Indian Astrology

HINDU ASTROLOGY/ INDIAN ASTROLOGY/ VEDIC ASTROLOGY

Jyotisha or Jyotishya is the traditional Hindu system of astrology, also known as Hindu astrology, and more recently Vedic astrology. The term Hindu astrology has been in use as the English equivalent of Jyotiṣa since the early 19th century, whereas Vedic astrology is a relatively recent term, entering common usage in the 1980s with self-help publications on Āyurveda or yoga. Vedanga Jyotishya is one of the earliest texts about astronomy within the Vedas. However, some authors have claimed that the horoscopic astrology practiced in the Indian subcontinent came from Hellenistic influences, post-dating the Vedic period. In the epics Ramayana and Mahabharata, only electional astrology, omens, dreams and physiognomy are used.

History and Core Principles

Jyotiṣa is one of the Vedanga, the six auxiliary disciplines used to support Vedic rituals. There are mentions of eclipse-causing "demons" in the Atharvaveda and Chandogya Upanishad, the latter mentioning Rahu. The term graha, which is now taken to mean planet, originally meant demon. The Ṛigveda also mentions an eclipse-causing demon, Svarbhanu, however the specific term graha was not applied to Svarbhanu until the later Mahabharata and Ramayaṇa. Early jyotiṣa is concerned with the preparation of a calendar to determine dates for sacrificial rituals, with nothing written regarding planets.

The foundation of Hindu astrology is the notion of bandhu of the Vedas (scriptures), which is the connection between the microcosm and the macrocosm. Practice relies primarily on the sidereal zodiac, which differs from the tropical zodiac used in Western (Hellenistic) astrology in that an ayanamsa adjustment is made for the gradual precession of the vernal equinox. Hindu astrology includes several nuanced sub-systems of interpretation and prediction with elements not found in Hellenistic astrology, such as its system of lunar mansions (Nakṣatra). It was only after the transmission of Hellenistic astrology that the order of planets in India was fixed in that of the seven-day week. Hellenistic astrology and astronomy also transmitted the twelve zodiacal signs beginning with Aries and the twelve astrological places beginning with the ascendant. The first evidence of the introduction of Greek astrology to India is the Yavanajataka which dates to the early centuries CE.The Yavanajataka (lit. "Sayings of the Greeks") was translated from Greek to Sanskrit by Yavanesvara during the 2nd century CE, and is considered the first Indian astrological treatise in the Sanskrit language. However the only version that survives is the verse version of Sphujidhvaja which dates to AD 270. The first Indian astronomical text to define the weekday was the Aryabhaṭiya of Aryabhaṭa (born AD 476). According to Michio Yano, Indian astronomers must have been occupied with the task of Indianizing and Sanskritizing Greek astronomy during the 300 or so years between the first Yavanajataka and the Aryabhatiya. The astronomical texts of these 300 years are lost.

IThe later Pancasiddhantika of Varahamihira summarizes the five known Indian astronomical schools of the sixth century. Indian astronomy preserved some of the older pre-Ptolemaic elements of Greek astronomy. The main texts upon which classical Indian astrology is based are early medieval compilations, notably the Bṛhat Parasara Horasastra, and Saravali by Kalyaṇavarma. The Horashastra is a composite work of 71 chapters, of which the first part (chapters 1–51) dates to the 7th to early 8th centuries and the second part (chapters 52–71) to the later 8th century. The Saravali likewise dates to around 800 CE. English translations of these texts were published by N.N. Krishna Rau and V.B. Choudhari in 1963 and 1961, respectively.

Modern Indian Astrology

Astrology remains an important facet of folk belief in the contemporary lives of many Hindus. In Hindu culture, newborns are traditionally named based on their jyotiṣa charts, and astrological concepts are pervasive in the organization of the calendar and holidays, and in making major decisions such as those about marriage, opening a new business, or moving into a new home. Many Hindus believe that heavenly bodies, including the planets, have an influence throughout the life of a human being, and these planetary influences are the "fruit of karma". The Navagraha, planetary deities, are considered subordinate to Ishvara (the Hindu concept of a supreme being) in the administration of justice. Thus, it is believed that these planets can influence earthly life.

Elements

There are sixteen Varga (Sanskrit: varga, 'part, division'), or divisional, charts used in Hindu astrology.

