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Of the body called the Vedas, astrology
represents the ‘eyes’,
with its capacity to ‘see’
the past, the present and the future.
Astrology is considered as the most
important of the above Vedangas.
Astrology
& Vedic Astrology
“Astrology is a scientific
study and application of the language
of the heavenly bodies.”
“Vedic astrology is an analysis
and forecasting system, based on astronomical
data, that allows its practitioners
to carefully assess and understand
behavior, to measure the effects of
the past, the influence of the present
and the tendency of events to unfold
in the future.”
These heavenly bodies, determined
on the basis of astronomy and mathematics,
are mapped in the form of a horoscope.
Their specific locations in the horoscope
indicate specific happenings in the
case of individuals, of multitudes
and of geographical regions. Whether
the Sun, the Moon, the planets and
the stars themselves influence the
terrestrial phenomena, or they only
indicate such phenomena by their various
dispositions, is immaterial. What
is important to us is that variations
in their disposition determine variations
in the events on the earth.
There are many systems of astrology;
among them the ‘Vedic Astrology’
(Called Jyotish) holds a different
place for its nature and structure.
It is very much different from other
Astrology systems. It is the pure
spiritual astrology, which involves
the concept of Karma (actions performed),
rebirth and other basic facts about
the creation and explains how planets
control our lives and affect us all.
A very important
topic, remedial measure is also avoided
in Western Astrology. What is the
point of knowing a future mishap unless
the remedy is told? All the students
of Vedic Astrology know and repeatedly
see that the predictions of Vedic
Astrology cannot be avoided by simple
efforts, as they are REAL.
Mythological
Facts Behind Astrology
The ancient science
of astrology believes that the movement
of planets affects our lives in a
great way. These planets control our
fate and everything because they are
the incarnation of the Lord Vishnu
(The God Almighty) to bring us the
result of actions we perform. Thus,
Predictive Astrology can never be
discussed without the discussion of
Gods, karma etc.
The reasons for planets
affecting our health, body and mind
can be scientifically shown to some
degree, but what is about luck and
destiny, predicting future? Planets
must have the authority from the creator
to control our destiny. Otherwise,
how can they? And Vedic Astrology
answers this straightly, while Western
Astrology, avoiding the core concepts
of fate and destiny, becomes unable
to have a good predicting ability.
The
Fundamentals of Vedic Astrology
The fundamentals of Vedic Astrology
were believed by ancient philosophers
to have been instituted by Lord Brahma,
‘the creator of whole universe’.
This knowledge was then passed down
to various Rishis and to man.
Vedic Astrology, in its current form,
is thought to have been written several
thousand years ago by Maharishi Parashara.
Parashara's book, "Brihat Parashara
Hora Shastra" is the primer on
Vedic Astrology and most scholars
view Parashara today as the “father
of mainstream Vedic Astrology”.
The zodiac for Vedic Astrology has
12 signs or constellations from Aries
to Pisces. But rather than emphasizing
on the Sun Signs, Vedic Astrology
uses the Ascendant Sign, Moon Sign,
and a part of the Sun Sign.
Vedic Astrology believes in the totality
of various calculations that are done
on the basis of the movement of planets,
their correlation and planetary placements.
A final view is found only when all
the parts are seen as a whole.
Astrology
and Science
Study of astrology has been branded
by the neo-scientists as a belief
in superstition. Those who have never
bothered to study the subject have
heaped greater criticism on astrology.
Many critics have questioned the basis
of astrology, ignoring the fact that
an understanding of a basis has to
succeed and not precede an observation.
The basis of gravitational pull was
determined after the existence of
the force of gravitation was recognized.
By definition, Science means, “A
knowledge ascertained by observation
and experiment, critically tested,
systematised and brought under general
principles”. Astrology strictly
fulfils all these criteria. Two
aspects of astrology can be explained
as following points:
| 1. |
The cause and effect phenomenon:
Astrology is a cosmic science
and not bound by the limitations
of a laboratory. In physical sciences,
there may be a gross cause or
a subtle cause, producing a physically
visible or gross effect. For example,
Gravitation, which is a subtle
cause, produces a gross effect
of attracting a physical body
towards the earth. In the case
of astrology, the cause is always
subtle while the effect is appreciable
and predictable according to rules,
which have been developed and
refined over the centuries. The
subtle cause in case of astrology
is the cosmic force represented
by the disposition of the various
heavenly bodies or ‘planets’.
