Ayanamsha Calculator

What is Ayanamsha?

Ayanamsha is the angular difference between the tropical zodiac, measured from the vernal equinox, and the sidereal zodiac, measured against the fixed stars. It is the single value that separates Vedic (sidereal) astrology from Western (tropical) astrology, and it is why the same birth data can produce a Sun in Leo in one system and in Cancer in the other.

The difference exists because of the precession of the equinoxes: Earth's axis wobbles slowly, completing one full circle in roughly 25,772 years. The equinox point therefore drifts backwards against the constellations at about 50.3 arc-seconds per year, or approximately one degree every 72 years. In 2026 the Lahiri Ayanamsha stands at roughly 24 degrees and 20 minutes.

Why Different Ayanamsha Systems Exist

The two zodiacs coincided at some point in the past, and every Ayanamsha system is essentially a claim about when. That reference date is the zero-Ayanamsha year, and because sources disagree on it, the systems differ from one another by up to two degrees. That is enough to move a planet near a sign boundary into a different sign entirely.

Common Ayanamsha Systems

• Lahiri (Chitrapaksha) — the official standard of the Indian government's Calendar Reform Committee, fixing the star Chitra (Spica) at 180°. The default in most Indian software and almanacs, and the one used here unless changed.
• KP (Krishnamurti) — used in Krishnamurti Paddhati, differing from Lahiri by only a few arc-minutes. Required for accurate KP sub-lord calculations.
• Raman — proposed by B. V. Raman, roughly 0.4 degrees behind Lahiri.
• Fagan-Bradley — the standard in Western sidereal astrology, about 0.9 degrees ahead of Lahiri.
• Yukteshwar and Sri Surya Siddhanta — traditional systems derived from classical texts and specific commentaries.

How Ayanamsha Affects Your Chart

Ayanamsha shifts every planetary longitude by the same amount, which has three practical consequences:

• Sign placements — planets sitting within a degree or two of a sign boundary can change signs between systems.
• Nakshatra and pada — each Nakshatra spans 13°20' and each pada 3°20', so even small differences can shift the pada, which in turn affects Gun Milan scoring.
• Dasha timing — Vimshottari Dasha is calculated from the Moon's exact position within its Nakshatra, so a different Ayanamsha shifts every dasha start and end date.

This is why consistency matters more than the choice itself. Astrologers generally settle on one Ayanamsha and stay with it, since comparing charts computed under different systems produces contradictory results.

Using the Ayanamsha Calculator

Enter any date to see the precise Ayanamsha value under each supported system, computed with the Swiss Ephemeris. The value changes continuously, so a chart cast for 1990 uses a measurably different Ayanamsha from one cast today. You can set the Ayanamsha applied across your charts in the settings for each module, and the choice flows through to the Panchang, Ruling Planets and all divisional chart calculations.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which Ayanamsha should I use?

Lahiri is the safe default for Vedic astrology and is the Indian government standard. If you practise Krishnamurti Paddhati, use KP, since the sub-lord divisions depend on it. The important thing is to pick one and apply it consistently.

What is the current Ayanamsha value?

As of 2026 the Lahiri Ayanamsha is approximately 24°20'. Enter today's date above for the exact figure to arc-second precision, along with the equivalent value under each other system.

Why is my Vedic Sun sign different from my Western one?

Because of Ayanamsha. Western astrology uses the tropical zodiac tied to the equinox; Vedic astrology uses the sidereal zodiac tied to the fixed stars. The roughly 24-degree gap means most people's sidereal Sun sign is the one preceding their tropical sign.

Does Ayanamsha change over time?

Yes, continuously — by about 50.3 arc-seconds per year. That is why it must be computed for the specific date of the chart rather than taken as a fixed constant.