Rasi – Zodiacal signs

The Nirayana, or sidereal zodiac, is an imaginary belt of 360 degrees, which, like the Sayana, or tropical zodiac, is divided into 12 equal parts. Each part (of 30 degrees) is called a sign or rasi. Vedic and Western zodiacs differ in the method of measurement. While synchronically, the two systems are identical, Jyotiṣa primarily uses the sidereal zodiac (in which stars are considered to be the fixed background against which the motion of the planets is measured), whereas most Western astrology uses the tropical zodiac (the motion of the planets is measured against the position of the Sun on the spring equinox). After two millennia, as a result of the precession of the equinoxes, the origin of the ecliptic longitude has shifted by about 22 degrees. As a result, the placement of planets in the Jyotiṣa system is consistent with the actual zodiac, while in western astrology the planets fall into the following constellation about two-thirds of the time.

Nakṣhatras – lunar mansions

The nakshatras or lunar mansions are 27 equal divisions of the night sky used in Hindu astrology, each identified by its prominent star. Historical Hindu astrology enumerated either 27 or 28 nakṣhatras. In modern astrology, a rigid system of 27 nakṣhatras is generally used, each covering 13° 20′ of the ecliptic. The missing 28th nakshatra is Abhijeeta. Each naksatra is divided into equal quarters or padas of 3° 20′. Of greatest importance is the Abhiseka Nakshatra, which is held as king over the other nakshatras. Worshipping and gaining favour over this nakshatra is said to give power to remedy all the other nakshatras, and is of concern in predictive astrology and mitigating Karma.

The 27 nakshatras are;

1.Ashvini, 2.Bharni, 3.Krittika, 4. Rohini, 5.Mrighashirsha, 6.Arda, 7.Punarvasu, 8.Pushya, 9.Aslesha, 10.Magha, 11.Purva Phalguni, 12.Uttara Phalguni, 13.Hastam, 14.Chitra, 15.Swati, 16.Vishakha, 17.Anuradha, 18.Jyeshtha, 19.Mula, 20.Purva Ashada, 21.Uttara Ashada, 22.Sravana, 23.Dhanishta, 24.Shatabhisa, 25.Purva bhadrapa, 26.Uttara bhadrapa, 27.Revati etc.

Dasas – planetary periods

The word dasha means 'state of being' and it is believed that the dasa largely governs the state of being of a person. The Dasa system shows which planets may be said to have become particularly active during the period of the Dasa. The ruling planet eclipses the mind of the person, compelling him or her to act per the nature of the planet.

There are several dasha systems, each with its own utility and area of application. There are Dasa of grahas (planets) as well as Dasas of the Rasis (zodiac signs). The primary system used by astrologers is the Vimsottari Dasa system, which has been considered universally applicable in the kaliyuga to all horoscopes.

The first Maha-Dasa is determined by the position of the natal Moon in a given Nakṣatra. The lord of the Nakṣatra governs the Dasa. Each Maha-Dasa is divided into sub-periods called bhuktis, or antar-dasas, which are proportional divisions of the maha-dasa. Further proportional sub-divisions can be made, but error margins based on accuracy of the birth time grow exponentially. The next sub-division is called pratyantar-dasa, which can in turn be divided into sookshma-antardasa, which can in turn be divided into praana-antardasa, which can be sub-divided into deha-antardasa. Such sub-divisions also exist in all other Dasa systems.

Grahas – planets

The Navagraha describe nine celestial bodies used in Hindu astrology.

The Navagraha are said to be forces that capture or eclipse the mind and the decision making of human beings, thus the term graha. When the grahas are active in their Dasas or periodicities they are said to be particularly empowered to direct the affairs of people and events.

Gemstones are considered of use in strengthening the favourable influence of planets in the horoscope. The benefic planets of a horoscope are the lords of the kendra (first, fourth, seventh and tenth house) and the trikonas (first, fifth and ninth house).

The Navagraha, their corresponding astronomical bodies (when such exist), and their associated gemstones are;

• Surya, the Sun – ruby
• Chandra (a.k.a. Soma), the Moon – pearl
• Mangala, Mars – red coral
• Budha, Mercury – emerald
• Guru (a.k.a. Bṛhaspati), Jupiter – yellow sapphire
• Shukra, Venus – diamond
• Shani, Saturn – blue sapphire
• Rahu – hessonite
• Ketu – cat's eye

Rahu and Ketu do not correspond to real astronomical bodies. They are described as "shadow planets" with an orbital cycle of 18 years and are always 180 degrees from each other, being diametrically opposed twins. Rahu's cycle approximates the pattern of solar and lunar eclipses for which Rahu is believed to be the cause.

