Thursday 19 March 2015

Vedic Astrology

Vedic Astrology

Vedic Astrology is about 7000 years old and the oldest branch of  astrology known . This science has been mentioned in the Vedas and carried down through generations. Vedic Astrology uses a unique system of dasas and sub divisional charts that are different from Western Astrology. It can give astonishing results when an expert  Vedic scholar reads your chart based on your correct date, place and  time of birth.

Vedic Astrology is an ancient Indian science which explains planetary motions and positions with respect to time and their effect on humans and other entities on earth. Vedic astrology can be traced thousands of years back. Early Vedic astrology was only based on the movement of planets with respect to stars, but later on it started including zodiac signs as well. According to Vedic astrology there are 27 constellations made up of 12 zodiac signs, 9 planets and 12 houses with each house and planet representing some aspect of human life. Depending on when a person is born, the 12 signs are distributed among the 12 houses and 9 planets are placed in various houses. This visual representation of the snapshot of the signs and planets is called a horoscope chart. Vedic astrology is nothing but interpreting the meaning of these arrangements as it applies to humans and other entities.

Indian astrology is popularly referred to as Vedic astrology.

This is not because it is there in the Vedas. There is no mention of astrology in the Vedas. However, it is one of the Vedangas, i.e., limb or branch of Vedas, and dates back to the Vedic period. Several of the Poojas and remedial measures prescribed in the Indian astrology are as per the Vedic system. Hence, it is called Vedic astrology.

The Vedangas are six in number. They are: Siksha or phonetics, Kalpa or ritual, Vyakarana or grammar, Nirukta or etymology, Chhandas or metrics and Jyotishya or astronomy and astrology. These are mentioned in the Upanishads.

It is impossible ascertain the exact time of origin of our astrology. Even the most famous historians differ wildly, from 1200 BC to 2500 BC while trying to fix our Vedic period. A lot of them, especially the westerners, still study India based on the Mahenjadaro and Harappan discoveries, which were discovered in the 1920’s!! Several archeological discoveries of recent times date our culture to 7500 BC, making it the ancient most civilization in the world. Our astrology has details of the horoscopes of Lord Krishna, Lord Rama and many other ancient Indian kings and queens, recorded thousands of years ago. The Bhishma Parva and Udyoga Parva chapters of Mahabharata mention many astrological descriptions and omens just before the Mahabharata war. It also describes a period of draught with several planetary combinations. There is also a very clear reference about two eclipses, a solar eclipse and a lunar eclipse occurring, creating a rare 13 day lunar fortnight. Available scientific research data shows that the Mahabharata war must have occurred either in 3129 BC or 2559 BC. According to the Hindu Panchangas, maintained from ages, Kaliyuga era is counted from February 17/18 midnight 3102 BC. Hindu epics like Mahabharata and Ramayana have been written off as myths by the western historians. However the recent discovery of the submerged ancient city Dwaraka, (the site of the legendary city of Lord Krishna, which got submerged in the sea after the death of Lord Krishna), led by Dr. S.R. Rao of the Marine Archaeology Unit of the National Institute of Oceanography of India lends a lot of credence to our mythology. Various texts attribute the origin of Indian astrology to various gods and Rishis. It is futile to ascertain who was the originator. The most popularly followed astrological classics today are the ones written by Rishis like Parashara, Varahamihira, Garga, Jaimini and their followers. People in those days had no satellites or telescopes and yet the planetary positions and their motions recorded by them are as accurate as the planetary positions and degrees recorded today using the space satellites. Our ancient astrologers used their divine intuition to record these planetary movements and their effects on us.



Astrology has a twofold purpose. On one hand it is used as a tool to select the right month the right date and the right time to start various auspicious rites and rituals so that the results are better. On the other hand it is used as a guide to study the destiny of an individual.

Indian astrology is based on the theory of fate. The good and the bad actions of the past life determine your fate or Karma of your present life, and the actions of your present life determine your future Karma. According to Indian astrology a person is born at that place, on that day and on that moment when his individual fate is in perfect mathematical harmony with the progress of the stars in heaven. However it does not preach total dependence on fate. Astrology lets you know what you were born with, what your possibilities are, the limitations, your strong points and your drawbacks. What type of life partners and professions suit you and to expect is also indicated. It also prescribes various remedial measures to ward off the bad effects and to enhance the good results. Astrology is your roadmap of destiny. However your fate is in your hands. The scriptures guide us by telling us what is good and what is bad; what to do and what not to do; how to do and how not to do. You are given a piece of land and the seeds to sow. How much effort to put in to it, what amount of manure and water to add and when how to reap the produce is your job. After that it is you who have to act using your knowledge intelligence, discrimination and experience. Fate is like a game of cards where you cannot help the cards that have been dealt to you but how to play them is in your hands. You may get good cards but if you play badly you will lose and you may get bad cards and still may win if you play carefully. Don’t blame the roadmap if you get drunk, drive badly and have an accident! In the Mahabharata Lord Krishna gave advise to Arjuna and also to Duryodhana. One listened and the other did not!

