VedAstro Python Library - FAQ

Answers to the most common questions from beginners.

Installation & Setup

Q: How do I install VedAstro?

A: Simply run:

pip install vedastro

No additional dependencies, no configuration files, no setup needed!

Q: Do I need to download ephemeris files?

A: No! All calculations run on our cloud servers. You don't need to download any data files, ephemeris data, or timezone databases. Just install the pip package and start coding.

Q: Which Python versions are supported?

A: Python 3.9+ (3.9, 3.10, 3.11, 3.12, 3.13)

Check your version:

python --version

Q: Can I use this offline?

A: No, VedAstro requires an internet connection because calculations are performed on our cloud servers. This design ensures you always get the latest algorithms and updates without needing to reinstall the library.

API Keys & Pricing

Q: Do I need an API key?

A: For the free tier, you can either:

Use no key at all (defaults to free tier)
Use Calculate.SetAPIKey('FreeAPIUser')

For the premium tier ($1/month unlimited), get your key from vedastro.org/API.html.

Q: What's the difference between free and premium?

Feature	Free	Premium
All 596 calculations	✅	✅
All 47 ayanamsa	✅	✅
Commercial use	✅	✅
Swiss Ephemeris	✅	✅
Rate limit	5 req/min	Unlimited
Cost	$0/month	$1/month

Bottom line: All features are the same. Only difference is rate limits.

Q: How do I upgrade to premium?

Go to vedastro.org/API.html
Choose plan ($1/month or ₹758/year for India)
Pay via card, UPI, Google Pay, or PayPal
Get API key from vedastro.org/Account.html
Use it: Calculate.SetAPIKey('your-key-here')

Q: What happens if I exceed the rate limit (free tier)?

A: You'll get a rate limit error. Solutions:

Add delays: time.sleep(12) between requests (12 sec = 5 req/min)
Upgrade to premium: $1/month for unlimited requests

Q: Can I use this commercially?

A: Yes! Both free and premium tiers allow commercial use:

✅ Build and sell apps
✅ Offer paid services
✅ Use in SaaS products
✅ Integrate in commercial websites

MIT license = no attribution required (but appreciated!).

Q: Is there a discount for students or nonprofits?

A: Contact us at contact@vedastro.org with proof of student/nonprofit status. We offer discounts on a case-by-case basis.

Time & Location Format

Q: I keep getting time format errors. What's wrong?

A: Use the exact format: "HH:MM DD/MM/YYYY +TZ:TZ"

✅ Correct:

Time("14:30 25/10/1992 +05:30", location)  # 2:30 PM IST
Time("09:00 01/01/2000 -05:00", location)  # 9 AM EST
Time("23:45 15/08/1985 +09:00", location)  # 11:45 PM JST

❌ Wrong:

Time("2:30 PM 25/10/1992 +05:30", location)  # No AM/PM format
Time("14:30 1992-10-25 +05:30", location)    # Wrong date order
Time("14:30 25/10/1992", location)           # Missing timezone
Time("14:30 25-10-1992 +05:30", location)    # Hyphens not allowed

Key rules:

Use 24-hour format (14:30, not 2:30 PM)
Date order: DD/MM/YYYY (not MM/DD/YYYY or YYYY-MM-DD)
Always include timezone offset (+05:30, -08:00, etc.)

Q: How do I know my timezone offset?

A: Common timezone offsets:

Location	Offset	Example
India	`+05:30`	IST
UK	`+00:00`	GMT (or `+01:00` in summer)
USA East Coast	`-05:00`	EST (or `-04:00` in summer)
USA West Coast	`-08:00`	PST (or `-07:00` in summer)
Japan	`+09:00`	JST
Australia (Sydney)	`+10:00`	AEST (or `+11:00` in summer)
China	`+08:00`	CST

Search online for "[your city] timezone offset from UTC" if not listed above.

Q: What about daylight saving time (DST)?

A: You must adjust the offset manually:

Standard time: Use standard offset (e.g., EST = -05:00)
Daylight time: Add 1 hour (e.g., EDT = -04:00)

Check if the birth date was during DST for your location.

Q: How do I enter coordinates (latitude/longitude)?

Latitude: -90 to +90 (North = positive, South = negative)
Longitude: -180 to +180 (East = positive, West = negative)

Examples:

# Mumbai, India (North, East)
GeoLocation("Mumbai", 72.8777, 19.0760)

# New York, USA (North, West)
GeoLocation("NYC", -74.006, 40.7128)

# Sydney, Australia (South, East)
GeoLocation("Sydney", 151.2093, -33.8688)

Find coordinates: Search "[city name] coordinates" on Google.

