I don't want to go much into history for analyzing this topic. Over-analyzing history is much like digging graves many a times, which according to me is a futile action. Instead I would like to focus in this article that what are the advantages of Vedic astrology over western approach. Of course both the systems have their own merits & demerits. I would like to share my experiences with both the systems.
1. Vedic astrology has got a powerful Vimshottari dasa system as a predictive tool, which western astrology
lacks. Vimshottari dasa depends upon the exact degree of the Moon at your time of birth. If you throw a pebble in a still pond, what happens ? There are ripples which start moving around the point of impact.
Our birth event is similar to that event. The ripples are set which progress further.
The Dasa system is similar to this ripple phenomenon. The birth of an individual sets forward a set of ripples
into this four-dimensional world. Events in the life are carried away by the Dasa-Antar-Pratyantar-Shookshma-Prana.
Of course some Vedic astrologers make use of many other kinds of dasa systems like Ashtottari, Yogini, Kalachakra, Shoola, Amsa etc. Now it depends upon the experience & hard work of astrologer what he chooses. I personally have worked with few of the dasa systems & drawn my own conclusions after much experimentation.
2. Western astrology uses tropical zodiac but Vedic astrology uses sidereal zodiac. Sidereal is the actual
zodiac given by the stars while tropical zodiac is an imaginary zodiac which starts from the equinox (21st March). Both the types of zodiacs have their own advantages & disadvantages. I have worked with both the systems & experimented with a variety of ayanamsas used in sidereal zodiac(Raman's, KP, Lahiri, Chitrapaksha, Pushya Paksha, Surya siddhanta etc). Lahiri is the most popular ayanamsa these days, but it depends upon the experience of astrologer what he prefers. I particularly like Lahiri , Chitrapakha, Raman & KP systems. Prediction & remedies are the main aims of astrology. So use an ayanamsa that works.
Tropical system doesn't result in relevant Vimshottari dasa system , that sidereal Vedic system results in. This
is my experience. Both the sidereal & tropical systems can be used for the purpose of psychological analysis of a person. I think that this happens because psychological analysis is to a large extent an abstract concept.
But for predictive purposes sidereal zodiac works fine.
The merit of western astrology is that they have worked a lot over the interpretation of Zodiac signs.
3. Nakshatras play important role in Vedic astrology while in western approach Nakshatras don't mean anything. Nakshatras are particularly held very important in manual calculations of Vimhottari dasas & matchmaking. I personally make selective applications Nakshatras of as per my experience.
4. In western astrology transits are analyzed with respect to tropical ascendent or the sun sign. Whereas the Vedic astrologers analyse with repect to the sidereal Moon sign or the ascedent.
5. Both types of astrologers make use of a variety of numerological methods. Among western astrologers Chaldean & Pythagorian are the two most popular methods. I am particularly fond of the Chaldean system but do make use of few concepts of pythagorian system too. I am fond of numerology as it helps one to know about his lucky numbers, dates, name etc. Even if one doesn't like to change his name officially (if in case it is unlucky), then too there are methods which will enable him to get lucky.
6. Vedic astrologers also mix vastu, numerology, palmistry etc with astrology sometimes.
While western astrologers mix their astrology with numerology, palmistry, tarot, Chinese astrology etc.
7. Divisional charts are used by Vedic astrologers either for planatary strength determination or as secondary
charts along with Lagna charts. Of course many Vedic astrologers oppose the over use of these charts as this
method is not approved in classics. Classics approve use of Lagna Chart, Moon chart & Sun chart for sure.
D10 for career, D9 for spouse, D3 for brother & sisters, D12 for parents etc. are not mentioned in any of the classics I am sure about it. No classic teaches how to analyse D10. In classics these div. charts merely represent the strength of planets. Housewise analysis of D10, D3, D12 etc. charts is not classical Vedic astrology. D10 for career, D9 for spouse, D3 for brother & sisters, D12 for parents etc. is the method invented by modern Vedic astrologer Sheshadri Iyer. It has nothing to do with classical or the old system of Vedic astrology.
House wise analysis of div. charts is not used in Western astrology. Although western astrologers make use of Deccans for psychological analysis of a person sometimes.
8. Vedic astrology can give both the psyche & the predictions for an individal to a fair degree of accuracy.
Western astrology focues on psyche of an individual more than the predictions. Lack of predictive tools is one of the shortcomings of western astrology. Western numerology is into predictions. But for numerology too, accurate timeline analysis of a person's life is not an easy job.
