Many people who have viewed their Vedic birth chart next to their Western birth chart have noticed that in many cases the Signs the Planets are placed in will change from one system to the other. A person born on April 11 th for example will have the Sun placed in Aries according to Western astrology. However, in Vedic astrology the Sun will be in Pisces on this date. Western astrology and Vedic astrology have different systems for the calculations of the placement of Planets in Signs. Vedic Astrology is one of the most ancient and complex systems of astrology in existence, which is firmly based upon actual, recordable astronomical phenomena. Vedic astronomy uses a sidereal, or fixed star, system of time for which the calculations are precise and complex. These calculations account for the placement of the Earth in relation to fixed stars (the fixed Signs of the Zodiac). Western astronomers have only recently been able to confirm the accuracy of Vedic astronomy. Western Astrology uses a simpler system for calculating the placement of Planets in Signs, which is based upon the orbit of the Earth around the Sun without regard to the location of the stars. This is referred to as the tropical, or moving star, system. Neither the Vedic, sidereal nor the Western, tropical system is inherently wrong or useless to astrologers, but the system of Vedic astrology is based upon accurate astronomical calculation of the Sun, Moon and Planets in relation to fixed stars (constellations). The breadth and scope of practices of Vedic astrologers have long exceeded the practices of Western astrologers. Western astrology has largely been used as an aid for understanding people's personalities and providing counseling. Vedic astrology has been used for centuries for accurately predicting life events, births, deaths, marriages, careers, health, and disease ; and for identifying and remedying potential problems for people and nations. In addition to the more precise stellar calculations, Vedic astrology has many complex systems for chart analysis and remedial measures which are not present in Western astrology. With all this said, it must be remembered that though astrology is based upon scientific, astronomical calculations, as a system of divination it can never be a firm science. Accurate predictions and effective remedies will always depend upon a clear mind and sharp intuition. For those without clarity, it will do no good to look at astrological charts at all. Yet for a person with a calm, clear mind, astrology can be a great tool to gain insight into how to benefit a person or society. Yet if a person's mind is clear and the intuition is sharp, then it does not matter so much what system he uses. It is possible to gain some insight from a tropical chart, or a sidereal chart, or from tarot cards, or from gazing at a crystal ball, or even from observing the behavior of the crows and other birds. But for this a person cannot learn from a book. He must have a teacher and he must sacrifice his worldly desires and dedicate himself to the service of humanity. This is because astrology is a system for developing the intuition of the higher mind, and the process of thought is contrary and disruptive to intuitive knowing. To really learn such sciences, it is essential not to read and study but to learn directly from an experienced practitioner through personal instruction and direct observation. It is not possible to understand how to transcend the mind by thinking about this feat, but only by seeing and doing it. The intention of this article is not to discredit Western astrology altogether, because surely much good work which helps people is done by Western astrologers, but instead to explain the differences of calculations between the Vedic and Western systems. Vedic astrology is firmly based upon astronomy and the placement of the stars; Western astrology is not astronomically based. That is to say that the Signs in

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Western and Eastern astrology have different approaches to deal with the interpretation of birth chart and the application of forecasting techniques. This topic is dealt in this essay, with particular emphasis on Hindu astrological prediction techniques, designated by Vimshottari and Ashtottari Dashas.

An authority and erudite scholar of Indian Vedic Astrology, Prof. P. S. Sastri has written this classic which combines both ancient wisdom of astrological sages as well as modern scientific discoveries and approaches. This magnum opus of Prof. Sastri is an all inclusive text on Indian Vedic Astrology. A must read for every student of astrology!

An authority and erudite scholar of Indian Vedic Astrology, Prof. P. S. Sastri has written this classic which combines both ancient wisdom of astrological sages as well as modern scientific discoveries and approaches. This magnum opus of Prof. Sastri is an all inclusive text on Indian Vedic Astrology. A must read for every student of astrology!

Asceticism is key to Saturn. It can lead one to that path and it is also well known, that it has produced great yogis or sages. It is believed that Lord Rama, an incarnation of Lord Vishnu suffered exile just with onset of Saturn Dasa. And the assertion seems to be correct if we check how he was abandoned by the king (Dasaratha, his father). However, when we search astrology books, we get the real facts that alone Saturn is not responsible for asceticism. There is definitely an involvement of Chandra or the Moon. This paper revolves around these two planets, and will try to get into the depth of the consequences and other factors, by which these two grahas develop spiritual tendencies in the native

This paper supplements and corrects the information given in the works of David Pingree regarding four major authors on Tājika or Sanskritized Perso-Arabic astrology from the fourteenth to the seventeenth century: Tejaḥsiṃha, Yādavasūri, Bālakṛṣṇa and Balabhadra. It further contributes information on a fifth such author, Tuka, not discussed by Pingree.