VEDIC JOTISH OVERVIEW

Vedic Astrology

Vedic Astrology (or Vedic Jyotish) is consist of two words ‘Vedic’ and ‘Astrology’ (or ‘Jyotish’ in Sanskrit). Vedic is sanskrit word which means “pertaining to Vedas". Veda simply means

“Knowledge”and these are the sacred scriptures of Hinduism and they are supposed to contain knowledge of all subjects. The word ‘Jyotish’ is composed of two words ‘Jyoti’ (light) and ‘Ish’ (god) which means light of God.  Vedic Astrology or Vedic Jyotish refers to Hindu astrology, a system that originated in ancient India and which was documented by sages in the Vedic scriptures.

As per classical references Vedic Jyotish is a part of Vedas. There are four Veda and Six vedang (limbs of Vedas). Four Vedas are:

1).The Rig Veda.

2).The Sam Veda.

3).The Yajur Veda.

4).The Atharva Veda

Just like the limbs of the body, they perform various supportive and augmenting functions in the study, preservation and protection of the Vedas and the vedic traditions. Six Vedang are:

1).Shiksha – This vedang descries the rules of correct pronunciation.

2).Kalpa – This vedang explains the procedure for performing religious rituals.

3).Vyakrana – This vedang explains the Vedic grammar which forms the basis to create words and the sentences.

4).Nirukta – This vedang explains the expositions of Vedic words.

5).Chhanda – This vedang explains the study of Vedic mantras and their rhythm, pause, tempo, stress and pitch.

6).Jyotish – This vedang describes the position and movement of planets, stars, signs and the effects of position and movements on living beings.

Jyotish is called the eye of Vedas. It is the science of light and the eye of knowledge.Astrology is the study of the movements and relative positions of planets, stars, signs and the impact of position and movements on human life.

What is Astrology?

 The basis of Astrology is astronomy and it is important for an astrologers to know the correct positions and movement of the planets and stars at any given time, also the correct positions of the zodiacal fixed star signs in relation to any place on earth at any given time. Planets are constantly in motion with respect to earth in the skies. The positions of the Sun, the Moon and some planets close to earth can give important clues about the fortunes of individual human beings and groups of human beings. That is the basic premise of astrology. Primarily, astrology is used to understand one's self, and our karma for this life.

Basic Principle of Vedic Astrology

The basic premise of this astrology is that all things are linked. Your karma or fortune is determined by a predestined cosmic design. You are a soul incarnating in a body at a very specific time and place, and your life is a reflection of the greater whole into which you are born, just as flowers bloom at certain times, when all conditions are perfectly congenial. So is the case with our births on this planet, according to the theory of karma.

What are Charts?

In Jyotish, the main item is your chart. It's a map of the planets in the signs of the zodiac. Charts are cast based on an exact moment at an exact place on earth. Therefore, the moment you were born and the place you were born has a chart, which is known as your "birth chart" or "natal chart".

By reading the chart of the heavens for the time and place of your birth, astrologers claim they can know much about you. The positions of the planets in the real star-based zodiac are taken and your "dashas" (predictive timeline) are arranged. Your Vedic chart will most likely reflect your real life, and your dashas are probably operating the way they should. The Vedic astrologer looks at these planets, signs and house placements in your chart and can "see" your personality, as well as life events and possibilities--both the good and the bad times in your life. The dashas are then used to determine "when" the events will unfold in the life.

South Indian Style of Representation

North Indian Style of Representation

The Predictive Magic of Vedic Astrology

Dashas give a greater predictive accuracy to Vedic astrology than is possible with Western astrology. These "planetary ruling periods," which are unique to this system, give Vedic astrologers a tool for quite accurately predicting the trends, changes and events in your life with amazing precision. Therefore, Vedic astrologers are less limited to talking about your general overall self and can get more deeply into what's going to happen in your life.

How is it Different from Western Astrology?

Vedic astrology differs from Western or Tropical astrology mainly in that it uses the fixed zodiac as opposed to the moving zodiac. Because of the gradual tilting of the earth in space on its axis, the zodiac, if you calculate it from the sun's relationship to the earth, appears to be moving at the rate of a little less than 1/60th of a degree per year. Currently, the relative or movable zodiac is off (out of alignment with) from the fixed or real star-based zodiac by roughly 23 degrees, which is almost one whole sign of the zodiac. Because the two systems are skewed from each other by nearly one whole sign, most people's "Sun Sign"-- that which you can get from the newspaper each day, is usually one sign back when the chart is refigured using Vedic astrology. So, the first surprise of using the Vedic system is that you no longer belong to the Sun Sign you always thought you were. However, if you were born in the last five days or so of the Western sign month, then you will probably still be the same sign in the Vedic system.

Is Astrology a Science?

Astrology is the mother of all sciences, in which the Earth has been considered as a unit of the solar family and the effects of the other members of the solar family on our planet and vice-versa. All these have been taken into account for analysis and its pros and cons are used for the benefit of people. Astrology is not magic! It's purely based on astronomy and mathematics. It is the most beautiful palace of knowledge with the most puzzling entrance. The basic difference between the work of an astrologer and that of a doctor or a lawyer is that an astrologer should only narrate what he sees in a horoscope…because everything is pre-destined.