What is Vedic Astrology?
Vedic astrology is a system of astrology that originated in India and is based on the teachings of the Vedas, the ancient scriptures of Hinduism. Vedic astrology is also known as Jyotisha, which means "the science of light" or "the knowledge of the celestial bodies".
Vedic astrology uses the sidereal zodiac, which is based on the fixed positions of the stars, rather than the tropical zodiac, which is based on the seasons. Vedic astrology also considers the influence of the lunar nodes, called Rahu and Ketu, which are not planets but points of intersection between the orbits of the sun and the moon.
History of Vedic Astrology
The history of Vedic astrology can be traced back to the Rig Veda, one of the oldest texts in the world, dating back to around 1500 BCE. The Rig Veda contains hymns that praise various deities associated with the sun, the moon, and the planets. The Vedanga Jyotisha, a supplementary text to the Vedas, is considered to be one of the earliest treatises on astronomy and astrology in India.
It was composed by Lagadha around 1400 BCE and contains rules for calculating the movements of the sun and the moon, as well as methods for casting horoscopes. The Surya Siddhanta, another ancient text on astronomy and astrology, was written around 400 CE and contains more advanced mathematical techniques for predicting planetary positions and eclipses. The Brihat Parashara Hora Shastra, attributed to sage Parashara, is regarded as one of the most authoritative texts on Vedic astrology. It was written around 600 CE and covers various topics such as planetary characteristics, signs, houses, aspects, yogas, dashas, transits, and remedies.
How to Read a Vedic Birth Chart?
To read a Vedic birth chart, also known as a natal chart or a kundali, one has to know the date, time, and place of birth of a person. A Vedic birth chart is a map of the sky at the moment of birth, showing the positions of the planets, the signs, and the houses. A Vedic birth chart consists of 12 houses, each representing a different aspect of life such as personality, family, career, health, etc.
Each house is ruled by a sign and contains one or more planets. The sign that rises on the eastern horizon at the time of birth is called the ascendant or lagna and determines the first house. The sign that occupies the tenth house from the ascendant is called the midheaven or zenith and indicates the highest point of achievement in life. The sign that sets on the western horizon at the time of birth is called the descendant or antardasha and shows the nature of relationships and partnerships. The sign that occupies the fourth house from the ascendant is called the nadir or imum coeli and signifies the roots and foundations of life.
The Benefits of Vedic Astrology
The benefits of Vedic astrology are manifold. Vedic astrology can help a person to understand their own strengths and weaknesses, their talents and potentials, their likes and dislikes, their hopes and fears, their past karma and future destiny. Vedic astrology can also provide guidance and solutions for various problems and challenges in life such as health issues, financial troubles, marital conflicts, career choices, etc. Vedic astrology can also reveal the auspicious and inauspicious times for starting new ventures, making important decisions, traveling abroad, performing rituals, etc. Vedic astrology can also enhance one's spiritual growth and awareness by revealing their soul purpose and path in life.
Vedic Astrology and Relationships, Career, Health, Finances
Vedic astrology can also be applied to various areas of life such as relationships, career, health, finances, etc. Vedic astrology can help a person to find their compatible partner by analyzing their moon signs or nakshatras (constellations), their ascendants or lagnas (rising signs), their venus signs or shukra (planet of love), their mars signs or mangal (planet of passion), etc.
Vedic astrology can also help a person to choose their suitable profession by examining their sun signs or rashi (zodiac signs), their tenth house or karma bhava (house of career), their mercury signs or budh (planet of communication), their saturn signs or shani (planet of discipline), etc. Vedic astrology can also help a person to improve their health by assessing their sixth house or roga bhava (house of disease), their moon signs or chandra (planet of mind), their jupiter signs or guru (planet of wisdom), their ketu signs or south node (planet of detachment), etc.
Vedic astrology can also help a person to manage their finances by evaluating their second house or dhana bhava (house of wealth), their eighth house or ayur bhava (house of longevity), their rahu signs or north node (planet of ambition), their pluto signs or yama (planet of transformation), etc.
The 12 houses of Vedic astrology are:
• First house: The house of self; represents personality, appearance, temperament, health, vitality, etc.
• Second house: The house of wealth; represents money, possessions, family, speech, values, etc.