Ayanamsa (Zodiac System)

Q: Which ayanamsa should I use?

A: Quick guide:

Your Context	Recommended Ayanamsa
Indian astrology	`Ayanamsa.Lahiri` (govt standard)
Unsure / General	`Ayanamsa.Raman` (API default)
KP system	`Ayanamsa.Krishnamurti`
Western sidereal	`Ayanamsa.Fagan_Bradley`

How to set:

Calculate.SetAyanamsa(Ayanamsa.Lahiri)

Q: What's the difference between ayanamsas?

A: Ayanamsa is the offset between tropical (Western) and sidereal (Vedic) zodiacs. Different systems calculate this offset slightly differently, resulting in 0-3° variations.

This mainly affects planets near sign boundaries (0°-3° or 27°-30°).

Q: How many ayanamsa systems does VedAstro support?

A: 47 systems - the most comprehensive library available:

Lahiri, Raman, Krishnamurti, Fagan-Bradley, Yukteswar
...and 42 more!

See full list: vedastro.org/API.html

Q: Why is my Sun sign different in Vedic vs Western?

Vedic uses sidereal zodiac (actual star positions)
Western uses tropical zodiac (fixed to seasons/equinoxes)

The difference is about 24°, which shifts most signs back by one (e.g., Libra in Vedic = Scorpio in Western).

Both are valid systems for different purposes.

Understanding Results

Q: What's the difference between longitude and degree?

Niravana Longitude = 0-360° continuous (e.g., 217.45°)
Degree in Sign = 0-30° within current sign (e.g., 7° 27' Scorpio)

Examples:

# Continuous longitude
longitude = Calculate.PlanetNirayanaLongitude(PlanetName.Sun, birth)
# Output: 217.45

# Degree within sign
degree = Calculate.PlanetLongitudeInSign(PlanetName.Sun, birth)
# Output: "7° 27' 15\""

Q: How do I interpret match compatibility scores?

A: Kuta score ranges:

Score	Compatibility	Recommendation
33-36	Excellent	Highly compatible
25-32	Good	Compatible, proceed confidently
18-24	Average	Requires careful consideration
Below 18	Poor	Not recommended

Also check individual Kutas, especially:

Nadi (8 pts) - Health & progeny (most important!)
Graha Maitram (5 pts) - Mental compatibility
Yoni (4 pts) - Sexual compatibility

Q: What does "retrograde" mean?

A: From Earth's perspective, the planet appears to move backward in the sky. Astrologically:

Time to review, revise, redo
Matters related to that planet may face delays
Inner reflection favored over outward action

Check retrograde status:

is_retro = Calculate.IsPlanetRetrograde(PlanetName.Mercury, birth)

Errors & Troubleshooting

Q: I get "Failed to establish connection" error

A: Possible causes:

No internet - VedAstro requires internet connection
Firewall blocking - Check if port 443 (HTTPS) is blocked
API server down - Check status at status.vedastro.org

Try:

import requests
response = requests.get("https://api.vedastro.org")
print(response.status_code)  # Should be 200

Q: I get "Invalid API key" error

A: Solutions:

Use free tier: Calculate.SetAPIKey('FreeAPIUser')
Check spelling: Copy-paste key from vedastro.org/Account.html
Verify subscription: Check if premium subscription is active

Q: API returns empty result or None

A: Check:

Time format - Must be "HH:MM DD/MM/YYYY +TZ:TZ"
Coordinates - Lat: -90 to 90, Long: -180 to 180
API key - Valid and not expired
Internet - Connection is stable

Add error handling:

try:
    result = Calculate.PlanetSignName(PlanetName.Sun, birth)
    if result:
        print(result)
    else:
        print("Empty result - check input parameters")
except Exception as e:
    print(f"Error: {e}")

Q: How do I report a bug?

Check if it's a known issue: GitHub Issues
If not, open a new issue with:
- Clear description
- Code to reproduce the bug
- Expected vs actual behavior
- Python version and VedAstro version

Features & Calculations

Q: How many calculations are available?

A: 596+ methods across 10 categories:

Planets (120 methods)
Houses (85 methods)
Zodiac (42 methods)
Matching (15 methods)
Events (180 methods)
Dasa (8 methods)
Divisional Charts (60 methods)
Ashtakvarga (45 methods)
AI Features (8 methods)
Numerology (10 methods)

Full list: vedastro.org/API.html

Q: Can I get divisional charts (D9, D10, etc.)?