In the Egyptian, Greek, western and Chinese systems of astrology only the birth chart is cast to give predictions. This is hopelessly inaccurate and insufficient. For example, moon, the fastest moving of the nine planets, remains in one sign fro two and half days. The ascendant, or Lagna, extends for a period of two hours. In these two hours, according to the present birth rate, several thousand people are born in the world with the same birth chart! All of them cannot have the same destiny. Hence their predictions based on this and the monthly transits tends to be inaccurate. They are somewhat accurate about the nature of signs etc., but when it comes to predicting the events in ones life and their timing they are nowhere. You don’t really need an astrologer to tell you that, for example if you are Scorpio sign, you tend to be jealous and possessive! Vedic astrology has a four dimensional approach.

Firstly, we have the divisional chart system, called the Varga system. Based on the planetary degrees at the time of birth, sixteen divisional charts are prepared, by dividing the degrees of the planets. These divisional charts are studied to ascertain the strength and weakness of planets and houses and also to study various aspects of ones life. For example, one-ninth division called Navamsa to study spouse and married life, one-tenth division to study profession, one-seventh for children and so on. The last Varga, called Shodashamsa, is prepared by dividing the planet’s degrees in to one-sixtieth part! Second is the dasa system. Based on ones moons degrees at birth, we calculate the Dasas, or the ruling periods of various planets, which keeps changing during ones life. It is not just one planets dasa but Maha dasa, or main dasa, of a planet, Antardasa, or sub period, of another planet and so on till we arrive at a fifth level dasa to study each day.

Third is the Gochara, or transit of planets. Planets transiting various houses produce various results. But a planet transits a sign for quite some time. For example Saturn transits a sign for two and half years. During this entire period its results cannot be totally good or bad. Vedic astrology further pinpoints its good and bad periods even during its transit in one sign. We have the Asthakavarga and Prastharasthakavarga system, which divides a planets transit in a sign into eight parts and shows which part is good and which part is bad.



Lastly, there is the Prasna Kundali system, or chart cast based on the time of the query. This is studied as an add-on chart to give predictions.

The modern scientists do not accept astrology. But it is a known fact that planets do have their effects on us. The doctors of almost all mental asylums accept the fact that during the full moon and the new Moon periods the mental patients behave erratically. The police record the same effects on many criminals. The modern scientists know some of the effects of the ultraviolet rays, gamma rays and beta rays of the planets. But unfortunately they don’t have the divine wisdom of our ancient is to know all the effects fully.

TYPES OF VEDIC ASTROLOGY

Vedic astrology (Jyotisha) has three main branches:

    Siddhanta (Astronomy): Astronomy & its application to astrology
    Samhita (Mundane astrology): Covers Mundane astrology, predicting important events related to countries such as war, earth quakes, political events, astro – meteorology, financial positions, electional astrology; house & construction related matters (Vaastu Shaastra), animals, portents & omens etc.
    Hora (Predictive astrology):

    This branch has the following different styles / sub branches:-
        Jaatak Shaastra / Hora Shaastra (Natal Astrology / horoscopy): Prediction based on individual horoscope.
        Muhurt or Muhurtha (Electional astrology): Selection of beneficial time to initiate an activity to get maximum fruition from the life activities.
        Swar Shaastra (Phonetical astrology): Predictions based on name & sounds.
        Prashna (Horary astrology): Predictions based on time when a question is asked by querent / querist.
        Ankjyotisha / Kabala (Numerology): A branch of astrology based on numbers.
        Nadi Astrology: An ancient treatise having detailed predictions for individuals.
        Tajik Shaastra / Varsha Phal (Annual Horoscopy): Astrology based on annual solar returns.
        Tajik Shaastra / Varsha Phal (Annual Horoscopy): Astrology based on annual solar returns.
        Jaimini Sutras: A non-conventional method of timing of events based on Famous Indian astrologer, Acharya Jaimini.
        Nastjaatakam (Lost Horoscopy): Art of tracing / construction of lost horoscopes.
        Streejaatak (female astrology): A special branch of astrology dealing with female nativitie

        DIFFERENCE BETWEEEN VEDIC AND WESTERN ASTROLOGY

The most easily referred to difference between the two lies in the method of measurement of the Zodiac. Vedic astrology uses primarily 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). This difference becomes only noticeable over time, after the course of several centuries, as a result of the precession of the equinoxes. Synchronically, the two systems are identical, with just a shift of the origin of the ecliptic longitude by about 22 degrees or days, resulting on the placement of planets in the previous sign in Western charts about 80% of the time.

