I. What is the ZodiacFor purposes of Astrology and the deeper implications of any debate, I offer this definition: “The zodiac is where we find the exact location of planets and other celestial phenomena, as they move through the sky, viewed from our vantage point on Earth.”

So much of the confusion I have seen that has arisen comes from discussing zodiac and calendar factors interchangeably – as if they are the same thing. In the ancient texts zodiac sign names were often used to describe things that have nothing to do with locating objects in space.

Zodiac signs names used to describe things in a non-astrological context – especially related to the seasons – is really confusing. EG: “Aries” is a zodiac sign (that measures / locates objects in the sky). It is not a “month” or a “season”. Of course, we can use it as such, and calculate the sky that way. At that point we are still measuring space, but we are doing it by projecting the seasonal calculation into space.

It is effective to see the two zodiacs like this: The Sidereal zodiac is anchored to the actual sky behind the planets, as if they are sections of space or “stars beaming light down to us” from the sky to the Earth.

The tropical zodiac is anchored to the equinoxes / calendar factors, as if “the seasons are pushed or projected” into the sky from the Earth.

II. Examples of zodiac sign names describing non-zodiac thingsAs said, the ancients used the same terms to describe 2 different calculations. Sidereal and tropical zodiac signs. This is very confusing for us now.

From Tetra Biblos Ch.9 – Of the Power of Fixed Stars: (Sidereal) “The stars in the head of Aries, then, have an effect like the power of Mars and Saturn, mingled; those in the mouth like Mercury's power and moderately like Saturn's; those in the hind foot like that of Mars, and those in the tail like that of Venus.” The Ptolemy describes the stars in each sign. It is totally sidereal.

Next in Chapter 12 he describes the zodiac as pinned to the vernal point: (Tropical)“although there is no natural beginning of the zodiac, since it is a circle, they assume that the sign which begins with the vernal equinox, that of Aries, is the starting point of them all, making the excessive moisture of the spring the first part of the zodiac,…

Ptolemy calls them both by the same names, sidereal Aries and tropical Aries are both called “Aries”. We would never do that! So, we are tempted to think that they must have been confused. “Which one is it, it can’t be both!” Except it certainly can once we open our mind.

Surya Siddhanta we see the same thing: From the Surya Siddhanta, Ch. 1 – Mean Motions of Planets

A Concise History of the Zodiacs - Overview- By Sam Geppi

25. The planets moving westward with exceeding velocity, but constantly beaten by theasterisms, fall behind, at a rate precisely equal, proceeding each in its- own path.28. Sixty seconds make a minute; sixty of these, a degree; of thirty of the latter is composed asign (rashi); twelve of these are a revolution (bhagana).

Then at the very end of the book (last chapter of the version we now have) it says: 9 - 10. From the sun's entrance (sankranti) into Capricorn, six months are his northern progress (uttarayana); so likewise, from the beginning of Cancer, six months are his southern progress (dakshinayana). Thence also are reckoned the seasons (rtu), the cool season (cicira) and the rest, each prevailing through two signs. These twelve, commencing with Aries, are the months; of them is made up the year.

This is at the end of the book, and as we see, it is not describing the “zodiac” (objects moving through the sky). It is calling “months” and “seasons” and “solstices” zodiac sign names.

There are also statements in non-astrological / astronomical texts, such as the Srimad Bhagavatam and Vishnu Purana that use the zodiac names this way. This is clearly evidence that they were using these terms to describe things that have nothing to do with an astrological zodiac, erecting charts and other things we do as astrologers, as none of those books have anything to do with practicing astrology.

This can be very confusing – especially if people have strong beliefs already. But we really need to just see it as the convention of the time. They clearly used the same names to describe the zodiac signs as well as things connected to the calendar – especially the seasons, months and the solstices and equinoxes.

Of course, we should assume that these ancient scientists knew of the 2 zodiacs. It was a basic calculation. These were great scientists of their age – those who developed geometry, trigonometry, and all of the advanced math formulas.

Astrolabes: In the astrolabes we can see WHY they would connect the Zodiac to the calendar. Because doing so allowed them to create this remarkable device that allowed people to walk around with the universe in their pocket.

Astrolabes changed over the centuries from being Sidereal to a mix of sidereal and tropical, to totally tropical, because it was too confusing to factor in ayanamsha while using the device – especially for the common people.

III. Main Source of Confusion - The Sun - 1 Object Measured 2 WaysI think a main source of confusion comes from misunderstanding what is being measured with the two zodiacs. I think the reason for this confusion is due to our relationship to the Sun itself.

We are circling the Sun and measure that with the calendar. But from where we are standing, on Earth, the Sun is also circling us – along with all of the other planets, eclipses sky objects. We measure those things with the zodiac – as well as the precessional cycle / cosmological ages.

