vedic astrology

Vedic astrology, called Jyotish is the traditional astrological system of India. Its origins root in Vedic culture and date back to approximately 3000 years before Christ. The system is based on the Vedas being the first scriptures of India. It is an ancient science which is timeless and universal.

Jyotish is about the interpretation of the constellation of certain celestial bodies. It is used, for example for defining the best fitting season and day for ceremonial duties, rituals and other more profane activities. Vedic astrology reveals subtle influences from the universe and its knowledge encompasses all the multiplicity of earthly phenomena past, present and future. Vedic Astrology is based on the laws of nature which bind the cosmos together and these laws express the unity within the diversity of life and the underlying intelligence which governs with great precision. The circumstances we are born into would then be the result of our karma out of past lives. Visible events of our life would be therefore moved by our deeds of the distant past. This knowing shall help to accept our present conditions and to aspire to form the future by the deeds in this life. The sense of life is, according to the Hindu, to return to our original self, our true nature. With the help of Vedic astrology one could obtain a better estimation how to get to this aim. Like Hinduism, Vedic astrology is a pluralistic flexible system which knows many ways and adopts ever new forms. Because of that, it is well practicable and helpful in the modern west, in the same manner as Yoga, Ayurveda and Meditation have come from India to the western countries and have helped many people. There are four aims of human life: Kama, Artha, Dharma and Moksha. Kama is the longing for emotional and sensual completion. We can also call it desire. Everything we do should be a source of bliss and do no harm to any other person. Artha is the achievement of aims as well as wealth and the obtaining of precious things. We can also call it prosperity Dharma is the striving after acknowledgement and honor or mission. Everyone wants to get acknowledged and valued because of his or her deeds. Moksha is freedom from everything, so called enlightment or self realization. We have to transcend the three lower principles and our self until we have become one with everything that exists. All four aims are called Dharma because Dharma is the most fundamental law. Moksha is the highest of them all. Vedic astrology knows the importance and meaning of the four aims for our life and wants to help us to attain them. The three first – pleasure, wealth and work – are secondary to freedom. Enlightment is the highest aim without it all other aims would be meaningless. Health is the key to the aims because without health we could not achieve very much. Health relates not merely to physical but also to psychical health. Joytish is therefore not only about physical well-being but also the wellness of the soul in order we can attain all four aims. One important difference between the Indian and the western system is the higher importance of the moon in the Indian system. One of the basic writings about Vedic astrology is the Brihat Parashara Hora Shastra. Therein the moon – a female principle – is regarded as being higher. Based upon this, Vedic astrology is categorized as lunar astrology, on the contrary to the western solar astrology. The usage of the sidereal zodiac, which is rooted on the position of the fixed star Spica (0° Libra), shall strengthen this knowledge. The western system uses on the other hand the tropical zodiac which is based on the equinox by which the beginning of spring in the sign of Aries is marked. The difference of the two zodiacs is now (2006) about 24 degrees and is called Ayanamsa. All planets are therefore being set back by 24 degrees. Detailed information’s about various fields of life can be revealed out of the Indian birth chart or circle of rebirth, circle of light (Janma Kundali) with its 12 rashis, the signs. Examples of the fields of life: Relationship, job/career, health, children, karmic themes, Dharma (sense of life), Moksha and many others. Joytish observes intensively the position of the moon in the zodiac and parts the 360 degrees in 27 lunar houses which the moon wanders through. Each of these houses features the specific effects of the stellar signs behind. The Nakshatras (also called „Houses of the Moon“ or „Daughters of the Moon“) are labeled as “glimpses of the moon into the cosmos”. The moon is regarded as mediator who lets us seize the cosmic powers streaming in upon the earth. Western astrology with its tropical zodiac deals with the solar system. Indian astrology interprets also objects beyond the solar system. A Vedic astrologer is called Jyotishi.