AYANAMSA DECODED
Dr B. S. H. Indrasena FRCS
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28 Aug 2025
Abstract
Four coordinate systems are in use to locate objects in the night sky. The ecliptic coordinate system is
one of them. The plane of measurement of the ecliptic coordinate system is the projection of Earth’s
orbital plane on the celestial sphere. The coordinates are measured along this plane against a chosen
reference point, east of which are celestial longitude from 0° to 360°; perpendicular to the ecliptic are
celestial latitudes ranging from -90° to +90°. Present-day astronomers use the vernal equinox as the
reference point (tropical coordinates), although in the past, there is evidence that ecliptic coordinates
were measured from a fixed point on the ecliptic (sidereal coordinates). This paper endeavours to revisit
that fixed point on the ecliptic.
INTRODUCTION
The present system of measuring ecliptic longitudes from the vernal equinox was started by the Greeks in
the 2nd century BC - CE. Hipparchus and Ptolemy were pioneers of this approach. These are known as
tropical coordinates. Before them, the coordinates of the celestial objects were measured from a fixed
point on the ecliptic. These coordinates are known as sidereal coordinates.
The exact point of the beginning of the sidereal zodiac has been the subject of debate. Most
researchers on this subject have chosen stars as the reference point. Spica (α Virginis) and Revati (ζ
Piscium) are commonly used. This approach is wrong for two reasons:
a) None of these stars are located exactly on the ecliptic. Therefore, taking Spica, Revati or any
other star as the reference point is astronomically wrong.
b) Stars are not stationary even if one found on the ecliptic. Stars do exhibit a minute motion in the
sky. For example, the proper motion of Spica, which is only −42.35 ± 0.62 milli arc seconds per
year, is negligible over a few hundred years but over centuries the displacement is significant.
The difference between its longitude in 10000 BCE and 10000 CE amounts to 03°19'01". Fiducial
point should never be taken as the diametrically opposite point to Spica in any year because the
small but definite proper motion of Spica will change the fiducial point over time if taken as such.
A fixed sidereal point cannot be related to a star. By definition, the sidereal zodiac is stationary; it
cannot be anchored to a star!
This paper endeavours to resolve this issue by finding the zero ayanamsa moment, and giving the vernal
equinox of that moment as the fiducial point.
Hypothesis: The amount of separation of the vernal equinox from the fixed starting point of the sidereal
zodiac is known as ayanamsa. When the two zodiacs coincide the ayanamsa will be zero. If the moment
at which the vernal equinox coincides with the sidereal starting point is known, both on the ecliptic, the
vernal equinox of that moment accurately gives the starting point of the sidereal zodiac.
1 SPICA – THE APPROXIMATE REFERENCE POINT OF BABYLONIANS
Spica (α Virginis), which is also known as Chaitra in Sanskrit, is the brightest star in the constellation
Virgo, and the 15th brightest star in the night sky (Figure 1).
Figure 1 Spica in Virgo
Although, it is not located exactly on the ecliptic (ecliptic latitude of Spica was -1°56′4.8″ in 232 CE), it is
quite close to it. There is ample evidence to show that Spica was an important reference star of the
sidereal zodiac in the past:
a) Spica was the chief marking star of the New Year for the people of Assyria, Egypt and Babylonia.
The exact date of the acronychal rising or setting of Spica marked the New Year’s date; on that
day, the Sun would be expected to be at 0° Aries. Table 1 shows acronychal rising and setting of
Spica on the New Year day (when the Sun enters Aries) in 2025 CE confirming this application.
Table 1 Spica’s acronychal rising and setting on the New Year day
Location: 0°00'00.0", 0°00'00.0" Time Zone: Greenwich
Sun and Spica rising and setting times (hh:mm)
Date
Sunrise Spica sets Sunset Spica rises
2025 Apr 12 (Sat) 05:57 06:06 18:04 17:59
2025 Apr 13 (Sun) 05:57 06:02 18:04 17:56
2025 Apr 14 (Mon) 05:57 05:58 18:04 17:52
2025 Apr 15 (Tue) 05:57 05:54 18:03 17:48
2025 Apr 16 (Wed) 05:56 05:50 18:03 17:44
b) Spica was the reference star for many of the observations of the Greeks. Hipparchus came out
with the idea of precession of the equinoxes from the displacement of Spica from the vernal
equinox.