Sidereal Zodiac in India Seasons, Solstices and Zodiac in the Vedas In the Vedas, the Indian calendar correctly measured the seasons and aligned them with the solstices and measured them with the sidereal zodiac. The year had twelve Saura / Solar months, connected the solstices and seasons, and measured using the zodiac of sidereal space and time. The Vedas have several sections that describe the ancient approach to Indian timekeeping, the year, seasons, etc. In the Yajur Veda (1200 BC) - Book 4, V. 4, stanza 11 states: (Ye are) Madha and Madhava, the months of spring. (Vasanta) (Ye are) Çukra and Çuci, the months of summer. (Greeshma) (Ye are) Nabha and Nabhasya, the months of rain. (Varsha) (Ye are) Isa and Urja, the months of autumn. (Sharad) (Ye are) Saha and Sahasya, the months of winter. (Hemanta) (Ye are) Tapa and Tapasya, the months of the cool season. (Shishira) These twelve portions / months of the year were pinned to the Earth / Sun (Saura year), like the twelve months of the calendar. These twelve seasonal months are akin to the Gregorian calendar months of January, February, etc. But in India, every third month began a new season and was coordinated with a solstice or equinox. The entire cycle began on the new moon in the month of the winter solstice (it seems). But the year also had twelve soli / lunar synodic months that marked the full and new moons. Those months had the same names in the Vedas that they have now in modern India (Maagha, Phalguna, Chaitra, etc.). We see important celebrations and daily life connected to this soli / lunar calendar. These cycles are astrological, not seasonal in nature. Those 30° portions were not connected to the solstices and seasons directly, only loosely. Instead, they were connected to / measured by the astrological / sidereal / Nakshatra based zodiac—then AND now. Measuring Sidereal Time and Space in the Vedanga Jyotisha From the same text, we see the earliest Vedic astrological references, and how timekeeping was approached and how the zodiac was calculated. Solar months were connected to the seasons and solstices but MEASURED by the sidereal zodiac in space and time. Below are a few of the important sections. The year length and the connection of the seasons to the solstices are seen. “366 days for the solar year. In the year there are six ritus (seasons) and two ayanas (solstices). In the year there are twelve solar months. Five years make a yuga.” The following verses show that the new moon in Dhanishta (Shravishta) Nakshatra began the soli / lunar month of Magha, at that time. It also shows the solar / calendar month (Tapa) and the year / yuga beginning on the winter solstice or that new moon. “When the Sun and Moon occupy the same region of the zodiac together with the asterism Shravishta, at that time begins the yuga, and the (synodic) month of Magha, the (solar seasonal) months called Tapas, the bright

fortnight (of the Synodic month Magha) and their northward course (uttarayan / winter solstice).”

Below we see the Nakshatras measuring both the northern and the southern course, at the time of this text.

“When situated at the beginning of the Shravishta segment, the Sun and Moon begin to move north. When they reach the midpoint of the Aslesha segment, they begin moving south.”

And this:

“Four and a half asterismal segments is one ritu (season).”

Six seasons multiplied by 4.5 Asterisms (Nakshatras) = 27 Nakshatras.

And this, measuring five-year yugas by the number of Nakshatras transited by the Sun in five years:

“In the same way the total of the asterisms of the Sun (which comes round five times) is 135.”

It is clear that in the Vedas, approximately 1200 BC, that the Indians connected the seasons to the solstices (and the new moon of that month) and also began the year / yuga at that time. They also measured everything with sidereal space and time.

Even though no “zodiac signs” were mentioned in the Vedas, we must conclude (unless compelling evidence suggests otherwise) that the Indians would continue to measure the sky surrounding the Earth sidereally—and indeed they did as we will see.

Brihat Parashara Hora Sastra Chapter 3. 4-6. “Those are called ‘Grahas’, that move through the Nakshatras in the zodiac. The said zodiac comprises of 27 Nakshatras commencing from Ashvini. The same area is divided in 12 parts equal to 12 ‘Rashis’ commencing from Mesh.

Brihat Jataka – Varahamihira (5-6th Century) Ch. 1, V. 4: “In the celestial Chakra (globe) the signs commencing with Mesha and Aswini, are each formed by nine padams (quarters) of stars and govern the following organs of Kalapurusha…”

Hora Sara - Prithuyasas - Son of Varahamihira (Approx. 6th Century) Ch.1 V.14“Two and a quarter of stars make one Rasi. Each of the 12 signs is constituted by two and a quarter of stars or nine padas with Ashwini in the start in Aries and Revati at the end in Pisces.”

Jataka Parijata - Vaidyanatha Dikshita (1463 CE) Ch1. Sloka 7 “Kriya (Aries) and other zodiacal signs in the heavens consist of nine quarters of stars reckoning from Ashwini,..”

Surya Siddhanta, Ch. 1 – Mean Motions of Planets 25-28. The planets moving westward with exceeding velocity, but constantly beaten by the asterisms, fall behind, at a rate precisely equal, proceeding each in its- own path. Hence they have an eastward motion,… By their movement, the revolution is accounted complete at the end of the asterism Revati. Sixty seconds make a minute; sixty of these, a degree; of thirty of the latter is composed a sign (rashi); twelve of these are a revolution (bhagana).

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