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| 2. |
The phenomenon of replication:
Astrology is also criticised on
the ground that its principles
do not yield result, which can
be invariably replicated or reproduced.
Physical sciences can, on the
other hand, boast of a reproducibility
of their various principles. It
may be pointed out here that every
correct astrological prediction,
in fact, underscores the principle
of replication in astrology. Since
astrology is a complex science.
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In the ancient Indian
scriptures, for example, numerous
astrological dicta lie hidden. Unfolded
and carefully applied today, they
prove their eternal applicability
and give dazzling results, which the
open minded scientists of today can
only marvel at. It is no coincidence
that a planetary combination present
at the time of the Mahabharata war,
and described by Karna to lord Krishna,
also obtained, in a modified form,
in 1914 when the World War I started;
in 1942 when World War II was in progress,
and again in 1971 at the time of the
Indo-Pak conflict.
Vedic
concepts proved true by Science
Well, Vedic
Astrology works with nine planets
mainly. The Sun, the Moon, Mars,
Mercury, Jupiter, Venus, Saturn,
North Node (Rahu) and South
Node (Ketu). Here the Sun and
the Moon are not planets, but
in Vedic Astrology they are
called that way in general sense.
Anyway, there are two planets
– Rahu and Ketu, which
are not 'Material planets' and
they are the nodes of the Moon.
In Vedic scripture, it has been
mentioned that Rahu and Ketu
are the body parts of a demon
that chase the Sun and the Moon
with great anger of revenge.
It has been mentioned that Rahu
is the severed head while Ketu
is the rest of the body. When
Rahu can reach the Sun, it devours
Sun with great anger, and then
it eclipse occurs. But since
Rahu is only a cut-off head,
Sun soon gets rid of him, and
eclipse ends. |
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This phenomena described
in the divine scriptures proves to
be true when we view it from a scientific
angle. Actually, Rahu and Ketu are
the points in the space where the
plane of the Moon's orbit intersects
or crosses the ecliptic (Earth's orbit
around the sun) and the fact is that,
an eclipse only happens when the Sun
or the Moon comes on the point of
the intersection, i.e. Rahu or Ketu.
So it means that even from the scientific
view or fact, Rahu and Ketu are 'Devouring'
the Sun and the Moon and causing eclipse
this way.
So it proves that the phenomena described
in Vedic Scriptures are scientifically
true and fact, though they sound pretty
amazing to hear.
Today we know that the simple, colourless
sunbeam actually has seven colours,
which make up theword VIBGYOR. Sir
Newton discovered it. But anyway,
even before thousand years of his
birth, it was described it Vedic Astrology
that the Sun is a strong God who rides
on a chariot pulled by seven horses.
(Yes, SEVEN!) And there are many facts
in Vedic Astrology and other branches
of knowledge, which will make you
amazed as they have so close relation
with our reality.
Sub-divisions
of Astrology
There are three main sub-divisions
of astrology
| 1. |
Samhita: This deals
with collectivity or multitudes.
It encompasses such varied
areas as weather forecasts, agricultural
produce, natural calamities, floods,
wars, earthquakes, cyclones, market
trends, changes in government,
national and international events,
and virtually anything that influences
the masses. The annual world predictions
which are generally based either
on the Hindu New Year commencing
on the Chaitra Shukla Pratipada,
or on the Solar Ingress into Mesha,
fall under the Samhita Astrology.
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| 2. |
Siddhanta or Ganita:
This deals with the mathematical
calculative aspects of Astrology.
There are several treatises on
Siddhanta Astrology but five,
among them, are considered as
particularly important. These
can be discussed in our detailed
course on Vedic Astrology. A proficiency
in these is considered as a prerequisite
for a good astrologer. |
| 3. |
Hora: It
deals with following two parts:
a. Individual horoscopes,
or Jataka, or natal charts.
b. Muhurat or electional Astrology,
which concerns itself
with the election of favourable
planetary disposition to achieve
specific accomplishments in day-to-day
life or for any specific occasion
such as marriage, buying new property
or starting any new business etc.
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