9. Western astrology makes use of newly discovered planets Uranus, Neptune & Pluto. Vedic astrology lacks this approach. I am personally doing research in this area & trying to bring these planets into the comfort zone of Vedic astrology. This is one of the merits that I can import from the Western astrology. Of course these planets too matter, although they matter less than the conventional 9 Vedic astrological planets. But in order to make the astrology very accurate I would need help of these planets , I realize this fact.
10. A lot of mixing of both Western & Vedic astrological is taking on these days. KP is one of the products of the mixture.
But I avoid KP system as I have seen that it fails in timeline predictions many a times.
I know an astrologer who is copycat of KP system & promotes it with the name of "Nadi astrology".
I prefer clinging to the classical Vedic astrological system with inculcation of my own researches into it.
My criticism for KP system is that it uses Placidus house div. method which results in very unequal houses many a times. More over Placidus house div method is not defined above 66.5 degree North & below 66.5 degree South.
Astrology can't be selective. It should work around the globe. Isn't it?
11. Western astrology makes use of numerous house div. systems like Placidus, Porphry, Equal, Whole sign etc.
Vedic astrology have only few methods like Whole sign, Bhava Sripati Chart, Bhava Chakra as per phaldeepika
etc. All sorts of Vedic astrologers believe in Whole sign approach at the least, & may use other charts as
seconadary.
While western astrologers seem very confused over the house systems. They keep on inventing the new house systems
& do nothing about improving predictions. Lol ! Well old is gold.
12. Both systems have got remedial methods. Western astrology makes use of psychology too which lacks in
Indian astrology. I prefer vedic gemology, Vastu, psychology & western numerology for the sake of
remedies. Mantras too work (but a little). Sprituality & meditation works more than mantras in my humble opinion.
13. One of the major problems that I see with the western astrology is that it considers opposition & squares as always bad. Now suppose there is a planet X at 20 degrees in the 4th house & another planet Y at 20 degrees in the 10th house (Using whole sign system), then in western astrology both the planets would be considered in oppsition & hence bad. But in Vedic astrology there is no such rule to consider squares or oppositions as bad. I think that Vedic astrology makes more sense here as it considers aspects as good or bad depending upon the nature of the planets for that particular horoscope.
Let me tell you hard aspects like squares , oppositions, semisquare etc. are found even in the charts of celebrities. This is where the western astrology fails. Now here wins the Vedic astrology. Rules of Vedic astrology are very beautifully & technically made.
To conclude: Vedic astrology rocks, but it needs further research for modernisation. There is no harm in importing some goodies of western approach if they actually work. But following west blindly would be dangerous.
Hari Om.
1. Vedic astrology has got a powerful Vimshottari dasa system as a predictive tool, which western astrology
lacks. Vimshottari dasa depends upon the exact degree of the Moon at your time of birth. If you throw a pebble in a still pond, what happens ? There are ripples which start moving around the point of impact.
Our birth event is similar to that event. The ripples are set which progress further.
The Dasa system is similar to this ripple phenomenon. The birth of an individual sets forward a set of ripples
into this four-dimensional world. Events in the life are carried away by the Dasa-Antar-Pratyantar-Shookshma-Prana.
Of course some Vedic astrologers make use of many other kinds of dasa systems like Ashtottari, Yogini, Kalachakra, Shoola, Amsa etc. Now it depends upon the experience & hard work of astrologer what he chooses. I personally have worked with few of the dasa systems & drawn my own conclusions after much experimentation.
2. Western astrology uses tropical zodiac but Vedic astrology uses sidereal zodiac. Sidereal is the actual
zodiac given by the stars while tropical zodiac is an imaginary zodiac which starts from the equinox (21st March). Both the types of zodiacs have their own advantages & disadvantages. I have worked with both the systems & experimented with a variety of ayanamsas used in sidereal zodiac(Raman's, KP, Lahiri, Chitrapaksha, Pushya Paksha, Surya siddhanta etc). Lahiri is the most popular ayanamsa these days, but it depends upon the experience of astrologer what he prefers. I particularly like Lahiri , Chitrapakha, Raman & KP systems. Prediction & remedies are the main aims of astrology. So use an ayanamsa that works.
Tropical system doesn't result in relevant Vimshottari dasa system , that sidereal Vedic system results in. This
is my experience. Both the sidereal & tropical systems can be used for the purpose of psychological analysis of a person. I think that this happens because psychological analysis is to a large extent an abstract concept.
But for predictive purposes sidereal zodiac works fine.
The merit of western astrology is that they have worked a lot over the interpretation of Zodiac signs.
3. Nakshatras play important role in Vedic astrology while in western approach Nakshatras don't mean anything. Nakshatras are particularly held very important in manual calculations of Vimhottari dasas & matchmaking. I personally make selective applications Nakshatras of as per my experience.