 SCEINTIFIC BASIS OF VEDIC ASTROLOGY

Ancient Hindu literature is full of mythology related to zodiac signs, constellations (also known as Nakshatras) and planets, which explain a lot of astrological rules. However the popular opinion is that the mythology was just a method that our ancient seers used to explain some very complex physical laws, which were beyond the comprehension of common people. Unfortunately even today’s modern science has not been able to fully understand those physical laws behind this ancient method although it’s getting there very fast. Our current understanding of the science of astrology lies in statistics and probability. Statistics is the branch of mathematics, which can deal with correlation between two or more seemingly independent events without knowing the cause of that correlation. If in a chart of 1000 people have the same astrological chart then it can be seen that certain astrological rules hold true in 70%-80% of them. In statistical terms we may say that the occurrence of a specific event in one’s life when certain planetary combination exists is “statistically significant”. Let’s say that you flip a coin 1000 times then the probability of “heads” is always near 50%. Now let’s say that you observe the results of flipping a coin during the sun set and sun rise. If you find, after an year long test, that probability of “heads ” coming up during sunrise is not actually 50%, as expected, but its 70%, then you can actually construct a rule that if you flip a coin during sun rise, the chances of you getting a “heads” will always be more. Vedic astrology can be explained in a similar way. Certain combinations in one’s chart actually result in a prediction, which turns out to be correct in 70-80% of the charts having that combination. We may not explain it yet as to why it happens but the evidence is pretty strong that events can be predicted with very reasonable statistical significance.

Vedic astrology –  Basics

Houses And Planets

The zodiac is divided into 12 signs and each sign has one house. So the whole life has been divided and contained in 12 houses which is explained as follows:

 Signification of Houses

1st House: This is called Ascendant or Lagna, its lord is called Lagnesh. This house signifies life, longevity, self, health, nature and appearance of native. Complexion, vitality, sorrows, gains and profits to younger brothers and his friends. It governs head and face.

 2nd House: This house indicates inflow of finances, bank position, right eye, family, early age or boyhood, speech, sanyas, servants and friends. Self earned wealth, loss or damage, worldly possessions, jewellery, grandfather and mother. It also denotes family, eyesight, understanding with family members, inheritance, law suits, throat, right eye, domestic comforts in general.

 3rd House: It denotes younger brothers and sisters and their relations. It signifies courage, intelligence, education up to Higher Secondary level, taste for writing, ornaments, clothes, short journeys. Signing contracts and documents etc. Body parts are arms, right ear, shoulders, sports  etc.

 4rh House: This house signifies mother, property, conveyance, domestic surroundings and happiness. Old age environments, private affairs, public, inheritance, false allegations, agriculture land and its produce. It represents breasts, chest, lung, stomach, elbow joints etc.

 5th House: Children, speculation, intellectual status and luck are gauged from this house. Pleasure, love affairs, lady love, legal or illegal amusements, kidnap, rape etc. are also checked. Belly, heart, liver, spleen are the body covered by this house.

 6th House: This house is responsible for enemies,, health, service, servants, uncle, aunts and relations on father’s side. Food, subordinates, debts, obstacles in life, mental worries, theft and calamity etc. The body parts denoted are kidney, large intestine, uterus and anus.

 7th House: Matters regarding wife, husband, partnership, external sex organs, conjugal happiness are checked from 7th house. This house also denotes marriage, married life, love, contracts, litigations, divorce, honour and reputation in foreign country. Body parts are private parts, uterus, glands etc.

 8th House: Diseases, death finances through unfair means, internal sex organs, longevity, mental pain, obstacles, dowry of wife, gain from in-laws, mode of death, imprisonment, worries and privations are checked from 8th house. It indicates body parts as scrotum, pelvis, seminal vesicles, external genetalia, etc.

 9th House: This house indicates religion,luck,father , foreign travel, publicity, preceptor, higher education, learnings, writing books, also faith, wisdom, prosperity, powers of foresight, religious institutions, providential help, etc. Hips, thighs are body parts.

 10th House: This important house indicates father, profession, status in life, activities outside house, pleasures, honour, power and authority, Government favour, trade, business, command, honour, occupation, adopted son. All questions regarding worldly activities and moral responsibilities. Body parts are knees, joints, bones, hairs and back.

