Many cultures throughout time relied on nature and the stars as their time keepers. The calendar systems of the ancient world reflected the agricultural, political and ritual needs, characteristic of the societies in which they flourished. As culture and technology progressed, many calendars and systems became standardized. One calendar however still aligns with nature — let me show you the way.
The astrological system we’re most familiar with is Tropical or Western astrology, which is a fixed zodiac based off of sixty years of observational research, by Roman Astronomer / Astrologer Ptolemy, dating around 100 A.D.
The Sun on the Spring Equinox at that time was close to zero degrees Aries, although this calculation isn’t eternally true. Because of the profound losses to libraries (including the burning of the library of Alexandria), knowledge about this Western system of astrology was lost. Based on these observations, it was assumed that this point never moved and thus the tropical zodiac became fixed.
Artwork: Pinterest | Surya (Sun)
Vedic astrology (Jyotiṣa), sister science to yoga and Āyurveda, is a precise zodiac based on the observational and fixed positions of the stars, as they move across the ecliptic and calculates for the wobble of the Earth and the procession of the equinoxes.
Due to this precession, the two systems move one degree away from each other every seventy-two years and currently have a difference of approximately twenty-four degrees (ayanāṃśa). On a side note, each of the twelve signs in the zodiac has thirty degrees. In Jyotiṣa, the zodiac is divided into 12 signs of 30 degrees each, and within this framework, there are 27 nakṣatras which span the full 360-degree ecliptic, each occupying approximately 13 degrees and 20 minutes.
How does this relate to you? If you were born May 1st, for example, your sun would literally (observational) be in the sign of Aries — versus Taurus, per tropical astrology. Sun is a minor placement in Vedic astrology, which is more Lunar-based and this at least offers you an insight into planetary placement.
If you look up at the sky, Saturn can currently be seen in Aquarius, as of January 18th, 2023 (versus tropical Pisces) and will remain there for another couple years until March 29th, 2025.
Which Age Are We Really In?
Artowork: Pinterest
Today, we have a variety of calendars, both Solar, Lunar and the Vedic calendar (amongst others), which is Lunisolar. The Lunisolar calendar calculates the ritual month based on the Moon and the agricultural year on the Sun.
The Solar year, the time it takes for the Earth to complete its orbit around the Sun, is about 365 1/4 days (with its established 12 months). A Lunar year is calculated from the 354 days, which is the time it takes for the Moon to return to the same placement in relation to the Sun or to complete thirteen lunar phases.
In India, the calculation of the lunar month varies regionally, with South India beginning the month the day after the new moon (Amāvásyā) and North India commencing it the day after the full moon (Pūrṇimā), reflecting two distinct yet harmonious calendrical traditions.
From the perspective of the solar year, the Gregorian calendar, instituted in 1582 by Pope Gregory XIII, marks the new year on January 1st, with the Sun in Sidereal Sagittarius. In contrast, the Tamil New Year (Puthaṇḍu) is observed on April 14th, when the Sun enters Sidereal Aries, symbolizing the solar equinox and the Sun’s exaltation.
Similarly, Gudhi Pāḍavā heralds the Vedic New Year, aligning with the lunisolar calendar on Chaitra Śukla Pratipadā—the first lunar day after the new moon nearest the vernal equinox—ensuring the Sun and Moon are positioned in Pisces at the time of the new year’s inception.
While this marks the beginning of the Samvatsara cycle, many traditions also recognize Diwali, the Festival of Lights, as the Hindu New Year. Unlike Gudhi Pāḍavā, which is linked to the Sun’s transition, Diwali follows the lunar calendar and falls on the new moon of Kārtika. It signifies a renewal of both spiritual and material cycles, embodying the triumph of light over darkness and marking a fresh beginning in various regions of India.
