What is Vedic Astrology

A brief Introduction to Vedic astrology

Vedic Astrology is one of the sacred sciences of the Vedas that originated several thousands of years ago in India. Vedic Astrology is originally called “jyotisha”, which literally translates into the “science of light”. Jyotisha is the scientific study of planetary movements and their impact on human life. Due to the rotation of the planetary bodies around the Sun and the Sun’s rotation around the centre of this galaxy, light enters this earth with different intensities. The spectrum of the light reflected from the planets to the Earth enters the human body through its chakras and sets our mental and physical states. A Vedic astrologer carefully studies the planetary placements at birth and is thus able to scientifically predict the unfoldment of our lives. In the Bhagavad Gita, Krsna explains,

“As the sun alone illuminates all this universe, so does the living entity, one within the body, illuminate the entire body by consciousness”.

The Vedas teach there is an inseparable connection between ourselves and the universe, our soul and the light of the stars. If we look into someone's eyes, we can see there is a spark in them that cannot be reduced to their biochemical ingredients. The Vedas teach the unity of the cosmic creation and the unity between the light in ourselves and the light in the stars. A skilled astrologer can, therefore, by a scientific evaluation of the firmament at birth, predict the unfoldment of our lives in the same way as a layperson can predict the rising of the moon by seeing its reflection in the water.

Helpful Jyotisha Vocabulary: Vedas, Janma Kundali, Graha, Bhava, Lagna

Veda literally translates into “knowledge”, and Jyotish, being considered the eyes of the Vedas, is the eye of knowledge that enables the practitioner to see the past, present and future.

Central to Vedic astrology is the janma kundali, or birth chart, which is a map of the celestial bodies' positions at the time of your birth. This chart gives an overview of your life, including career, relationships, health, and spirituality. The birth chart maps the position of the grahas (planets), in 12 bhavas (houses or areas of life). Of the nine primary grahas used in jyotisha, only five are actually planets, namely Mercury, Venus, Mars, Jupiter and Saturn. Of the other four, one is a star, the Sun, one is a satellite, the Moon, and two are shadow-planets or mathematical points that are not visible to the naked eye, namely Rahu and Ketu. Each planet is associated with specific qualities, and their house placement in the birth chart greatly influences all the facets of life. All houses are calculated from the Lagna, which is a crucial point in the birth chart. The Lagna represents the zodiac sign that was rising on the eastern horizon at the time of our birth and it will determine your personality and physical traits. It is an anchor that directs the unfoldment of the entire rest of the chart.

Nakshatra and Dasha

Besides the 12 sun signs, Vedic astrology utilises 27 nakshatras or lunar mansions, which reflect the Moon’s journey of 27 days around the zodiac. The nakshatra placement of the moon at birth is particularly important because it defines the filter through which we will see this world. Nakshatras become important in compatibility and allow for the accurate timing of events. Dasha, or planetary time periods, are calculated from the nakshatra of the Moon and divide a person's life into major and minor time periods governed by different planets. Knowledge of the moon’s nakshatra and dasha allows the seasoned astrologer to accurately predict our mental disposition, physical endeavour and the fructification of life events.

Yoga, Dosha and Upaya

Yogas, coming from the Sanskrit root “yuj” which means to “connect”, are combinations of planets that indicate either beneficial or challenging conditions in our birth chart. Doshas are planetary combinations that indicate unfavourable yogas or other flaws in time that imbalance the unfoldment of our lives. Upayas are remedies practised to mitigate the negative effects of doshas and enhance or activate the results of favourable yogas.