From these facts, it can be concluded that Spica is an important star in finding the starting point of the
sidereal zodiac. In the past, the ecliptic sidereal zodiac started (0° Aries) at a point nearly diametrically
opposite to Spica. If that is the case, the sidereal longitude of Spica must be close to 180°. After
analysing Babylonian star catalogues published by A. Sachs (Sachs, 1952), Van Der Waerden (Van Der
Waerden, 1952) concluded that the mean position of Spica was 178° (SE = 0.6°). This gives 176.8° –
179.2° as the 95% CI for Spica. With another analysis, Van Der Waerden concluded that Spica was
179°+/-1°. Cyril Fagan decisively proved that Spica was at 179° (Fagan, 1950). Garth Allen demonstrated
statistically in 1959 CE that the longitude of Spica was 179° 06′ 05″ (Fagan, 1971). All these findings are
authentic and consistent with a sidereal longitude closer to 29° Virgo for Spica.
Table 2 Longitudes of junctional stars of lunar mansions as given in Indian texts (Sastri, 2025)
Star SurS BSS SomS VVS PS MahS MBS BGS SidSek JH SidSir JGR
Ashvini 8-0 8-0 8-0 8-0 8-20 12-0 8-0 8-00 8-00’ 8-00 8-00 14-06
Bharani 20-0 20-0 20-0 20-0 20-0 24-23 27-00 20-0 20-00 21-00 20-00 28-20
Krittika 37-0 37-0 37-0 37-0 37-28 38-33 36-0 37-28 37-28 38-00 37-28 40-07
Rohini 49-30 49-30 49-0 49-0 49-28 47-33 49-00 49-28 49-28 49-00 49-28 49-55
Mrgasir 63-0 63-0 63-0 63-0 63-0 61-03 62-00 63-00 63-00 62-00 63-00 63-50
Ardra 67-20 67-20 67-20 75-0 67-0 68-02 70-00 67-00 67-00 66-00 67-00 68-53
Punarvasu 93-0 93-0 93-0 93-0 93-0 92-53 92-00 93-00 93-00 94-00 93-00 93-21
Pushya 106-0 106-0 106-0 106-0 106-0 106-0 105-00 106-00 106-00 106-00 106-00 108-51
Aslesa 109-0 109-0 109-0 109-0 108-0 110-00 114-00 108-00 108-00 107-00 108-00 113-56
Magha 129-0 129-0 129-0 129-0 129-0 125-20 128-30 129-00 129-00 129-00 129-00 129-58
P.Phalguni 144-0 144-0 144-0 144-0 147-0 140-23 141-00 147-00 147-00 148-00 147-00 143-32
U.Phalguni 147-30 155-0 155-0 155-0 155-0 150-23 154-00 155-00 155-00 155-00 155-00 151-45
Hasta 170-0 170-0 170-0 170-0 170-0 174-03 173-00 170-00 170-00 170-00 170-00 173-35
Chitra 180-0 180-0 180-0 180-0 183-0 182-50 185-00 183-00 183-00 183-00 183-00 183-58
Swati 199-0 199-0 199-0 199-0 199-0 193-00 197-00 199-00 199-00 198-00 199-00 184-22
Vishaka 213-0 213-0 213-0 213-0 212-0 212-33 212-00 212-05 212-05 212-00 212-05 211-08
Anura 224-0 224-0 224-0 224-0 224-5 224-53 222-00 224-05 224-05 224-00 224-05 222-42
Jyeshta 229-0 229-0 229-0 229-0 229-5 230-03 228-00 229-05 229-05 230-00 229-05 229-54
Moola 241-0 241-0 241-0 241-0 244-0 240-44 241-00 241-00 241-00 242-00 241-00 243-00
P.Ashada 250-40 254-0 254-0 254-0 249-8 250-33 254-00 254-00 254-00 255-00 254-00 254-42
U.Ashada 260-0 260-0 260-0 260-0 260-0 260-23 267-00 260-00 260-00 261-00 260-00 262-47
Abhijit 266-40 266-40 267-0 267-0 265-0 263-00 - 265-00 265-00 258-00 265-00 -
Sravana 280-0 280-0 280-0 280-0 278-0 283-0 285-00 278-00 278-00 275-00 278-00 281-53
Sravista 290-0 290-0 290-0 290-0 290-0 296-33 296-00 290-00 290-00 280-00 290-00 297-31
Sathabisa 320-0 320-0 320-0 320-0 320-0 319-33 307-00 320-00 320-00 320-00 320-00 321-42
P.Bhadra 326-0 326-0 326-0 326-0 326-0 335-53 328-00 326-00 326-00 325-00 326-00 334-40
