Glossary
Ayanamsa: meaning in astrology
The ayanamsa is the gap, in degrees, between the tropical and sidereal zodiacs. It exists because of the precession of the equinoxes: the March equinox point slides backward against the stars by about one degree every 72 years. In the 2020s the commonly used Lahiri ayanamsa is about 24 degrees.
Other versions, such as Raman, Krishnamurti and Fagan-Bradley, differ by up to about a degree, which can change a nakshatra pada near a boundary.
Where does "Ayanamsa" come up on this site?
2 guides use the term:
How we calculate
Is astrology a guarantee of what will happen?
No. These calculations locate celestial bodies; astrology is a reflection and timing tradition, not evidence of guaranteed health, financial or relationship outcomes.
How are these results calculated?
Positions come from Astronomy Engine, an open-source astronomy library, and are checked against Swiss Ephemeris in our methodology tests. Western readings use the tropical zodiac; Vedic readings subtract the Lahiri ayanamsa. Terms are defined in the glossary.
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