The Vedic calendar, calculated through the pañcāṅga (Vedic almanac), honors this astronomical transition with either the new moon in Pisces or the one closest to the equinox, exemplified by Gudhi Pāḍavā. Celebrated by Maharashtrians and Konkani Hindus, it marks the beginning of a new Samvatsara, the 60-year cycle of the Hindu lunar calendar. Recognized as one of the Sāḍhe Tīn Muhūrta—highly auspicious days requiring no additional muhurta for initiating significant ventures—this day holds profound spiritual, cultural, and agricultural significance. The chart cast for this day is believed to reveal karmic trends for the year ahead.
While Gudhi Pāḍavā and Puthaṇḍu are distinct in their calculations, both commemorate the astronomical new year, a tradition observed across cultures. The Lunar and Chinese New Years are tied to the first new moon of the Gregorian year, while Rosh Hashanah in the Hebrew calendar aligns with the new moon closest to the autumn equinox. The Persian New Year, Nowruz, is celebrated with the vernal equinox on March 21/22.
Due to the precession of the equinoxes, the vernal equinox gradually shifts through the Zodiac over a 25,920-year cycle. Presently, it resides in Pisces and will take approximately 130 more years to transition into Aquarius. Though Aries symbolizes new beginnings, our lunisolar calibration—anchored in the new moon closest to the equinox—confirms that we remain within the Piscean age.
Vedic Timekeeping: Thoughts to Contemplate
May we consider that the Sun moves one degree per day, never retrogrades, and serves as our constant timekeeper. With that said, how many degrees are in a circle? 360, right? This marks twelve months and twelve zodiac signs, establishes the winter and summer solstices, spring and fall equinoxes, and the agricultural year. Have you heard of any calendars that speak of a 360-day year?
As for the Moon, its orbit around the Earth takes approximately twenty-seven days and seven hours, with a lunar year totaling 354 days. The ritual month is calculated through its thirteen lunar months, presenting a different perspective from standardized calendars—something I find deeply intriguing.
A calendar that aligns with the true position of the stars, considering both the exact location of the Sun and Moon in the sky and their relationship—the Vedic calendar.
The Vedic almanac (pañcāṅga) is highly precise, tracking lunisolar festivals and auspicious dates based on the constellations (nakṣatras) and tithis. A tithi is the time it takes for the Moon to increase in distance from the Sun by twelve degrees, dividing the lunar month into fifteen waning and fifteen waxing phases. Since the motion of the Sun and Moon varies, the length of a tithi fluctuates between 19-26 hours.
Certain festivals are tracked by the Sun, such as Makar Saṅkrānti, traditionally marking the Sun’s entrance into Capricorn. However, Uttarāyaṇa—the Sun’s northward journey—astronomically begins at the winter solstice (December 21/22), when the Sun reaches its southernmost point in Sidereal Sagittarius (Mūla) and turns northward. Similarly, Dakṣiṇāyana—the Sun’s southward journey—begins at the summer solstice (June 21/22), when it reaches its northernmost point in Sidereal Gemini (Mṛgaśīrṣā) and begins its descent. Due to the shifting ayanāṃśa, Makar Saṅkrānti now falls on January 14th, yet the solstices remain the true markers of these transitions.
The pañcāṅga is also used to calculate auspicious times (Muhūrta) for important events such as getting married, moving into a new house, or beginning a journey. Festivals like Diwali, the Festival of Lights (Hindu new year), are based on the Moon. Who knew that the calendar could assist in attuning us closer to the rhythms of nature?
So, Which Calendar Will You Choose?
Artwork Pinterest: Sidereal calendar, Italy 1775-1770
Know that I’m here to support you on your journey home to yourself. If you’d like to talk about you and take a deeper look into your Vedic, Sidereal placements / star map (around 23 degrees behind your tropical chart), please visit Vedic Astrology to book a consultation.
By understanding these celestial movements, we align ourselves more closely with the rhythm of nature—honoring time not as an abstract construct but as a living, breathing cycle mirrored in the cosmos. The Vedic calendar offers us a way to move in harmony with these natural transitions, guiding us toward a deeper attunement with the divine order of time.