U.Bhadra 337-0 337-0 337-0 337-0 344-10 347-00 345-00 337-00 337-00 337-00 337-00 354-26
Revati 359-50 359-50 359-50 359-50 360-00 360-00 360-00 360-00 360-00 360-00 360-00 360-00
Ancient Indian texts give different values to Spica complicating the issue. The only Indian text
consistent with Babylonian 29° Virgo is Siddhanta Darpana. Texts like Surya Siddhanta (SuryaS),
Brahmasphuta Siddhanta (BSS), Soma Siddhanta (SomS) and Vriddha Vasishta Siddhanta (VVS) give
180° to Spica (Table 2), while others give values closer to 183° rather than 180° (Maha Siddhanta
(MahaS), Maha Bhaskareeya Siddhanta (MBS), Brahmagupta Siddhanta (BGS), Siddhantasekara
(SidSek), Jyotirvidaharana (JH), Siddhanta Siromani (SidSir), and Jyotirganitha Raivata (JGR). Statistical
analysis of the longitude of Spica from a sample of 20 Indian texts is given in Figure 2. Mainly two
competing schools of thought can be identified in it: 183° and 180°. Mean longitude of Spica is 182.118°
(SE 0.410, 95% CI 181.371° - 183.069°). This statistical analysis supports 183° for Spica.
Histogram of number of times each longitude appears in Indian sources
6
Frequency
0
179 180 181 182 183 184 185
Longitude
Figure 2 Summary statistics of Spica from 20 Indian sources
2 ZETA PISCIUM - THE APPROXIMATE REFERENCE POINT OF INDIANS
Revati is a faint star in Pisces constellation. Unlike for Spica, the longitude of this star is more or less the
same in all ancient Indian astronomy texts (a comparison of these two stars is given in Table 3.
Table 3 Longitudes of ζ-Piscium and Spica as given in Indian texts (Sastry, 2025)
Text Year compiled Revati Chaitra
Siddhanta Darpana 000° 05′ 179° 00′
Surya Siddhanta c.550 CE 359° 50′ 180° 00′
Brahmasphuta Siddhanta 782 CE 359° 50′ 180° 00′
Soma Siddhanta 400–900 CE 359° 50′ 180° 00′
Vriddha Vasishta Siddhanta 350 CE 359° 50′ 180° 00′
Ketakigrahaganita Chaitrapaksha 359° 18′ 180° 00′
Surya Siddhanta Burgess commentary c.550 CE - 180° 48′
Maha Siddhanta 950 CE 360° 00′ 182° 50′
Pancha Siddhanthika 659 CE 0° 00′ 183° 00′
Pitamaha Siddhanta 360° 00′ 183° 00′
Brahmaguptha Siddhanta 360° 00′ 183° 00′
Siddhantasekara 1050 CE 360° 00′ 183° 00′
Jyotirvidaharana 360° 00′ 183° 00′
Siddhanta Shiromani 1304 CE 360° 00′ 183° 00′
Grahalaghava 1400 CE 360° 00′ 183° 00′
Siddhanta Sangraha 360° 05′ 183° 08′
Jyotirganita Raivata 360° 00′ 183° 58′
Lalla Siddhanta 359° 00′ 184° 20′
Sarvanandakarana 360° 00′ 00″ 184° 28′ 10″
Maha Bhaskareeya Siddhanta 650 CE 360° 00′ 185° 00′
It can be seen in Table 3 that in Surya Siddhanta, Brahma Siddhanta, Soma Siddhanta and Vriddha
Vasishta Siddhanta, the longitude of ζ Piscium has been given as 359°50′ and the longitude of Spica as
exactly 180°. However, later texts like Pitamaha Siddhanta, Maha Siddhanta, Maha Bhaskareeya
Siddhanta, Brahmaguptha Siddhanta, Siddhantasekara, Jyotirvidyabharana, Siddhanta Shiromani and
Jyothirganitha Raivatha give exactly 360° consistently to ζ Piscium, while Spica has been given a value
away from 180° closer to 183°. This shows that the initial reference point of the Indian astronomers was
Spica, but later they shifted to ζ Piscium as the reference star.
