Friday, October 1, 2010

Jyotisha (', in Hindi and English usage Jyotish') is the Hindu system of astrology, one of the six disciplines of Vedanta. The Sanskrit word derives from jyótis (disjointed as "Ja"+"Ya"+"O"+"T"+"ish" to get the root meaning as "water or birth"+"in addition to" + "earth" and "stars" + "knowledgeable" equating as one who is knowledgeable, or enlightened with knowledge, of birth, fate, and relationship to water, earth and stars) or which means "light, brightness", but in the plural also "the heavenly bodies, planets and stars". Jyotish may thus at one level be seen to signify a "science of heavenly bodies". However, as the singular purpose of jyotish and the vedas is to dispel the darkness of ignorance, it is more commonly taken to signify the "science of light". Indeed, Jyotish has historically been part of a continuous "holistic" approach to living and to spiritual practice within the life of Hindus predominant in India.

Jyotish is often discussed as the instructional element of the Rig Veda, and as such is a Vedanga, or "body part" of the Vedas. Jyotish is called the Eye of the Veda'', for its believed ability to view both phenomenal reality and wisdom itself. Part of a larger Vedic curriculum including mathematics, architecture, medical and military applications, it superficially has much in common with ancient and modern Western astrology (and the early traces of the descent of various schools of astrology from the Harappan and Egyptian cultures, Chinese and the Chaldean, through the Arabs, Greeks, and early Romans show complex interweavings that are assessed variously by diverse camps of scholars -- who, however, currently find little common ground as to the exact historical development). Jyotish has many facets, and some of its basics are clearly also cornerstones of Western astrology, such as symbolically endowed signs, houses and planets. But Jyotish has its own sophisticated reference to the noumenal: the planets are "grahas", forces that seize or act upon created beings and influence their actions and life.

As Hindus believe that humans have ups and downs in life because of karma, many use Jyotish to understand the downs in life due to the influence of planets, i.e., Navagraha and perform religious ceremonies to mitigate the bad karma,

Foundations

Jyotish's many lineages or paramparas emphasize that its study is a sadhana or technique of mental and existential development. In modern times it is a chief source of reference for many Hindus and other spiritual practitioners. In addition to sustaining its own lore, commentary and debates on the dilemmas of fate and free will and the philosophy of karma, jyotish maintains a virtual materia medica of remedies for difficulties found in horoscopes. Vedic astrologers will frequently prescribe special stones, or specific therapeutic practices or meditation techniques using mantras to those facing difficult or unclear futures as predicted by means consistent with Jyotish methodology. In past centuries, Brahmins have been the primary practitioners of Jyotish. In the last century, a renaissance of study of Jyotish and other Vedic sciences emerged in India and the west.

The foundation of jyotish is the notion of bandhu of the Vedas, which is the connection between the microcosm and the macrocosm. Surya, the Sun, is a manifestation of Vishnu, a central aspect of the Supreme, and is also the Atman within man. The term "Vedic astrology" has been recently introduced by American and Western astrologers in the 1980s and 1990s, leading to collaborative organizations such as the now-international Council of Vedic Astrology.

Jyotish is still commonly used to aid in important decisions in modern India. In Hindu culture, newborns are traditionally named based on their jyotish charts, and jyotish concepts are pervasive in the organization of the calendar and holidays as well as in many areas of life and science. Astrology is vital to decisions made about marriage, opening a new business, and moving into a new home.

