi in "Hindu Astrological Calculations" |
Krishnamurti |
According to K.S.Krishnamurti |
Djwhal Khul |
Based on the assumption that the age of Aquarius starts in the year 2117, as proposed by some students of the Ageless Wisdom. |
Sri Yukteswar |
According to Sri Yukteswar |
JN Bhasin |
According to JN Bhasin |
Larry Ely |
According to Larry Ely |
Takra I |
According to Takra – variant I |
Takra II |
According to Takra – variant II |
Sundara Rajan |
According to Sundara Rajan |
Shill Pond |
According to Shill Pond |
User Defined |
Allows you to enter your own ayanamsa in terms of the position of the Sidereal Vernal Point at 1st January 1900 for that ayanamsa. Angles may be entered in degrees, minutes and seconds (e.g. "334 27 32") or using zodiacal sign (e.g. "4 Pi 27 32"). See Entering Angles for more information on entering angles. |
Draconic |
Based on position of the moon’s north node |
Any charts subsequently cast will use the newly selected zodiac type. It is possible to see which zodiac has been used in any chart, as it appears as part of the chart details that are displayed in the "Current Chart" box of the Main Screen.
Note that a few page objects (such as Vedic Dasa tabulations) always use a sidereal zodiac, even when the selected default zodiac is tropical. The sidereal zodiac that is used for these objects is the Ayanamsa for Sidereal Charts.