Table 4 Rising time of Revati star and the setting time of Spica for different cities on 04 Aug 2025
ζ Piscium Spica Longitude of ζ Piscium with refraction if
City
rising setting Spica were 180.00° with refraction
Alexandria
22:59 22:59 0° Aries
Egypt
Baghdad Iraq 21:59 21:59 0° Aries
Rhodes Greece 23:01 23:00 0° 15′ Aries
Colombo
22:24 22:32 28° 00′ Pisces
Ceylon
Athens Rome 23:18 23:16 0° 30′ Aries
Delhi India 22:22 22:23 29° 45′ Pisces556
Greenwich UK 22:38 22:28 2° 30′ Aries
0.0000N,
22:17 22:26 27° 45′ Pisces
0.0000E
Almost all earlier authors have given 180° to the star Spica (Chaitra Nakshatra) and 359°50′ to ζ
Piscium. This seems like Spica and ζ Piscium are located at nearly diametrically opposite points. When
Spica was taken as 180°, the ζ Piscium was nearly at 360° (359°50′). This is not the actual alignment of
these two stars. The tropical longitude of ζ Piscium is 20°14′23″, while the longitude of Spica is
204°11′52″ in 2025 CE. The distance between these two stars is not close to 180° but differs by
approximately 4° from 180°. Therefore, the fact that when the Spica was 180°, ζ Piscium was 359°50 (as
given in the Surya Siddhanta and similar work) need further evaluation. Table 4 gives the rising time of ζ
Piscium and the setting time of α Virginis in six cities on a particular day. As seen in it, these two stars
can be seen at the horizon at the same time in Alexandria and Baghdad; i.e., for these latitudes, ζ
Piscium rises when Spica sets. If Spica were assumed to be at 180°, this implies that ζ Piscium would be
at 0° Aries. In Rhodes of Greece, ζ Piscium rises just a minute after Spica has set. This implies that the
longitude of ζ Piscium is 0° 15′ Aries, since in one minute Earth rotates 15′ around its axis. In Colombo, ζ
Piscium ascends eight minutes before Spica descends; if Spica were at 180°, for this to be true, ζ Piscium
would be at 28° 00′ Pisces. Interestingly, in India, ζ Piscium rises one minute before Spica sets. This
gives ζ Piscium 29° 45′ Pisces. This is almost exactly the relationship given between Spica and Revati
in the Surya Siddhhanta.
In 232 CE, the tropical longitude of ζ Piscium was 355°12′52.44″, while the tropical longitude of
Spica was 179°15′56.12″. Therefore, Spica was not situated 180° 10′ from ζ Piscium as given in the
Surya Siddhanta. The actual separation was about 183° 53′. If the sidereal longitude of ζ Piscium were
359° 50′ the sidereal longitude of Spica would be 183° 43′. Subsequent writers of India seem to have
identified this error of the earlier writers and tried to correct it. For example, Jyotirganitha Raivata gives
360° to ζ Piscium and 183° 48′ to Spica.
Another point in favour of ζ Piscium based zodiac in India is the placement of this star in its
constellation. It was located almost on the ecliptic (-0°14′39.52″ in 232 CE).
3 CONTROVERSIAL SIDEREAL LONGITUDE OF SPICA
There appears to be a discrepancy between the Babylonian (178° - 180°) and Indian sources (179° -
185°) about Spica. The reason behind this discrepancy is the presumed Indian reference point, which
was ζ Piscium, was different from the presumed Babylonian reference point, which was Spica.
