What Ayanamsa Does to Your Chart
Ayanamsa (अयनांश) is the angular difference between the tropical and sidereal zodiacs — currently about 23-24 degrees. Jyotish uses the sidereal (Nirayana) zodiac; Western astrology uses the tropical. Because of precession of the equinoxes, the two zodiacs have slowly drifted apart over millennia. Subtract the Ayanamsa from any tropical planet position to get its Vedic sidereal position. This is why your Sun sign often differs between Vedic and Western charts.
Common Ayanamsa Systems
| System | Value (2024) | Use |
|---|---|---|
| Lahiri (Chitrapaksha) | ~23°57' | Most popular, official India |
| Raman | ~22°26' | Used by B.V. Raman school |
| Krishnamurti (KP) | ~23°03' | KP astrology system |
| Fagan-Bradley | ~24°44' | Western sidereal |
Choosing the Right Ayanamsa
Use Lahiri Ayanamsa as your default — it is the most tested in Parashara-based Jyotish and is India's government standard. If you practice KP astrology, use Krishnamurti's value. The choice affects every planet's degree and Nakshatra — a difference of 1 degree can change the Nakshatra pada, altering the Dasha balance. Confirm your software's Ayanamsa setting before any reading.