Ayanamsa - What is Ayanamsa
Ayanamsa is the Sanskrit term. Precision of equinoxes is the most popular translation to this word. It is defined as the angle by which the sidereal ecliptic of a celestial body is less than its tropical ecliptic longitude. The sidereal ecliptic longitude of a celestial body is its longitude on the ecliptic defined with respect to the fixed stars.
The tropical ecliptic longitude of a celestial body is its longitude on the ecliptic defined with respect to the Vernal
Equinox Point.
The angular distance between vedic first point and the vernal equinox is the Ayanamsa. There are so many other definitions on Ayanamsa and so many values taken by different scholars at different times.
When the sun’s ecliptic path crosses from south to north and meets celestial equator at the vernal equinox, which is the first point of Aries. This point is not fixed and equinox moves westward with reference to a fixed star. In Nirayana system this star is fixed with respect to a distant star Chitra which is 180° away from this point. The difference between this fixed point and vernal equinox is known as Ayanamsa which separates the Nirayana system from Aayana, and this difference is called Citrapaksha Ayanamsa.
Procession of the equinox as mentioned above takes place because of wobbly motion of earth as it is bulging at the equator.The Moon and the Sun exert gravitational pressures which leads to slight change in rotation of earth on its axis. This procession of the equinox creates Sayana and Nirayana system.The procession of the equinox is nearly 50.29 seconds of arc per year. At present the Ayanamsa is approx. 24°.
Ayanamsa - Start Year
Lahiri - 285 AD
B. V. Raman - 397 AD
Krishnamurthi - 291 AD
Yukteshwar - 499 AD
Horoscopes which are prepared on the basis of different Ayanamsa reflect different planetary positions. At least 10 horoscopes with different planetary longitudes can be prepared for each individual. Due to complex influences on our universe and new astronomical facts coming to light, various corrections are needed from time to time. For ready reference of Ayanamsa, a table of Chitrapaksha Ayanamsa is given in all ephemeris.
A glance at the concept and values of Ayanamsa reveals that no scholar is ready to accept the other’s formula. The interesting question is : What is the fate of amateur astrologers with this confusing system of Ayanamsa. Even eminent astrologers face this problem while trying to give accurate predictions with timings.
According to experts, Ayanamsa cannot be fixed to some base year and there is every need to review the same once in at least ten years. Now we have sophisticated technology and with the help of the same, it might be very easy to carry out the same once in ten years. What astrologers and common man require is accuracy in predictions and more or less accurate timing of incidents.
Sruthi Astrology appeals to the community of Astronomers and Astrologers to take up elaborate research on this aspect and review the Ayanamsa once in ten years and publish the same for use by astrologers. Dr. K.N. Rao has shown successfully that Chitrapaksha Ayanamsa is best as has been tested by him for predictions on many horoscopes. Importance of Ayanamsa lies in the fact that fixed zodiac has a permanent relation with the star constellations while moveable zodiac does not give us definite position for arriving at accurate predictions.