Babylonians are thought to have defined the sidereal zodiac with reference to Spica, whereas Indian
longitude of Spica was an indirect measurement of a different zodiac starting from ζ Piscium. Therefore,
when searching for the sidereal longitude of Spica, it is advisable to follow the Babylonian tradition.
Further, the Babylonian longitude (178° -180°) has been mentioned in at least six texts: five texts give
180°, and one text gives 179° (Figure 2). Irrespective of the numbers, it seems that the sidereal zodiac
started at a point on the ecliptic nearly diametrically opposite to Spica. This is the principle Babylonians
followed to determine the day of the New Year. From this, the longitude of Spica can be deduced to be
180°. However, detailed research about this topic has revealed a degree slightly off 180°, closer to 179°.
4 THE ATMOSPHERIC REFRACTION AS A SOURCE OF ERROR
Ancient astronomers examined the sky with naked-eyes. Unknowingly to them, such observations were
influenced by the atmospheric refraction. Three examples to prove that their inferences were just the
naked-eye observations are given below:
a) A temple in Thebes in Egypt was aligned with Spica. Maybe this place was used to determine the
acronychal rising time of Spica. Any observation at this site was influenced by the atmospheric
refraction.
b) The appearance of ζ Piscium and Spica in the opposite horizons at the same time was recorded
by the author of the Surya Siddhanta. Undoubtedly, this observation was highly misled by the
atmospheric refraction in both horizons.
c) Hipparchus recorded that the Indian starting point of the zodiac and ζ Piscium rise together
(Mercier, 1977). Clearly, this is a simple naked-eye observation of the sky.
The earliest records of refraction date back to the time of Aristotle (c.350 BC). Ptolemy produced the
first atmospheric model in c.150 CE. However, not until Snellius of the 17th century CE was it possible to
quantify refraction with any degree of accuracy.
It is necessary to eliminate the refractive error from ancient astronomical records. Refractive index of
the atmosphere depends on the environmental temperature and the degree of elevation of the celestial
body from the horizon. It is greatest at the horizon (23.27′ for Baghdad: at a temperature of 20°C, altitude
of 1°, and pressure of 1009 millibars), and zero at the meridian -directly above the head- . Since all
observations of Spica recorded in this paper were done when Spica was setting or rising on the horizon,
the refractive error was significant and maximum. When there is acronychal rising of Spica, both the Sun
and Spica were 23.27′ below the 0° -180° horizontal plane. On a New Year day, the Sun could be
supposed to be at 0.00°, and Spica could be supposed to be at 180.00° if there were no atmospheric
refraction, but in reality, the Sun was at 0°23.27′, while Spica was at 179°36.73′. According to their
definition of the New Year, therefore, the starting point was erroneously 0°23.27′, and not 0°00′. From this
starting point, Spica’s longitude would be 179°13.46′ (179°36.73′ - 0°23.27′). This is similar to the
longitude of Spica found by Fagan and Bradley.
Since both Spica and ζ Piscium align at the same time on the visible horizon in Egypt and Babylonia,
both these stars were apparently valid starting points of the zodiac. Of the two, Spica was brighter and
easily visible making it the preferred star of the Babylonians, Egyptians, and Greeks throughout the
history. At the beginning, Indians, too, relied on Spica, but later they dropped it and adopted ζ Piscium as
the reference point of their observations. Indians were misled by the failure to recognize that apparent
alignment of Spica and ζ Piscium was valid only on their latitudes and falsely appeared like they were
180° apart.
5 WORKING OUT THE APPROXIMATE ZERO-AYANAMSA MOMENT
The zero-ayanamsa moment can be defined as the point of time when there was a superimposition of the
zero point of the sidereal zodiac and the (tropical) vernal equinox. On that day, since the vernal equinox
and the zero point of the sidereal Aries coincide, the longitude of Spica as calculated in relation to the
vernal equinox and the longitude of Spica measured from the zero point of sidereal Aries will be the
same, i.e. the ayanamsa will be zero. After subtracting atmospheric refraction, Spica’s longitude is
29°13.46' Virgo. Accordingly, in the zero-ayanamsa moment, the tropical longitude of Spica measured in
relation to the vernal equinox must be 179°13.46' (29°13.46' Virgo).