 11th House: It accounts for accumulated wealth, elder brothers and sisters and relations with them. Friends, fluctuating money gains, club or social activities, emotional attachments, love affairs and friends, honour, social success etc. Body parts are legs, left ear, ankle etc.

 12th House: It signifies private enemies, pleasures of beds, law suits, imprisonments, secret works, moksha, hospitalisation, conjugal relations with opposite sex other than legitimate. Sorrows, debts, lost goods etc. are judged. Body parts are feet, left eye, teeth etc.

Planet                                                  Lord of house           

Sun                                                             Leo            

 Moon                                                      Cancer                          

Mars                                             Aries& Sagitarus        

Mercury                                           Virgo   &Gemini                       

Jupiter                                               Sagittarius&Pises         

Venus                                                 Libra& taurus                 

Saturn                                           Aquarius&capricon         

 Rahu and Ketu do not own any  house but behave like that planet which owns his house and planet which joined with Rahu or Ketu

Planet          Moolatrikona                                  Own house                   high power house      low power house

Sun          Upto 20 deg in Leo                      Last 10 deg in Leo                Aries( 0-10dec)              Libra

Moon      From 3 to 30 deg in Taurus                Cancer                            Tarurs(0-3)                     Sagitarus

Mars        Upto 12 deg in Aries                  Rest of Aries& Sagitarus     Capricon(0-28)              Cancer

Mercury  From 15 to 20 deg in Virgo           Virgo   &Gemini                     Virgo(0-15)                  Pises

Jupiter    First 10 deg in Sagittarius        Rest of Sagittarius&Pises           Cancer                      Capricon

Venus      First 5 deg in Libra                     Rest of Libra& taurus                    Pises                          Virgo

Saturn     Upto 20 deg in Aquarius     Last 10 deg in Aquarius&capricon   Libra                          Aries

Planets and its Significations

Sun:

(1)The soul (2)power (3)Father  (4)fortress (5) good strength (6) heat (7)splendour (8)fire (9)worship of Siva (10)courage (11)thorned trees (12)being in royal favour (13)bitterness (14)old age (15)cattle (16)wickedness (17)land (18)father (19)taste (20)self-realisation (21)skyward look (22)one born of a timid woman (23)world of mortals (24)square (25)bone (26)valour (27)grass (28)the belly (29)strenuous effort (30)forest (31)half a year (32)eye (33)wandering over the mountains (34)quadruped (35)king (36)travelling (37)dealing (38)bite (39)scorch (40)circular shape

 Moon:

(1)Mother (2)flower (3)good perfune (40going to a fortress (5)disease (6)Brahmin (7)idleness (8)Phlegmatic humour (9)epilepsy (10)enlargement of the spleen (11)mental disposition (12)heart (13)woman (14)virtue or vice (15)sourness (16)sleep (17)happiness (18)any thing like water (19)silver (20)thick sugarcane (21)typhoid (22)travel (23)well (24)tank (25)mother (26)impartiality (27)mid-day (28)pearls (29) consumption (30)whiteness (31)waistband (32)bell-metal (33)salt (34)short stature (35)mind (36)ability (37)pond (38)diamond (39)winter season (40) a break of 48 minutes

 Mars:

(1) SPORTS (2)land (3)strength (4)carrying arms for the battle (5)Kingship (6)loss of verility (7)thief (8)battle (9)hostility (10)enemy(11)generosity (12)love for deep red colour things ((13)owning a garden(14)sound of a trumpet (15) affection(16)quadruped (17)king (18)fool (19)anger (20)going to a foreign country (21)firmness (22)supporter (23)fire (24)controversy (25)bile (26)heat (27)wound (28)service under a ruler (29)day (30)sky (31)seeing (32)shortness (33)disease (34)fame (35)tin (36)sword (37)lance or spear (38)minister (39)fracture of a limb (40)jewel

 Mercury:

(1)education (2)‘horses (3)treasury (4)mathematics (5)wisdom (6)speech(7)Brahmin (8)infantry (9)writing (10)new garment(11)palatial building (12)green colour (13)sculprure (14)astrology (15)pilgrimage to holy places(16)wise lectures (17)temple (18)trading (19)best ornaments (20)courteous speech(21)Vedanta philosophy (22)maternal-grand-father (23)bad dreams (24eunuch (25)facing North (26)skin (27)wet (28)bell-metal (29)renunciation (30)Ritu (31)a beautiful house (32)doctor (33)neck (34)influencing through recitation of mantras (35)child (36)crooked look(37)heaven (38)modesty (39)paternal relation (40)fear

 Jupiter:

