Jyotish guide
Lahiri Ayanamsha Explained — Sidereal Zodiac in Jyotish
Ayanamsha is the offset between the tropical (season-based) and sidereal (star-based) zodiacs. Lahiri / Chitrapaksha is the standard used by the Indian Astronomical Ephemeris and most practising Jyotishis in India.
Vedaansh defaults to Lahiri so charts match classical table expectations and Swiss Ephemeris sidereal modes commonly taught in India.
Calculate with Lahiri (default) →Why charts differ from Western sites
Tropical apps ignore ayanamsha; planets may appear in different signs. That is expected — not a calculation bug — when comparing Vedic vs Western software.
Other ayanamshas
Raman, Krishnamurti, and others exist for specialised schools (e.g. KP). Stick to one ayanamsha for a chart life-cycle so dashas and vargas stay consistent.
Frequently asked questions
- Does Lahiri change every year?
- The ayanamsha value drifts slowly with precession. Ephemeris libraries update the offset by date; you do not pick a new mode each year.
- Should I switch ayanamsha to “fix” a yoga?
- No. Changing ayanamsha to force a result breaks consistency. Prefer verifying birth data first.