With the help of astronomical software that uses Swiss ephemeris, it can be shown that on the
moment of the vernal equinox in 229 CE (21 March 229 CE at 03:40:00 hours GMT) the tropical longitude
of Spica was 29°13'40" Virgo.
Of course, there is a possibility that the refractive index obtained above is not exact. Refractive
index depends on the atmospheric temperature. The longitude of Spica was found to be 29°13'40" Virgo
when the refractive index was calculated for 20°C. This is the average temperature of Baghdad in March.
What would be the situation if the atmospheric temperature was taken as 10°C or 30°C.? The refractive
indices for 10°C and 30°C are 24.09' and 22.50', respectively. These figures differ from the refractive
index of 20°C (23.27') by +0.72' and -0.77'. This is equivalent to a difference of +/-1 year, from 229 CE. It
is necessary to look into this matter further. Without verifying the year with other supportive evidence it is
not prudent to accept 229 CE as it is. By analysing the Zodiacal Ages this uncertainty can be resolved.
6 ZODIACAL AGES
When the vernal equinox migrates backwards along the ecliptic, it moves successively from one
constellation to the one before. For example, with the passage of time, the vernal equinox moves
successively backwards from Aries to Pisces, from Pisces to Aquarius, and so on until it comes back to
Aries from Taurus. The time the vernal equinox remains in one zodiac sign is known as an Age. In this
way there are 12 Ages of equal length. Since the precessional rate is one degree in 72 years, in each
sign the vernal equinox stays for 2160 years (72 Х 30° = 2160). The period that the vernal equinox stays
in each constellation is known as a Zodiacal Age. In this way, there are Ages of Aries, Pisces, Aquarius,
and so on, covering all 12 sidereal zodiacal signs during one precessional cycle. When the vernal
equinox passes from Aries to Pisces (Aries–Pisces interface), the Age of Pisces begins. This happens
when the vernal equinox superimposes on the starting point of sidereal Aries; which is also the end of
Pisces.
When a new Age begins, the vernal equinox, the Sun, Jupiter and Saturn, all four, are in
conjunction in one zodiacal sign. When the Age of Pisces started, the Sun and the vernal equinox
were at the beginning of Aries (Pisces 359°60′60″). Jupiter and Saturn were also in Aries; it happens in
this way:
Jupiter comes into conjunction with the same zodiacal sign every 12 years (11.86 years, to be
precise); Saturn does so in every 30 years (29 years and 167 days, to be precise). Thus, Jupiter
and Saturn come into conjunction in the same zodiacal sign every 60 years (precisely 59.5742
years). Since the vernal equinox moves one degree every 72 years, in one Zodiacal Age, there
are 2160 years (72 Х 30); therefore, there are 36 Jupiter-Saturn conjunctions in one Zodiacal Age
(2160 ÷ 60) with a total of 432 (12 Х 36) in one precessional cycle, which is known as a Great
Year in this system. Since each precessional cycle starts at the beginning of the sidereal zodiac
(0.0000° Aries or Pisces 29°60′60″), the zero ayanamsa moment, this implies that at the
beginning of each precessional cycle, Jupiter and Saturn will also be together in Aries. Since 60-
year cycle is not exactly 60, unlike the Sun and the vernal equinox, Saturn and Jupiter do not
come into conjunction exactly at 0° Aries, but the conjunction occurs when Jupiter overtakes
Saturn in Aries.
7 THE EXACT ZERO-AYANAMSA MOMENT
The principle behind the Zodiacal Ages (when a new Age begins, the vernal equinox, the Sun, Jupiter and
Saturn, all four, are in conjunction in one zodiacal sign) can be used to verify or readjust the zero-
ayanamsa moment and the sidereal longitude of Spica (which was obtained by eliminating the refractive
error). When the ayanamsa is zero, the vernal equinox occurs exactly on the 0.0000° Aries, meaning at
the time the Age of Pisces starts, the ayanamsa is zero!