(1)SON OR DAUGHTER (2)Guru (3)one’s duty(4)Chariot (5)cow (6)infantry (7)savings(8)Meemamsa (9)treasure (10)horse (11)curd, etc. (12)large body (13)Valour (14)reputation (15)logic (16)astrology (17)son (18)grandson (19)dropsy(20)wealth of elephants (21)philosophy (22)great grand-fathers (23)palacial house (24)gems (25)eldest brother (26)grand father (27)Lord Indra (28)cold season(29)wrath (30)jewel (31)merchant (32)physical health (33)a beautiful mansion (34)royal honour (35)thigh (36)Gods (37)penance (38)charity(39)religious duty (40)helping others

 Venus:

(1)WIFE OR LOVER (2)a good chowrie (3)garment (4)marriage (5)income (6) a biped (7)woman (8)Brahmin (9)Subha (10)Whiteness (11)wife (12)sexual happiness (13)short (14)sour (15)flower (16)command (17)fame (18)Youthful vigour (19)Vehicle(20)silver(21)South-East quarter (22)saltish(23)ogling (24)scratching (25)half a month (26)the quality of passion (27)strong (28)pearl (29)Yajur Veda (30) Vaisya (31)beauty (32)buying and selling (33)love-making (34)watery resort (35)elephant (36)horse (37)variegated colour (38)poetry (39)dancing (40)middle age

 Saturn:

(1)laziness, etc.(2)obstruction(3)OLDER PEOPLE(4)elephant(5)skin(6)gain7)stress(8)distress (9)sickness(10)misunderstanding(11)misery(12)death(13)happiness through a woman(14)maid servant(15)asses and mules(16)outcaste (17)one with disfigured limbs(18)haunting woods(19)handsome look(20)gift(21)a lord(22)a portion of life(23)eunuch(24)one born of the lowest caste(25)birds(26)the three sacred fires(27)a servile duty(28)unrighteous conduct(29)one without manliness(30)telling lies(31)long lasting(32)wind (33)old age(34)tendons and muscles(35)strong at the end of the day(36) Sisira Ritu or winter(37)great-anger(38)exertion(39)born of a very low mother

(40) stays away from father

 Rahu:

(1) Umbrella (2)Chowrie (3)kingdom (4)gathering (5)fellacious argument (6)hurting by speech (7)downcast(8)wicked woman(9)decorated vehicle(10)an irreligious man(11)gambling(12)strong at twilight(13)intriguing with a wicked woman(14)going abroad (15)impurity(16)bone(17)enlargement of spleen(18)falsehood(19)downward look(20)perplexity(21)emerald(22)facing the Southern quarter(23)shelter of outcaste or low people(24painfulswelling(25)a big forest(26)wandering in rugged places(27)mountain(28)pain(29)staying outside(30)tending towards South-West(31)wind(32)phlegm(33)sorrow(34)serpent(35)night breeze(36)sharp(37)long(38)reptile (39)reading of dreams(40)travel

 Ketu:

(1)Worship of God Chandeesa, God Ganesha and many other gods(2)doctor(3)dog(4)a cook(5)vulture(6)salvation(7)all kinds of wealth(8)consumption (9)pain(10)fever(11)bathing in the Holy Ganges(12)great penance(13)wind(14)a Hunter(15)friendship(16)conferring of prosperity(17)stone(18)wound(19)witchcraft(20)inconstancy(21)knowledge of Brahma(22)belly (23)eye-sore(24)stupidity(25)thorn(26)deer(27)knowledge(28)observingsilence as a fast (29)philosophy(30)all sorts of luxuries(31)luck(32)trouble from enemies(33)loss of appetite (34)indifference to the world (35)paternal grandfather(36)hunger(37)severe stomachache(38)boil sand the like skin troubles(39)revoking the orders of arrest and (40)the association of Sudra.

 Malefics and benefics:

 Planets are termed natural benefics and natural malefics:-

 These are: Jupiter, Venus, Mercury and increasing Moon-natural benefics; Saturn, Mars, Rahu and Ketu-Natural malefics.  If Mercury joins a natural malefic, he does not remain auspicious. As regards the Moon, he is auspicious from 10thday of dark fortnight through the 5th day of bright fortnight.Apart from the above, planets are classified as favourable and adverse based on births under the 12 different ascendants. These are narrated below:

Aries:

Pure benefics are Jupiter and the Sun. Malefics are Saturn, Mercury and Venus. Venus is the prime killer. Jupiter will give inauspicious results if he is conjunct an adverse planet. However when with Saturn he is not wholly adverse.

Taurus:

Saturn and the Sun are benefics and can cause Rajayoga. Jupiter, Venus and Moon are not auspicious and may prove death inflicting palnets. Mercury can cause some Yoga.

