The Concept of Ayanamsa

The Date of Coincidence of the Tropical and the Sidereal Zodiacs was found
to be 285 AD and the Ayanamsa ( precessional distance ) was called Lahiri's
Ayanamsa. Different scholars gave different dates but the Indian Govt in
order to standardise the Ayanamsa value took the initial point of the
Zodiac as the point in the Ecliptic opposite the star Chitra ( Alpha
Virginis ) which was the vernal equinoctial point on the Vernal Equinox day
of 285 AD. The rate of precession of the Vernal Equinox was taken as 50.3
seconds per sidereal year.

In Vedic Astrology, Ayanamsa value is deducted from the Tropical longitudes
of planets to get the Sidereal longitudes. Hence the longitudes of planets
in Western Astrology ( Tropical ) and Indian Astrology differ by 23.5
degrees this year. Natal charts cast in these 2 systems will be entirely
different!

The Tropicalists ( Western Astrologers) maintain that the Vernal Point is in
the 6th degree of Pisces now . The Siderealists ( Vedic Astrologers )
maintain that the Sidereal Starting Point remains to be 0 degrees Beta
Arietis ( Aswini ) and that the Sidereal Zodiac doesn't change.

The Limbs of the Sidereal Zodiac

Name of Constellation Deg Min Deg Min

1. Beta Arietis ( Aswini ) 00 00 13 20
2. 41 Arietis ( Bharani ) 13 20 26 40
3. Eta Tauri ( Karthika ) 26 40 40 00
4. Alpha Tauri ( Rohini ) 40 00 53 20
5. Lamda Orionis ( Mrigasira ) 53 20 66 40
6. Alpha Orionis ( Aridra ) 66 40 80 00
7. Beta Geminorum ( Punarvasu ) 80 00 93 20
8. Delta Cancri ( Pushya ) 93 20 106 40
9. Alpha Cancri ( Aslesha ) 106 40 120 00
10. Alpha Leonis ( Magha ) 120 00 133 20
11. Delta Leonis ( Pubba ) 133 20 146 40
12. Beta Leonis ( Uttara ) 146 40 160 00
13. Delta Corvi ( Hasta ) 160 00 173 20
14. Alpha Virginis ( Chitra ) 173 20 186 40
15. Alpha Bootis ( Chothi ) 186 40 200 00
16. Beta Librae ( Vishakam) 200 00 213 20
17. Delta Scorpi ( Anuradha) 213 20 226 40
18. Alpha Scorpi ( Jyeshta ) 226 40 240 00
19. Lamda Scorpi ( Moola ) 240 00 253 20
20. Delta Sagittari ( Poorvashad ) 253 20 266 40
21. Delta Sagittari ( Uthrashad ) 266 40 280 00
22. Alpha Aquilae ( Sravana ) 280 00 293 20
23. Alpha Delphini ( Dhanishta ) 293 20 306 40
24. Lamda Aquari ( Satabhisha) 306 40 320 00
25. Alpha Pegasi ( Poorvabhadra) 320 00 333 20
26. Alpha Andromeda ( Uttrarabhadra) 333 20 346 40
27. Zeta Piscium ( Revathi ) 346 40 360 00