|
What
is Vedic / Indian Astrology
Vedic
Astrology is also called Jyotish, which translates into
the "Science of Light." The term Vedic means
from the Vedas. The Vedas are the books that contained
the Spiritual hymns and the storehouse of knowledge that
arose from the ancient culture that was located in the
area of what is now called India. The culture at that
time was called "Bharat," The great and famous
story "Mahabharata" means "Great Bharat."
The Bhagavad Gita is from the MahaBharata. The term
"Veda" means "knowledge." Actually
it refers to the knowledge of truth, absolute truth, the
truth of the Self and the underlying mysteries of
existence.
The Vedas were written as the ancient Sat Yuga or
"Age of Wisdom" was coming to a close. These
documents were meant to preserve the wisdom of this
earlier enlightened epoch in human history. Many
cultures seemed to possess similar occult knowledge, the
Toltecs and Egyptians and Native Americans, yet it was
the ancients of this area who best preserved this
wisdom. It is estimated that the Vedas are more than
5,000 years old, based on Astronomical references in
them. The miracle in the Vedic system is how well
preserved and coherent the Sciences are, especially
given the history of India and its numerous invasions.
Vedic Astrology is the master Science from this more
enlightened era. It is the Science of our karma,
the Science of Spirit, called Purusha, and its affect on
matter. Thus way of perceiving the world is much
different than our current Materialist World view.
The 5 Elements - The Building Blocks of Life
Spirit
is called Purusha. When spirit takes form it is called
prakriti. Every object as prakriti is an expression of
purusha. Matter expressing Spirit. This world of Matter
expressing Spirit is formed by the 5 elements. They are
the building blocks of The Vedic Sciences. Their
properties provide the archetypes that underpin all
aspects of Vedic thinking. Starting with the grossest
and moving toward the finest, the 5 elements are:
Earth - Water - Fire - Air - Ether (space)
The 4
gross elements of the physical universe are expressed in
the Astrological chart, the 5th element of Space is
Consciousness, beyond form. It is our awareness.
The 3 Gunas - The Qualities of Nature
Besides 5 elemental components of nature there are 3
qualities of nature, called the 3 gunas. The term "Guna"
means "that which Binds," The 3 Gunas are:
Tamas: Stability - inertia - ignorance -
attachment. Tamas binds through inertia and our tendency
to cling to situation and form. Best expressed through
the physical body
Rajas: Activity - passion - desire. Rajas binds
through motivation and our desire to experience
pleasure. Best expressed as the Mind and Emotions
Sattwa: Harmony - knowledge - peace. Sattwa binds
us to worldly happiness, which also ultimately becomes a
barrier to final liberation. Best expressed as the Soul.
Everything
in the universe is a combination of these 3 qualities of
nature. As the Gunas interact with the elements the
senses are created and man reacts to his physical
environment as an embodied creature.
The main
outward differences between Vedic and Western Astrology
are the way they calculate the planetary movement.
Western Astrology uses the tropical Zodiac where the
position of the planet is calculated with the equinox or
the first day of spring being Zero degrees of Aries.
Vedic astrology calculates the positions of the planets
siderally or from the fixed positions of the stars. So
from an astronomer’s point of view the Vedic is
astronomically accurate where the tropical system is
not. Right now there are about 24 degrees difference
between the calculations of the two systems. Every 72
years another degree of variance is added. This
means the zero degrees of Aries in the tropical (western
system) is equal to about 6 degrees of Pisces.
2000 years
ago the Tropical and sidereal Zodiacs were aligned and
it ushered in the Christian era. They align again about
every 26,000 years.
The charts
also have a different look and are read differently. The
Vedic is usually an equal house system with each house
representing an entire sign. Vedic astrology relies
heavily on the Nakshatras or mansions of the moon where
the Zodiac is broken up not only into signs but into
divisions of 13 degrees and 20 seconds. Vedic astrology
uses Yogas or planetary combinations, and planetary
periods known as dashas.
You
can’t read a Vedic chart like a western or vice versa
and have it work. The two do seem to compliment each
other and from different methods a Western and Vedic
astrologer will often come to the same predictions.
The Focus
of the Vedic Chart is different, it is focused very much
on consciousness and the growth of the soul. Mundane
matters are a more secondary concern. Karma and life
purpose are read from the chart.
Due to its
concentration on consciousness the Vedic astrology is
able to incorporate remedial measures into its practice.
Difficult Karmas or transits can be dealt with through
the use of religious rituals, gemstones, Mantra,
charitable acts, prayers, vows, or herbs.
The place
of Vedic astrology in the community is different also.
It is incorporated into the religion, medicine, business
and spiritual life of the community.
The astrologer is consulted about the name for a child
at birth,and for resolution of family problems.
Astrology is used to help with the choice of a mate,
business decisions, and to help resolve civil conflicts.
Astrology in India is part of the religious and everyday
life and the Astrologer is revered.
What
can Vedic Astrology do for you?
First a
Vedic reading will focus on your life from a more
spiritual viewpoint. The Vedic chart is predictive, but
life purpose and karmas play heavily in the readings.
Where the western chart is read more from a
psychological viewpoint the focus of A Vedic chart will
be from a practical and karmic angle.
Second
when there are issues with the planets the Vedic chart
can give remedies to enhance the positive and to
minimize the negative. With the western charts we look
at the transits as psychological lessons. With The Vedic
we look at what we can do for a transit or Dasha to help
ourselves complete the Karma.
The
Vedic seeker has a few charts to consider:
Prasna
which is that chart of a question or situation is drawn
up to address just that question. Often in India the
birth time might not be known. But a chart can be drawn
up at the time the question is asked to answer the
question.
Muhurta
deals with finding the best time to do something…Start
a business or an important journey, sell or buy a house,
sign a partnership agreement, ask for a raise get
married. Buy a car. Muhurta addresses doing right
activity at the right time to maximize success.
Compatibility:
This compares the charts of two people and can tell the
chances for a successful union.
Natal:
This is a
reading of the birth chart outlining life purpose and
karmas and the major periods potentials and remedies.
Varshaphal
or Yearly chart: This
is a more indepth chart of the current year. Can be done
at the solar and lunar return, around your birthday, or
just based on what is going on in your chart for the
year. It looks and that major and minor time periods
dashas and Bhukti’s and the transits and yogas
affecting the chart.
|