Gemini:

Venus is the only benefic. Mars, Sun and Jupiter are inauspicious. Saturn and Jupiter together behave in the same manner as for Aries birth. The Moon is the prime killer. (Some replace the Moon with Saturn).

Cancer:

Mercury and Venus are malefics. Mars, Jupiter and Moon are auspicious. Mars is a supreme Rajayoga karaka. Saturn is capable of inflicting death and is Maraka lord.

Leo:

Inauspicious planets are Mercury, Venus and Saturn. Mars, Jupiter and the Sun are benefics. Jupiter with Venus cannot give fully benefic results. Saturn is Maraka and the Moon’s effects depend on her association.

Virgo:

Mars, Jupiter and the Moon are adverse. Venus is the only favourable planet. Mars is a Maraka lord.

Libra:

Saturn and Mercury prove auspicious. The moon and Mercury and capable of conferring great benefits and position. Jupiter, the Sun and Mars are inauspicious. Mars is a Maraka lord. Venus gives balanced results for this ascendant, if unafflicted by others.

Scorpio:

Jupiter, as well as the Moon are benefics, the Moon and the Sun are Rajayoga planets. Mercury and Venus give inauspicious effects. Saturn gives mixed results . Jupiter if illrelated will become a Maraka. Mars is of mixed nature.

Sagittarius:

Venus is adverse. Mercury, Mars and the Sun are yogakaraakas. If the Sun joins Mercury he will also become a Rajayoga Karaka. Saturn is a killer apart from Venus.

Capricorn:
Mars, Jupiter and the Moon are inauspicious. Venus and Mercury are benefical. Saturn is not a Maraka lord, while Mars etc. may prove as killers.

Aquarius:

Jupiter, Moon and Mars produce adverse results. Venus and Saturn are exclusively benefics. Mars and Jupiter are killers. If others are related to one of these two, they will also become adverse.

Pisces:

Saturn, Venus, Mercurry and the Sun are classified as unfavourable. Mars and Moon are auspicious. Mars and Jupiter are Yogakarakas. Saturn and Mercury are Marakas.

The purpose & the division of the Zodiac

The ancient Hindu way of life, based on the Karma theory, looked at the progress of the human soul based on three essential macroscopic parameters. They are: The Karma acquired from your past life, the karma you acquire by virtue of your actions in your present life and based on these your future life. They classified our present life into four broad aspects. Dharma or right living, Artha or the monetary aspect, Kama or the desires and finally Moksha or spiritual progress and liberation. They recognized the importance of balancing these four aspects of life for the proper progress. To understand and improve all these four aspects they gave us various Shastras. The Veda shastras for spiritual progress, the Dharma and Nyaya shastras for the legal and social conduct, the Artha ( finance), Ganita (mathematics), Vanijya (trade) shastras for earning money, Sangeeta (music) Nritya (dance) Shilpa (art) Kama (sex) Paka (cooking) shastras for pleasure. Finally the Jyotishya ( Jyoti=light+ Isha=God meaning the light of God to remove ignorance) was given to us as a guide, to get the best results during the most suitable times, in each of the above four areas of life. The entire basis and theology of our astrology is based on these principles.

The Division of the Zodiac:

From the astrological point of view, for the purpose of charting the planetary positions and calculations etc, the 360 degrees of the zodiac was divided into 12 equal parts, called Rasi or sign, of 30 degrees each. This is the 1st basic division. In the Vedic astrology there are 9 Grahas or planets which influence our lives. Out of these seven – the Sun, the Moon, Mars, Mercury, Jupiter, Venus, and Saturn – are actual heavenly bodies. The other two – Rahu and Ketu – are shadowy planets whose positions are calculated mathematically. Vedic astrology ignores Neptune, Uranus, and Pluto.

These 9 planets own certain rasis, represent several things in our life, have several inherent qualities and influence certain facets of our life. It all depends on how these planets are placed and in which rasis they are placed. Let us understand these basics first.