7.1 Onset of the Age of Pisces
At the onset of the Age of Pisces, by principle, the vernal equinox, the Sun, Jupiter and Saturn must be in
conjunction at the beginning of Aries. Out of the years around 229 CE, it can be seen that in 232 CE, at
the time of the vernal equinox, the Sun and Jupiter were in close conjunction and at the same time,
Saturn was also in Aries just 16° ahead of the Sun (Figure 3).
Figure 3 In 232 CE at the time of the VE (20 March 232 CE at 21:06:48 hours GMT) not only the Sun
(000°00'00″), Jupiter (001°02'59″) and Saturn (016°15'48″) but also Venus (355°43'02″), Mercury
(345°38'49″) and Mars (017°33'39″) were closely in conjunction with the beginning of Aries
The next Sun-Jupiter-Saturn conjunction can be expected to occur 60 years later in 292 CE, but
the association is not as close as in 232 CE, and the Jupiter-Saturn conjunction occurs not in Aries but
Taurus. The previous conjunction in 172 CE (60 years before 232 CE) also does not support the principle
that the three of them should be in conjunction at the beginning of a Zodiacal Age. Therefore, this proves
that the Age of Pisces began in 232 CE.
8 THE EXACT LONGITUDE OF SPICA IN 232 CE
The sidereal longitude of Spica at the time of the zero ayanamsa moment is given by the tropical
longitude of Spica in 232 CE at the time of the vernal equinox. This was 179°15′56.12″ (29°15'56.12"
Virgo). This conclusion was reached by two steps to verify the zero ayanamsa moment: elimination of the
refractive error from the ancient star catalogues, an approximate longitude was obtained for Spica
(29°13'40" Virgo); this was rectified using the Zodiacal Ages.
This allows the astronomers precisely know the fiducial point of the sidereal zodiac (Figure 4),
which is the vernal equinox of 232 CE. Since this is independent of a star, it is a static point for ever; it is
also situated on the ecliptic.
Figure 4 The fiducial point of the sidereal zodiac is the vernal equinox of 232 CE
9 ONSET OF THE AGE OF AQUARIUS
Presently, the Age of Pisces has been running since 232 CE. The Age of Aquarius will begin when the
ayanamsa is 30°00′00″. Since the rate of precession is not static, it is not appropriate to simply take the
year when the ayanamsa would be 30° with the standard rate of precession (50.47″ ) (Laskar, 2004).
It has to be verified with other means. According to the theory of Zodiacal Ages, at the beginning of each
Age, the vernal equinox, the Sun, Jupiter and Saturn are in the same zodiacal sign. It has been shown
above, how all these points were in Aries at the beginning of the Age of Pisces in 232 CE. At the
beginning of the Age of Aquarius, these four points must be in conjunction at the beginning of Pisces, i.e.
the end of Aquarius. It can be shown that at the time of the vernal equinox of 2379 CE, all these four
points are in conjunction in Pisces AND the ayanamsa is nearly 30°, given the rate of precession is
between 50.28″ - 50.66″ (Figure 7.9).
Fig 7.9 Alignment of the Sun, Jupiter and Saturn at the time of the onset of the Age of Aquarius (21
March 2379 CE at 3:59:20 GMT in Greenwich, UK)
10 RATE OF PRECESSION
The time of the onset of Piscean and Aquarian Ages can be used to calculate the rate of precession of
this Age, i.e. 232 CE – 2379 CE). During this period of 2147 years (2379 CE – 232 CE), the vernal
equinox has to move 30°. By dividing 30° with 2147, the average annual precessional rate of the present
Age is obtained, which is 50.30274802049371″ per year. This is the average precessional rate between
232 CE and 2379 CE. Beyond this range, the precessional rate must be recalculated employing the same
principle -at the beginning of each Age, the vernal equinox, the Sun, Jupiter and Saturn are in
conjunction- for the onset and end of each Age.