Gocharas – transits

A natal chart shows the position of the grahas at the moment of birth. Since that moment, the grahas have continued to move around the zodiac, interacting with the natal chart grahas. This period of interaction is called gochara (Sanskrit: gochara, 'transit').

The study of transits is based on the transit of the Moon (Chandra), which spans roughly two days, and also on the movement of Mercury (Budha) and Venus (Śukra) across the celestial sphere, which is relatively fast as viewed from Earth. The movement of the slower planets – Jupiter (Guru), Saturn (Sani) and Rahu–Ketu — is always of considerable importance. Astrologers study the transit of the Dasa lord from various reference points in the horoscope.

Yogas – planetary combinations

In Hindu astronomy, yoga (Sanskrit: yoga, 'union') is a combination of planets placed in a specific relationship to each other.

Raja yogas are perceived as givers of fame, status and authority, and are typically formed by the association of the Lord of Kendras/quadrants, when reckoned from the Lagna/ascendant, and the Lords of the Tṛkoṇa/trines. The Raja yogas are culminations of the blessings of Viṣṇu and Lakṣmi. Some planets, such as Mars for Leo Lagna, do not need another graha to create Rajayoga, but are capable of giving Rajayogasuo-moto due to their own lordship of the 4th Bhava and the 9th Bhava from the Lagna, the two being a Kendra and Tṛkoṇa Bhava respectively.

Dhana Yogas are formed by the association of wealth-giving planets such as the Dhanesa or the 2nd Lord and the Labhesa or the 11th Lord from the Lagna. Dhana Yogas are also formed due to the auspicious placement of the Darapada/ A7, when reckoned from the Aruḍha Lagna (AL). The combination of the Lagnesa and the Bhagyesa also leads to wealth through the Lakṣmi Yoga.

Sanyasa Yogas are formed due to the placement of four or more grahas, excluding the Sun, in a Kendra Bhava from the Lagna.

There are some overarching yogas in Jyotiṣa such as Amavasya Doṣa, Kala Sarpa Yoga-Kala Amṛta Yoga and Graha Malika Yoga that can take precedence oveYamaha yogar planetary placements in the horoscope.

Bhavas – houses

The Hindu Jataka, or birth chart, is the Bhava Cakra (Sanskrit: 'division' 'wheel'), the complete 360° circle of life, divided into houses, and represents a way of enacting the influences in the wheel. Each house has associated karaka (Sanskrit: 'significator') planets that can alter the interpretation of a particular house. Each Bhava spans an arc of 30° with twelve Bhavas in any chart of the horoscope. These are a crucial part of any horoscopic study since the Bhavas, understood as 'state of being', personalize the Rasis/ Rashis to the native and each Rasi/ Rashi apart from indicating its true nature reveals its impact on the person based on the Bhava occupied. The best way to study the various facets of Jyotiṣa is to see their role in chart evaluation of actual persons and how these are construed.

Drstis – aspects

Drsti (Sanskrit: Dṛṣṭi, 'sight') is an aspect to an entire house. Grahas cast only forward aspects, with the furthest aspect being considered the strongest. For example, Mars aspects the 4th, 7th, and 8th houses from its position, and its 8th house aspect is considered more powerful than its 7th aspect, which is in turn more powerful than its 4th aspect.

The principle of Dristi (aspect) was devised on the basis of the aspect of an army of planets as deity and demon in a war field. Thus the Sun, a deity king with only one full aspect, is more powerful than the demon king Saturn, which has three full aspects.

Aspects can be cast both by the planets (Graha Dṛiṣṭi) and by the signs (Rasi Dṛṣṭi). Planetary aspects are a function of desire, while sign aspects are a function of awareness and cognizance.

There are some higher aspects of Graha Dṛṣṭi (planetary aspects) that are not limited to the Viseṣa Dṛṣṭi or the special aspects. Rasi Dṛṣṭi works based on the following formulaic structure: all movable signs aspect fixed signs except the one adjacent, and all dual and mutable signs aspect each other without exception