A: Yes! All D1-D60 charts available:

# D9 (Navamsa)
d9_signs = Calculate.AllHouseNavamshaSigns(birth)

# D10 (Dashamsa)
d10_signs = Calculate.AllHouseDashamsaSigns(birth)

# D12 (Dwadashamsa)
d12_signs = Calculate.AllHouseDwadashamsaSigns(birth)

Q: Can I calculate Ashtakvarga?

A: Yes! Both SAV (Sarva Ashtakvarga) and BAV (Bhinna Ashtakvarga):

# All planets' ashtakvarga
ashtakvarga = Calculate.AllPlanetAshtakvarga(birth)

# Sarva Ashtakvarga (combined)
sav = Calculate.SarvaAshtakvarga(birth)

Q: Does VedAstro support Jaimini system?

A: Partial support. We have:

Char Karakas
Jaimini aspects
Some Jaimini dasas

Full Jaimini support is on our roadmap.

Q: Can I get Vimshottari Dasa periods?

A: Yes!

birth = Time("14:30 25/10/1992 +05:30", GeoLocation("Mumbai", 72.8777, 19.0760))
start = Time("00:00 01/01/2020 +05:30", GeoLocation("Mumbai", 72.8777, 19.0760))
end = Time("23:59 31/12/2030 +05:30", GeoLocation("Mumbai", 72.8777, 19.0760))

# Get Mahadasa, Bhukti, Antaram (3 levels)
dasa = Calculate.DasaAtRange(birth, start, end, levels=3, precision_hours=100)

Advanced Usage

Q: How do I batch process multiple charts?

A: See demo_batch_processing.py:

# Process multiple birth charts efficiently
charts = [
    {"name": "Person 1", "time": "14:30 25/10/1992 +05:30", "location": GeoLocation("Mumbai", 72.8777, 19.0760)},
    {"name": "Person 2", "time": "09:00 01/01/1990 -05:00", "location": GeoLocation("NYC", -74.006, 40.7128)},
    # ...
]

for chart in charts:
    birth = Time(chart["time"], chart["location"])
    sun_sign = Calculate.PlanetSignName(PlanetName.Sun, birth)
    print(f"{chart['name']}: {sun_sign}")
    time.sleep(12)  # Rate limiting for free tier

Q: Can I use this with Flask/Django?

A: Yes! VedAstro works with any Python web framework:

from flask import Flask, request, jsonify
from vedastro import *

app = Flask(__name__)
Calculate.SetAPIKey('your-key-here')

@app.route('/horoscope', methods=['POST'])
def get_horoscope():
    data = request.json
    birth = Time(data['birth_time'], GeoLocation(data['location'], data['long'], data['lat']))
    sun_sign = Calculate.PlanetSignName(PlanetName.Sun, birth)
    return jsonify({"sun_sign": sun_sign})

app.run()

Q: How do I cache results to reduce API calls?

A: Use Python's caching:

from functools import lru_cache

@lru_cache(maxsize=100)
def get_sun_sign(birth_time_str, location_name, long, lat):
    birth = Time(birth_time_str, GeoLocation(location_name, long, lat))
    return Calculate.PlanetSignName(PlanetName.Sun, birth)

# First call - makes API request
result1 = get_sun_sign("14:30 25/10/1992 +05:30", "Mumbai", 72.8777, 19.0760)

# Second call with same params - returns cached result
result2 = get_sun_sign("14:30 25/10/1992 +05:30", "Mumbai", 72.8777, 19.0760)

Support & Community

Q: Where can I get help?

Documentation: vedastro.org/API.html
GitHub Issues: github.com/VedAstro/VedAstro.Python/issues
Telegram: t.me/vedastro_org
Email: contact@vedastro.org

Q: How do I request a new feature?

Check if it exists: vedastro.org/API.html
Open GitHub issue: github.com/VedAstro/VedAstro.Python/issues
Email us: contact@vedastro.org

We prioritize features based on user demand!

Q: Can I contribute to VedAstro?

A: Yes! VedAstro is open source (MIT license):

Report bugs: GitHub Issues
Improve docs: Submit pull requests
Add examples: Share your demo scripts
Spread the word: Tell other developers!

Note: vedastro/calculate.py is auto-generated. Don't edit it directly.

Q: Is VedAstro maintained actively?