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Jyotish or Astrology: a brief introduction
Jyotish is a Sanskrit term derived from the word “jyoti” or light. Jyotish is the Vedic science of Astrology and Astronomy. It is the science of the luminaries. The science of Jyotish is based on the ancient Sanskrit scriptures, the Vedas, Puranas, Itihasas and Samhitas and the Rishi-vaakyas, or the statements of great sages like Maharishi Parashara, Vedavyasa, Jaimini, Bhrigu, Narada, Garga etc.
The ancient Maharishis who have realized the laws of the science of Jyotish, did so while submerged into meditation, and in this transcendental state of consciousness the truths of Jyotish were revealed to them. Therefore this holy science is accepted to be perfect.
Of course the system of Vedic Astrology is very vast and elaborate, and many people nowadays have difficulty in comprehending or correctly interpreting it. This is because the people of Kali yuga, the present world age, are much more degraded in memory and intelligence than the ancient Maharishis who were present in Satya, Treta and Dwapara yugas. For timing of the ages many newcomers to Vedic astrology find its calculation or interpretation methods quite complicated and unreasonable. But from modern science we also know that even the simplest cell of our organism is incredibly complicated in its structure and function.
Therefore we should not expect that a system describing the fate and all characteristics of a person should be very simple and exact at the same time. We should have the faith that the teachings of the Maharishis are perfect, and if we follow in line with them, we will gain the ability to understand the principles of Jyotish and apply them correctly.
As I have pointed out earlier, Jyotish comprises both of astrology and astronomy. Jyotish is one of the six Vedangas, or corollaries to the four Vedas (Rig, Sama, Yajur and Atharva). Pandit Harihara calls Jyotish “the eyes of the Vedas”, therefore Maharishi Parashara also advises to all Brahmanas (saintly priests or intelligent, pious persons) to study Jyotish in the time of Vedic sacrifices.
Jyotish was used both for time and calendar calculations and also for determining the proper timing for different Vedic ceremonies like yajnas (fire sacrifices), pujas (temple worship), samskaras (purificatory ceremonies) etc. This branch of Jyotish is called Muhurtha, or finding the auspicious timings. It can also be extended to any other important activities like marriage, travel, contracts, meetings, medical treatment, house building etc.
Coming back to the western terms, astronomy is mainly dealing with calculations of the planets’ movements and other astrophysical characteristics, in which the ancient Indian astronomers were great masters. There are more than five mediaeval Jantar Mantars (astronomical observatories) all over India (in Delhi, Jaipur, Ujjain etc.) which are functioning and giving accurate results even nowadays. The astronomical calculations given in the Surya Siddhanta (which is said to be authored by the great demon Maya) gain support in their accuracy even from the modern observations. The branches of astronomy within Jyotish are Ganita or Siddhanta (calculations) and Gola (spherical astronomy).
On the other hand, astronomy is basically dealing with the effects of karmic reactions on the native based on the indications of the planetary movements. We should understand a basic truth here instantly; That it is not that the planets’ influence or control over our lives. They just indicate the changes expected due to our own karma, i.e. previously committed activities.
So Jyotish is a method for divination of the native’s fate and character based on the movement of the planets. The planetary movements indicate the changing quality of the time, which activates different types of karmic reactions. Thus the basic difference between astronomy and astrology is that astronomy mainly deals with the measurement of the quantity of time, while astrology deals with the changing quality of the time.
These qualities are divided into three main categories in Vedic philosophy: Sattva (goodness, the principle of balance and maintenance), Rajas (passion - the principle of activity and creation) and Tamas (the principle of inactivity and destruction). These modes of the material nature (Prakriti) are called Gunas. As the three Gunas direct everything in the material reality, Jyotish is a method for studying and predicting the changes of the three Gunas.
Vedic Astrology has altogether four branches: Jaataka or Hora (predictive astrology dealing with birth charts), Prashna (horary astrology dealing with query charts), Muhurtha (electional astrology dealing with auspicious moments for activities) and Nimitta or Samhita (science of omens dealing with different natural occurrences and signs of the physical body for divination).
By Gauranga Das
Some Definitions of Astrology
Astrology is a long-established method of exploring ourselves, our relationships and our place within the world. It works by taking a look at the significant environmental influences operating in a particular place at a given time – as expressed through the horoscope in the symbolic relationships of the heavenly bodies. Astrology, the science of the stars, can give us insight into all manner of situations, from the personal to the political and from the most intimate to the most mundane.
Jyotisha (', in Hindi and English usage Jyotish; sometimes called Hindu astrology, Indian astrology, and/or Vedic astrology') is the Hindu system of astrology, one of the six disciplines of Vedanga, and regarded as one of the oldest schools of ancient astrology to have had an independent origin en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jyotish
Astrology is a group of systems, traditions, and beliefs in which knowledge of the relative positions of celestial bodies and related details is held to be useful in understanding, interpreting, and organizing information about personality, human affairs, and other terrestrial matters. ...en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Astrology
The theory and practice of the positions and aspects of celestial bodies in the belief that they have an influence on the course of natural earthly occurrences and human affairs.
www.mysticalblaze.com/GlossaryParanormal.htm
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