The names of the 12 Rasis (Zodiac signs) in their natural order and their rulers:

1. Aries or Mesha is ruled by Mars.It extends from 00:00 degrees to 30:00′ in the zodiac.

2. Taurus or Vrishabha is ruled by Venus. It extends from 30:00 degrees to 60:00′

3. Gemini or Mithuna is ruled by Mercury. It extends from 60:00 degrees to 90:00′

4. Cancer or Karka is ruled by the Moon. It extends from 90:00 degrees to 120:00′

5. Leo or Simha is ruled by the Sun. It extends from 120:00 degrees to 150:00′

6. Virgo or Kanya is ruled by Mercury. It extends from 150:00 degrees to 180:00′

7. Libra or Tula is ruled by Venus. It extends from 180:00 degrees to 210:00′

8. Scorpio or Vrischika is ruled by Mars. It extends from 210:00 degrees to 240:00′

9. Sagittarius or Dhanu is ruled by Jupiter. It extends from 240:00 degrees to 270:00′

10. Capricorn or Makara is ruled by Saturn. It extends from 270:00 degrees to 300:00′

11. Aquarius or Kumbha is ruled by Saturn. It extends from 300:00 degrees to 330:00′

12. Pisces or Meena is ruled by Jupiter. It extends from 330:00 degrees to 360:00′

So it is clear that the sun and the moon own one house each and all the other 5 planets own 2 houses each. Rahu and Ketu do not own any houses.

The rasis are further divided into several categories. The categories are:

The Trikona or Triangular groups.

The 1st triangle formed by Aries, Leo, and Sagittarius are Agni-Tatwa or Fire signs. They are active, aggressive, adventurous and dominating by nature and are good leaders and administrators. These signs, and people with these signs strong, have the Dharma aspect predominant.

The 2nd triangle formed by Taurus, Virgo, and Capricorn are Bhu-Tatwa or Earth signs. They are down to earth, practical and careful by nature and have a good sense of money. These signs, and people with these signs strong, have the Artha aspect predominant.

The 3rd triangle formed by Gemini, Libra, and Aquarius are Vayu-Tatwa or Air signs. They are intelligent, carefree, jovial and social by nature and enjoy life more than the other signs. These signs, and people with these signs strong, have the Kama aspect predominant.

The 4th triangle formed by Cancer, Scorpio and Pisces are Jala-Tatwa or Water signs. They are emotional, sensitive, romantic, artistic, nature loving and spiritual by nature. These signs, and people with these signs strong, have the Moksha aspect predominant.

2. The Kendra or Quadrangular groups

Aries, Cancer, Libra, and Capricorn forming the 1st quadrangle are Chara or Movable rasis. They are active by nature, like change and direct in their approach. Normally people with chara rasis dominating in the birth chart travel a lot.

Taurus, Leo, Scorpio, and Aquarius forming the 2nd quadrangle are Sthira or Fixed rasis. They take their time to act, do not like change, and have a fixed views and ways of doing things.

Gemini, Virgo, Sagittarius, and Pisces forming the 3rd quadrangle are Dwichara or Dual rasis. They are very intelligent and like exploring new ways and theories.

The Grahas or Planets and what they signify

Sun or Surya is a royal planet and the king in astrology. He represents the soul, will power, father, paternal relations, the king or the high officials. Its hot and angry, colour is red, metal is gold and gem is ruby. Sun represents the eastern direction.

The sun stays in each rasi for one month and takes one year to complete the round of the zodiac. Its motion is quite fixed and a lot of Indian festivals are as per the suns entry into the various signs. For example on January 14 it enters Makara and this day is celebrated as Makara Sankranti, On April 13th/14th it enters Mesha and this day is celebrated as Baisakhi. The change in seasons is also linked to the suns entry into various signs and nakshatras. He is the Pitrukaraka or planet connected with father.

Moon or Chandra is also a royal planet and is the queen in astrology. He represents the mind, emotions, sensitivity, the mother, house and domestic comforts, milk, sea and all things connected with the sea, hotel and food industry, textiles and apparels. Its cold and calm, Its color is white, direction north-east, metal is silver and gem is pearl. The moon is the fastest moving of the 9 planets and takes approximately 2-1/2 days to travel a sign. When the sun and moon are in the same rasi it is called Amavasya or new moon day or the 1st day of the dark fortnight. The lunar days or Tithi changes with every 12 degree difference between the sun and the moon. When the sun and the moon are in the exact opposite signs or 180 degrees apart, it is called Poornima or the full moon day or the 1st day of the bright fortnight. He is the Matrukaraka or planet connected with mother.

The sign in which your Moon is placed in the birth chart is called your Janma Rasi. The star constellation in which your Moon is placed is called your Janma Nakshatra.

Mars or Mangala is the commander in astrology. He represents, energy, courage, younger brothers & sisters, armed forces, the police forces, commanders, administrators, men in high position, land, engineering, metals, real estate agents and surgery. Its metal is copper and gem is coral, color is red and direction south.

Mars takes about 45 days to travel one sign. He is the Bhatrukaraka or planet connected with brother.

Mercury or Budha is the prince in astrology. He represents speech, intelligence, maternal uncles, short journeys, medical profession, trade, computers and the web, astrology and knowledge of the shastras, accounts, mathematics, journalism, printing and publishing. Its metal is bronze, gem is emerald, color is green and direction north.