4. In western astrology transits are analyzed with respect to tropical ascendent or the sun sign. Whereas the Vedic astrologers analyse with repect to the sidereal Moon sign or the ascedent.
5. Both types of astrologers make use of a variety of numerological methods. Among western astrologers Chaldean & Pythagorian are the two most popular methods. I am particularly fond of the Chaldean system but do make use of few concepts of pythagorian system too. I am fond of numerology as it helps one to know about his lucky numbers, dates, name etc. Even if one doesn't like to change his name officially (if in case it is unlucky), then too there are methods which will enable him to get lucky.
6. Vedic astrologers also mix vastu, numerology, palmistry etc with astrology sometimes.
While western astrologers mix their astrology with numerology, palmistry, tarot, Chinese astrology etc.
7. Divisional charts are used by Vedic astrologers either for planatary strength determination or as secondary
charts along with Lagna charts. Of course many Vedic astrologers oppose the over use of these charts as this
method is not approved in classics. Classics approve use of Lagna Chart, Moon chart & Sun chart for sure.
D10 for career, D9 for spouse, D3 for brother & sisters, D12 for parents etc. are not mentioned in any of the classics I am sure about it. No classic teaches how to analyse D10. In classics these div. charts merely represent the strength of planets. Housewise analysis of D10, D3, D12 etc. charts is not classical Vedic astrology. D10 for career, D9 for spouse, D3 for brother & sisters, D12 for parents etc. is the method invented by modern Vedic astrologer Sheshadri Iyer. It has nothing to do with classical or the old system of Vedic astrology.
House wise analysis of div. charts is not used in Western astrology. Although western astrologers make use of Deccans for psychological analysis of a person sometimes.
8. Vedic astrology can give both the psyche & the predictions for an individal to a fair degree of accuracy.
Western astrology focues on psyche of an individual more than the predictions. Lack of predictive tools is one of the shortcomings of western astrology. Western numerology is into predictions. But for numerology too, accurate timeline analysis of a person's life is not an easy job.
9. Western astrology makes use of newly discovered planets Uranus, Neptune & Pluto. Vedic astrology lacks this approach. I am personally doing research in this area & trying to bring these planets into the comfort zone of Vedic astrology. This is one of the merits that I can import from the Western astrology. Of course these planets too matter, although they matter less than the conventional 9 Vedic astrological planets. But in order to make the astrology very accurate I would need help of these planets , I realize this fact.
10. A lot of mixing of both Western & Vedic astrological is taking on these days. KP is one of the products of the mixture.
But I avoid KP system as I have seen that it fails in timeline predictions many a times.
I know an astrologer who is copycat of KP system & promotes it with the name of "Nadi astrology".
I prefer clinging to the classical Vedic astrological system with inculcation of my own researches into it.
My criticism for KP system is that it uses Placidus house div. method which results in very unequal houses many a times. More over Placidus house div method is not defined above 66.5 degree North & below 66.5 degree South.
Astrology can't be selective. It should work around the globe. Isn't it?
11. Western astrology makes use of numerous house div. systems like Placidus, Porphry, Equal, Whole sign etc.
Vedic astrology have only few methods like Whole sign, Bhava Sripati Chart, Bhava Chakra as per phaldeepika
etc. All sorts of Vedic astrologers believe in Whole sign approach at the least, & may use other charts as
seconadary.
While western astrologers seem very confused over the house systems. They keep on inventing the new house systems
& do nothing about improving predictions. Lol ! Well old is gold.
12. Both systems have got remedial methods. Western astrology makes use of psychology too which lacks in
Indian astrology. I prefer vedic gemology, Vastu, psychology & western numerology for the sake of
remedies. Mantras too work (but a little). Sprituality & meditation works more than mantras in my humble opinion.
13. One of the major problems that I see with the western astrology is that it considers opposition & squares as always bad. Now suppose there is a planet X at 20 degrees in the 4th house & another planet Y at 20 degrees in the 10th house (Using whole sign system), then in western astrology both the planets would be considered in oppsition & hence bad. But in Vedic astrology there is no such rule to consider squares or oppositions as bad. I think that Vedic astrology makes more sense here as it considers aspects as good or bad depending upon the nature of the planets for that particular horoscope.
Let me tell you hard aspects like squares , oppositions, semisquare etc. are found even in the charts of celebrities. This is where the western astrology fails. Now here wins the Vedic astrology. Rules of Vedic astrology are very beautifully & technically made.
To conclude: Vedic astrology rocks, but it needs further research for modernisation. There is no harm in importing some goodies of western approach if they actually work. But following west blindly would be dangerous.
Hari Om.
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