Branches of Vedic / Hindu Astrology

Vedic astrology (Aagam Shaastra / Jyotisha- futurity sciences) has three main branches:
* Siddhanta (Astronomy): Astronomy & its application to astrology
* Samhita (Mundane astrology): Covers Mundane astrology, predicting important events related to countries such as war, earth quakes, political events, astro - meteorology, financial positions, electional astrology; house & construction related matters (Vaastu Shaastra), animals, portents & omens etc.
* Hora (Predictive astrology): This branch has the following different styles / sub branches:-
** Jaatak Shaastra / Hora Shaastra (Natal Astrology / horoscopy): Prediction based on individual horoscope.
** Muhurt or Muhurtha (Electional astrology): Selection of beneficial time to initiate an activity to get maximum fruition from the life activities.
** Swar Shaastra (Phonetical astrology): Predictions based on name & sounds.
** Prashna (Horary astrology): Predictions based on time when a question is asked by querent / querist.
** Ankjyotisha / Kabala (Numerology): A branch of astrology based on numbers.
** Nadi Astrology: An ancient treatise having detailed predictions for individuals.
** Tajik Shaastra / Varsha Phal (Annual Horoscopy): Astrology based on annual solar returns.
** Jaimini Sutras: A non-conventional method of timing of events based on Famous Indian astrologer, Acharya Jaimini.
** Nastjaatakam (Lost Horoscopy): Art of tracing / construction of lost horoscopes.
** Streejaatak (female astrology): A special branch of astrology dealing with female nativities.Other related branches
** Graha Samudriki (Astro- Palmistry): Palm reading as horoscope.
** Hasta Rekha / Samudrika Shaastra (Palmistry): Based on palm reading.
** Padatal Shaastra (Plantarology): Based on reading of lines & signs on the sole.
** Shakun Shaastra (Omens): Predictions based on omens & portents.
** Swapna Vidhya : Interpretation of dreams.
** Kapal Vidya (Phrenology)
** Aakriti Vidya (Physiognomy): Based on structure & moles on the body.
** Kerala Jyotisha: Predictions based on querrist reply regarding name of flower or colour or touching part of body.
** Remedial Astrology: Various modes of propitiation of planets based on planetary positions in nativity, transits, elections & for religious functions.

In Vedic literature guidance is given on two other branches viz, Electional astrology & Remedial astrology.

Hindu and Western astrology

The most easily referred to difference between the two lies in the method of measurement of the Zodiac. Vedic astrology uses primarily the sidereal zodiac (in which stars are considered to be the fixed background against which the motion of the planets is measured), whereas most Western astrology uses the tropical zodiac (the motion of the planets is measured against the position of the Sun on the Spring equinox). This difference becomes only noticeable over time, after the course of several centuries, as a result of the precession of the equinoxes. Synchronically, the two systems are identical, with just a shift of the origin of the ecliptic longitude by about 22 degrees or days, resulting on the placement of planets in the previous sign in Western charts about 80% of the time.

Both Jyotish and Western traditions have existed for millennia. Vedic astrology includes several nuanced sub-systems of interpretation and prediction incorporating unique sacralized elements not found elsewhere, such as its specific system of lunar mansions (called nakshatras, encompassing a pantheon of archetypal deities). The nakshatras are used to pick auspicious times of day or month for every human activity as well as to provide insight into the motivations and guiding characteristics of humans and events coming under their influence. Nakshatra cycles, or dashas, are developing a reputation in contemporary culture for the accuracy with which they time events.

A further unique concept in jyotish rarely seen in Western astrology is the concept of Dashas - a mathematical analyses that breaks down human or the subject's lifetime into various sub-periods based on the location of Moon at birth.

Predictions in jyotish incorporate various elements around the birth chart - influences of transits (similar to Western Astrology though more focused on houses or bhavas) as well as Dashas.

Modern approaches to Jyotisha

Vedic astrology includes a number of techniques and approaches that have accumulated over the eons with little consensus on what gives consistently accurate results. This collection of techniques and approaches is sometimes referred to as Classical or Traditional Jyotish. However, the march towards new insights and applications continues in the modern epoch, as in earlier times, with the objective as ever to achieve more precise analysis and accurate predictions. In the 1960s, H.R. Seshadri Iyer, introduced a system including the yoga point, which has become popular in also the West. In the early 1990s, V.K. Choudhry introduced the Systems' Approach for Interpreting Horoscopes, a simplified system of Jyotish.

