6 Vedic Astrology: An Integrated Approach

The positions of all these planets, upagrahas, lagna and special lagnas in the zodiac

are measured in degrees, minutes and seconds from the start of the zodiac (which is a

fixed point in the sky). These positions are measured as seen from earth and they are

called “geocentric positions". For the positions (calculated in degrees, minutes and

seconds) of planets, lagna, special lagnas and upagrahas, we also use the words

longitude and sphuta. When watched from earth, the longitude of any planet in the

skies can be from 0°0'0'' (0 degrees 0 minutes 0 seconds) to 359°59'59''. It should be

noted that 0°0'0'' corresponds to the beginning of the zodiac. Many western

astrologers consider Sayana or tropical (moving) zodiac, whereas Nirayana or

sidereal (fixed) zodiac is considered in Vedic astrology.

The zodiac (sky) lasts 360° as mentioned above and it is divided into 12 equal parts.

They are called “rasis” (signs). English names, Sanskrit names, two-letter symbols

and values of the start longitude and the end longitude (in degrees, minutes and

seconds) of all twelve rasis are given in Table 1.

Table 1: Definition of Rasis

Rasi name Sanskrit name Symbol Start End

Aries Mesha Ar 0°0'0'' 29°59'59''

Taurus Vrishabha/Vrisha Ta 30°0'0'' 59°59'59''

Gemini Mithuna Ge 60°0'0'' 89°59'59''

Cancer Karkataka/Karka Cn 90°0'0'' 119°59'59''

Leo Simha Le 120°0'0'' 149°59'59''

Virgo Kanya Vi 150°0'0'' 179°59'59''

Libra Thula Li 180°0'0'' 209°59'59''

Scorpio Vrischika Sc 210°0'0'' 239°59'59''

Sagittarius Dhanus Sg 240°0'0'' 269°59'59''

Capricorn Makara Cp 270°0'0'' 299°59'59''

Aquarius Kumbha Aq 300°0'0'' 329°59'59''

Pisces Meena Pi 330°0'0'' 359°59'59''

Notation: If a planet is at 221°37', then you can find from Table 1 that it is between

210°0'0'' and 239°59'59''. So, that planet is in Scorpio (or Vrischika). Its

advancement from the start of the rasi occupied by is 11°37'. Its position in the

zodiac (221°37') is shown by some people by the notation 11°°°°37' in Sc or simply 11

Sc 37. This means “advanced by 11°37' from the start of Sc (Scorpio)". Some people