VEDIC ASTROLGY LESSON 11

The Sunrise time:

In Vedic Astrology, the sun rise time plays a very important role. To understand the importance of
sunrise, we must know the difference between the normal clock time and the sidereal time. The normal
clock time defines a day as 24 hours. The sidereal time is the time taken by the earth to rotate on its
own axis around the sun, which is 23 hours and 56 minutes and 4 seconds. The sidereal time is m 4
minutes short of the 24-hour clock time. Sidereal time is calculated from one Sunrise to another.

The sidereal time:

Sidereal time is calculated based on Earth’s position fixed in respect to the stars on the celestial sphere.
Our Earth rotates 360 degrees around its axis, and it also moves around 1 degree on the orbit round the
Sun. So, the Earth should rotate another .986 degrees to complete the 24-hour duration of solar day. This
also means that Earth should rotate for additional 4 minutes before it completes one rotation to meet the
Sun at the same point of time. So, Earth rotates 360 degrees in a sidereal day and 360.98 in a solar day.

The sidereal zodiac:

Vedic astrology is based on sidereal zodiac or the zodiac based on stars and nakshatras. Ayanamsa is the
value table that indicates the precision of Earth’s tipping motion on its axis compared to the stars that
keep changing in the celestial sphere. It also indicates difference between sidereal ecliptical longitude of
a star and tropical ecliptical longitude around the Sun.
Due to differences in orbit of the Sun and the path of the stars, a tropical year differs from a sidereal year.
Position of planets in the Solar system is indicated by ecliptic coordinates and as celestial spheres of
planets keep changing, the calculations keep changing too. But in astrology Earth’s celestial path is quite
fixed about the position of stars. So, when a star is observed from any point on Earth – it is important to
note when the same star will be visible again from the same meridian.

Ephemeris and Panchang:

A log book of ephemeris gives positions and times of planetary movements of the Solar system, while
Panchang (the Hindu Almanac) tells us about duration of stars and rising signs or ascendants of a place.
Deciding the Ascendant in the birth chart of a native is an important part in astrology.

Role of sidereal time for calculating ascendant:

Vedic astrological predictions are made from calculations are based on sidereal stars and calculation of
ascendant in a birth-chart . An Ascendant is a sign seen rising on the Eastern horizon from a specific
location on Earth. Ascendant sign on the horizon keeps changing every 2 hours because every sign
occupies an expanse of 30 degrees. So even 10 people born on Earth at the same time will have different
ascendants based on the places where they were born.

The Sunset time:

The Sun set time is useful in Vedic astrology for calculating the total length of the day time. The
sunset is the time in the evening when the light of the Sun disappears or fades away. It causes due to daily
rotation of Earth. This time is also known as "Sundown". The time of sunset varies throughout the year and
which is basically examined through the viewer's position. It is said that Sun sets in the West, however, due
to earth's rotation on its own axis and axial tilt, it appears down in the West direction.

Astrological interpretation of Sunset time

According to Hindu Sunset time, it is calculated by deducting time taken by the Sun to set half of its diameter
and time taken by Sun to down further to neglect the refraction effect from Astronomical sunset. Mostly,
people do have a confusion in dusk time and sunset time. The question arises like, "Are sunset time and dusk
time same?, for which the answer is "No". The dusk time is the time when the disk of Sun gets totally
disappeared but still there is some light visible in the sky. Sunset time is considered for various astrological
concepts such as Rahu Kaal, Choghadiya, Hora, good and bad Muhurats, etc.
Sun transit time into a new Rasi:
As we know the earth orbits around the sun taking approximately one year to go around. For
astrological calculations the space between the orbit and the sun is divided into 360 degrees (to
indicate one complete orbit) and further divided into 12 parts or Space or area. Each of the 12
divisions is called a Rasi. The 12 Rasis start with Mesha, Rishaba, Mithuna, Kataka etc. and end
in Meena.
As one year is divided into 12 months the time at which the line of vision to the sun crosses the
beginning of each Rasi is taken as the first day of each month in the sidereal calendar. This
crossing is termed as the sun’s entry into each Rasi. The time of entry becomes important
because that time marks the beginning of each new month. To calculate the horoscope of each
human being the sun’s entry time into each Rasi becomes important to mark the month of birth
and age.
Lagna Table:
Lagna table describes the start and finish time of each Lagna during each day. This is useful in
casting horoscopes.
Moon rise, and Moon set times:
These are useful in prediction, though not directly important in day to day astrology functions.
Rahu Kalam, Yama Gandam, Kuliga kalam, Abhijit Muhurtham, Dur Muhurtham, Varjya or
Vishakatika, Amirtha Kala, Chogaida table are all useful in Muhurtha Nirnaya. For deciding suba
muhrtha time for functions, ceremonies, and starting anew venture, travel, surgery, getting
into hospital, giving a loan, building a house, digging a well, starting farming, buying property,
starting new education etc. We will take all these up when discussing Muhurtha Nirnaya.
To be continued in Vedic Astrology Lesson 12….