Let’s start with the basics:
1. What is Asvini?
Asvini is the first star (nakshatra) in the sidereal zodiac, a system commonly used in Indian astrology today. It marks the beginning of Aries in this fixed-star system.
2. So what’s the issue?
The sidereal zodiac assumes that the zodiac signs (like Aries) always begin at the same point in the sky, fixed to stars like Asvini.
But here's the problem: Earth's axis wobbles very slowly over time, like a spinning top. This wobble causes a gradual shift in the position of stars relative to Earth, a phenomenon called precession of the equinoxes.
3. Why does precession matter?
Because of precession, the starting point of Aries (0° Aries) keeps moving backward along the star field by about 1° every 72 years.
This means:
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What was 0° Aries 1,700 years ago is now about 24° behind in the sky.
So, if you're still saying Aries starts from Asvini (as the sidereal zodiac does), you're using a starting point that’s now nearly 1,700 years outdated.
What’s the alternative?
Enter the Tropical Zodiac, used by most Western astrologers and supported by ancient Indian texts like:
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Srimad Bhagavatam
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Brihat Samhita
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Panchasiddhantika
These sources define the zodiac not by stars, but by the Sun’s position relative to Earth : starting Aries from the Vernal Equinox (the day and night are equal, around March 21 each year).
Unlike stars, the equinox point stays relevant to Earth’s seasons, so it doesn’t drift away over time.
So what’s the big deal?
If your chart is made using the sidereal zodiac (which starts from Asvini), you're reading planets as if it’s still 285 AD.
That means:
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Your planets may be shown in the wrong signs.
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Predictions might feel "off."
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You might not resonate with your “sign.”
Conclusion :
The sky has shifted. The sidereal system didn’t move with it.
Your birth chart, if calculated with a fixed starting point like Asvini, may be off by 23–24 degrees,almost a full zodiac sign.
That’s why some astrologers now say:
Start your chart from the equinox (tropical zodiac), not a star that’s drifted far.
It’s not just a West vs. East thing.
It’s about choosing the system that reflects Earth's real position in time.