10.1 Average precesssional rate of the Age of Aquarius
Ends on 20 March 4524 CE
Begins on 20 March 2379 CE
Precessional rate = 30° ÷ 2145 years
= 50.34965034965035″ per year
10.2 Average precesssional rate of the Age of Capricorn
Ends on 19 March 6588 CE
Begins on 20 March 4524 CE
Precessional rate = 30° ÷ 2064 years
= 52.32558139534884″ per year
10.3 Average precesssional rate of the Age of Aries
Ends on 21 March 232 CE
Begins on 22 March -2092 CE
Precessional rate = 30° ÷ 2324 years
= 46.47160068846816″ per year
This rate is quite close to the rate of precession known to the ancient astronomers (1° in 100
years, i.e. 36″ per year). This is less than the minimum possible precession (50″) proposed by Cruttenden
(Cruttenden, 2002).
10.4 Average precessional rate of the Age of Taurus
Ends on 22 March -2092 CE
Begins on 24 March -4095 CE
Precessional rate = 30° ÷ 2003 years
= 53.91912131802297″ per year
11 AYANAMSA
Adding the average precessional rate of the Age of Pisces (50.30274802049371") to the zero Ayanamsa
moment of 232 CE gives the Ayanamsa of a given year of this Age (232 CE – 2379 CE). The Ayanamsa
so obtained for 1 January 2000 CE at midnight of Greenwich Mean Time (J2000.0) is 24°42'05"(J1900.0:
23°18'15"). It is a variation of Dulakara ayanamsa proposed by the author originally in 2011 (which was
revised later), the only difference being use of a unique rate of precession devised by the author. The
zero ayanamsa year is as same as for Dulakara (232 CE), but the rate of precession is different. Instead
of the standard rate of 50.2″, 50.30274802049371" per year is used for the period from 232 CE to 2379
CE. This revision gives the most accurate sidereal longitudes of the planets of the present Age of Pisces.
Table 5.3 Comparison of different ayanamsa
Ayanamsa on
Source Sidereal longitude of Spica Zero Ayanamsa Year
1 Jan 2000 CE
Fagan-Bradley 29° 06' 05" Virgo 24° 44' 221 CE
Babylonian Huber 29° 14' Virgo 24° 38' 229 CE
Babylonian Mercier 29° 21' Virgo 24° 31' 237 CE
Babylonian Kuglar-2 29° 26' Virgo 24° 26' 243 CE
Dulakara 29° 15' 53" Virgo 24° 34' 232 CE
Indrasena* 29° 15' 53" Virgo 24° 42' 05″ 232 CE
Chandrahari Not applicable 24° 35' 231 CE
Lahiri 0° Libra 23° 51' 285 CE
* Precessional rate 50.30274802049371
Given in Table 5.3 is a comparison of Indrasena ayanamsa with some others. Interestingly, Indrasena
and Fagan-Bradely ayanamsa are almost the same, but the rate of precession and the zero ayanamsa
year are different. Babylonian-Huber ayanamsa is similarly close. Chandrahari’s zero ayanamsa year is a
close match to Indrasena; if the rate of precession given in this paper is used, Chandrahari ayanamsa will
give similar values.
11.1 Finding the ayanamsa of a given day
Ayanamsa of a given day can be calculated as follows:
Example
How much is the ayanamsa on 10 Aug 2025?
Ayanamsa on J2000.0 = 24°42'05"
Speed of ayanamsa = 50.30274802049371″ per year
2025.0 - 2000.0 = 25
Ayanamsa on 2025.0 = 24°42'05" + 25 Х 50.30274802049371″
= 25°03'02.5687" (01 Jan 2025 midnight)
Speed of ayanamsa per day = 50.30274802049371″ ÷ 365.25
= 0.1377″ per day
Number of days to 10 August = 222 (from 01 Jan 2025 midnight)
Ayanamsa for 222 days = 0.1377″ Х 222
= 30.5694″
Ayanamsa on 10 Aug 2025 = 25°03'02.5687" + 30.5694″
= 25°03'33"
Astrologers are advised to use the sidereal year length and topocentric longitudes with this ayanamsa for
better results.
12 REFERENCES
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Sun may be part of a long cycle binary system.
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iii. Fagan, C. (1971). Astrological Origins. Ireland: Llewellyn Publications.
iv. Laskar, Jacques, et al. "A long-term numerical solution for the insolation quantities of the
Earth." Astronomy & Astrophysics 428.1 (2004): 261-285.
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astronomy. Indian J. History of Science, 12, 120-26
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