• Third house: The house of communication; represents siblings, neighbors, friends, hobbies, skills, etc.
• Fourth house: The house of home; represents mother, roots, heritage, emotions, security, etc.
• Fifth house: The house of creativity; represents children, romance, education, entertainment, etc.
• Sixth house: The house of service; represents work, health, enemies, debts, pets, etc.
• Seventh house: The house of partnership; represents spouse, marriage, business, contracts, etc.
• Eighth house: The house of transformation; represents death, rebirth, inheritance, taxes, occult, etc.
• Ninth house: The house of wisdom; represents religion, philosophy, law, ethics, travel, etc.
• Tenth house: The house of career; represents father, authority, reputation, profession, etc.
• Eleventh house: The house of gains; represents friends, groups, hopes, wishes, income, etc.
• Twelfth house: The house of losses; represents isolation, spirituality, secrets, enemies, expenses, etc.
The 9 planets of Vedic astrology are:
• Sun: The king of planets; represents the soul, the ego, the will power
• Moon: The queen of planets; represents the mind
• Mercury: The prince of planets; represents the intellect
• Venus: The minister of planets; represents the love
• Mars: The commander of planets; represents the courage
• Jupiter: The teacher of planets; represents the wisdom
• Saturn: The servant of planets; represents the discipline
• Rahu: The north node of the moon; represents the ambition
• Ketu: The south node of the moon; represents the detachment
The 12 signs of the zodiac in Vedic astrology are:
• Aries: The ram; a fire sign ruled by Mars; represents action
• Taurus: The bull; an earth sign ruled by Venus; represents stability
• Gemini: The twins; an air sign ruled by Mercury; represents communication
• Cancer: The crab; a water sign ruled by Moon; represents emotion
• Leo: The lion; a fire sign ruled by Sun; represents leadership
• Virgo: The virgin; an earth sign ruled by Mercury; represents service
• Libra: The scales; an air sign ruled by Venus; represents balance
• Scorpio: The scorpion; a water sign ruled by Mars and Pluto (in modern astrology); represents transformation
• Sagittarius: The archer; a fire sign ruled by Jupiter; represents adventure
• Capricorn: The goat; an earth sign ruled by Saturn and Uranus (in modern astrology); represents ambition
• Aquarius: The water bearer; an air sign ruled by Saturn and Uranus (in modern astrology); represents innovation
• Pisces: The fish; a water sign ruled by Jupiter and Neptune (in modern astrology); represents spirituality
The 7 chakras in Vedic astrology are:
• Muladhara chakra: The root chakra located at the base of the spine; corresponds to the first house and the sign of Aries
• Svadhisthana chakra: The sacral chakra located below the navel; corresponds to the second house and the sign of Taurus
• Manipura chakra: The solar plexus chakra located above the navel; corresponds to the third house and the sign of Gemini
• Anahata chakra: The heart chakra located at the center of the chest; corresponds to the fourth house and the sign of Cancer
• Vishuddha chakra: The throat chakra located at the base of the throat; corresponds to the fifth house and the sign of Leo
• Ajna chakra: The third eye chakra located between the eyebrows; corresponds to the sixth house and the sign of Virgo
• Sahasrara chakra: The crown chakra located at the top of the head; corresponds to the seventh to twelfth houses and the signs of Libra to Pisces
Conclusion
Vedic astrology is a rich and profound system of knowledge that can help a person to understand themselves and their life better. Vedic astrology can also offer guidance and solutions for various issues and challenges in life. Vedic astrology can also enhance one's spiritual growth and awareness by revealing their soul purpose and path in life. Vedic astrology is not a fatalistic or deterministic science that predicts one's future.
Rather it is a dynamic and interactive science that shows one's potential and possibilities. Vedic astrology is not a superstition or a belief system. Rather it is a logical and empirical science that is based on observation and calculation. Vedic astrology is not a dogma or a religion. Rather it is a universal and timeless wisdom that is applicable to all. Vedic astrology is not a hobby or a pastime. Rather it is a science that can enrich one's life and soul.
I hope you enjoyed this brief introduction to Vedic astrology. If you have any questions or comments, feel free to ask me. I would love to hear your feedback and opinions on this topic.