Mercury takes about a month to travel a rasi. It is always within 27 degree distance from the sun from astrological point of view.

Jupiter or Guru is known as the “Devaguru” or the guru of the Gods. He represents higher knowledge, spirituality, priests, temples, teachers, research & scientists, layers & judges, children and knowledge of the sastras and astrology. Its color is yellow, metal gold, gem yellow sapphire and direction north – east. Jupiter takes about one year to travel a sign. He is the Putrakaraka or planet connected with children.

Venus or Shukra is the “Daityaguru” or the guru of the demons. He represents spouse, sex life, kidneys and sex organ, dance, music, arts, gems and jewelers, wines, bars, gambling places, acting, fashion, cosmetics and beauty products. Its metal is silver, gem is diamond, direction is south-east and colour is white.

Venus takes about a month to travel a sign and completes the round of the zodiac in 12 months. From astrological point of view it is always within 48 degrees of the sun. He is the Kalatrakaraka or planet connected with spouse.

Saturn or Shani is the servant in astrology. He represents hard work, sorrow, old men, servants and the lower level workers, people in the iron and steel industry, municipality and drainage works. A well placed Saturn can bestow excellent power, prestige, name and fame and a badly placed Saturn can devastate you. Its metal is iron, color is blue, gem is blue sapphire and direction is west.

Saturn is the slowest moving of the 9 planets and takes approximately 2-1/2 years to transit a sign and completes the round of the zodiac in 30 years. He is the Udyogakaraka or planet connected with profession.

Rahu or Dragons Head or North Node represents, foreigners, foreign countries, foreign travel, engineering and the technical trades, smoke, old men, grand parents, theft, gambling, drinking, nonconformists, the underworld and the bad elements in the society. Its color is black, metal mixed-metal and gem is Gomedh.

Rahu takes approximately 1-1/2 years to travel a sign and hence completes the round of the zodiac in 18 years.

Ketu or Dragons Tail or South Node represents grand parents, technical trades, spiritual inclinations, superstitions and electronics. Its colour is brown and gem is cat’s eye.

Ketu is always in the opposite sign to Rahu, i.e., exactly 180 degrees away. Ketu also takes approximately 1-1/2 years to travel a sign and hence completes the round of the zodiac in 18 years.

Each of these 9 planets produce different results, and at times totally opposite results, while placed in the 12 different rasis. Again each has some good results and some bad results in each sign. This is an important aspect of astrology which must be remembered. You will learn about these results later.

While placed at various specific distances from the sun, the planets Mars, Mercury, Jupiter, Venus and Saturn become retrograde or appear to move in the backward direction. Sun and moon do not have any retrograde motion. The motion of Rahu and Ketu is always opposite to that of the other planets.

The seven main planets rule the seven days of the week

Sun rules Sunday.

Moon rules Monday.

Mars rules Tuesday.

Mercury rules Wednesday.

Jupiter rules Thursday.

Venus rules Friday.

Saturn rules Saturday.

Rahu and Ketu do not rule any day

Normally while referring to the qualities etc of the planets, they are referred to in this sequence, i.e., sun to saturn in the week day sequence. Remember this important fact.

The Nakshatras or Star constellations

First the zodiac was divided into 12 main rasis, to study the effects of the planets placed there. Then the ancient seers added another sub divisional system of breaking down the zodiac into 27 Nakshatras or star constellations. Each nakshatra has a span of 13 degrees and 20 minutes. After that each nakshatra was further subdivided into 4 Padas, or quarters, of 3 degrees and 20 minutes.

Hence the first zodiac sign Aries, which has 30 degrees, contains the entire 4 padas (13:20′) of the 1st star constellation Ashwini, the entire 4 padas (13:20′) of the 2nd star constellation Bharani and the 1st pada (3:20′) of the third star constellation Krittika. So each rasi contains total 9 padas.

These nakshatras belong to three main groups: Deva or divine, Manusha or human and Rakshasa or Demonic.

They have different ruling deities, owned by different planets and have divergent qualities. Hence while studying the effects of a planet placed in Aries, it is also studied in which nakshatra it is placed and in which pada of that nakshatra it is placed. This system of analysis exists only in Indian astrology.

The nakshatra in which your moon is placed at the time of your birth is called your

Janma Nakshatra. This janma nakshatra has also got its influence on you.

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  1. The horoscope is a map that appears as a two dimensional chart. It shows the position of the Sun, the Moon, and planets at the precise moment of your birth. The Sun, the Moon, and the planets are frozen in their position at that initial moment of birth.best astrologer in hyderabad
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