Fundamentals of Jyotisha

Jyotish is based on what Western astrologers call the whole sign house system and recognizes nine grahas (heavenly bodies or "planets"):
AbbreviationSanskrit NameEnglish NameRepresents
Sy or SuSuryaSunSoul
Ch or MoChandraMoonMind
MaMangala or Angaraka or KujaMarsenergetic action, confidence and ego
Bu or MeBudhaMercuryCommunication
Gu or JuGuru or BrihaspatiJupiterthe great teacher
Sk or VeSukraVenuswealth, pleasure and reproduction
SaSanaiscarya, Shani, or ŚaniSaturnlearning the hard way. Career and Longevity
RaRahuAscending/North Lunar Nodeoften described as a demon who does his best to plunge any area of one's life he controls into chaos
KeKetuDescending/South Lunar Nodesupernatural influences
They also recognize twelve zodiac signs, or Rashis:
NumberSanskrit NameWestern Name
1MeshaAries
2VrishabhaTaurus
3MithunaGemini
4KarkaCancer
5SimhaLeo
6KanyaVirgo
7TulaLibra
8VrishchikaScorpio
9DhanusSagittarius
10MakaraCapricorn
11KumbhaAquarius
12MeenaPisces
One's Ascendant, or lagna, the rashi which is rising on the eastern horizon at the time of one's birth, is the most influential and important one. Of lesser importance but still some impact is the Janma Rashi, the rashi in which the moon lay while one was born.

There are three different Jyotish chart notations, which are functionally equivalent but quite different in appearance. The following images show the same birth chart in the two main notations - North Indian and South Indian. The third notation is followed in Eastern parts of India.

Birth_Chart_(northern_format).png


Birth_Chart_(southern).png

In the North Indian notation, the house positions are fixed (1st house top middle, with the rest following in counterclockwise order) and the signs of the zodiac are indicated by numbers in the chart (1 for Aries, and so on).Conversely, in the South Indian notation, the signs of the zodiac have fixed positions (Aries always occupies the 2nd box from the left in the top row, with the rest following in clockwise order), and the first house is marked "As" (for ascendant) with the rest following in clockwise order.
The charts are broken into twelve sections, houses or Bhavas, each of which is related to a rashi in an equal house system.

What to do on specific weekdays - Vedic / Hindu astrological guidance

Vedic or Hindu astrology provides detailed guidance as to which activity fructify on specific weekdays. In Hindu system, a weekday starts from the local Sunrise & ends at the following Sunrise, which is distinct from the Gorgian calendar in which a weekday along with date starts at expiry of 1200 a.m. of the Zonal Standard Time. Seven days a week system is prevalent throughout the world. Weekdays are given due importance in selection of election as the desired work which easily gets fructified (Siddhi) when its day lord is strong, the same work does not get fructified when day lord is weak / powerless, even after extra efforts & facing of discomforts. To fortify election, a strong day lord (planet) should be properly placed in the election chart.

Based on nature & signification of the weekday, day lord (ruling planet), tutelary lord and other electional considerations following works (& works related to the mentioned items) are recommended for conduction & initiation in different weekdays. It is opined that on Monday, Wednesday, Thursday & Friday all types of works fructify; while on Sunday, Tuesday & Saturday only prescribed activities fructify. Here is the list of works which aspirants should do on different weekdays.

SUNDAY: Coronation, service to the government / king, king worship, fire, fire related works, weapon making & usage, war, bravery, service & employment, travel, thief, doctor, transaction of medicine, purchase of cows, bullocks & animals, gold-silver-copper-wood-works, bones-skin-hides, auspicious (Manglik) works, Yagya, teaching Mantras (Agni Mantras), religious discourse, music learning, woolen clothes, wearing of new clothes, mountain, stones, dessert, forest, trees, usage of forest items, snake, animal rearing & husbandry, food grain, trade.

MONDAY: Agriculture, farming, gardening, fragrant trees, lotus & flowers, milk, food, food-grains, sugar, sugarcane, raw sugar / molasses, Yagya, ornament making & wearing, silver, deer, sale & purchase of cows - buffaloes, gems-pearl & shells, conch-shell, singing & dancing- starting thereof, water related works, popular works, movable works, starting of education, night movements, benefit to mother's brother, Brahmins, article causing phlegm, clothes, female related works, king, road.

TUESDAY: Killing, arresting, inciting insurgency, cruel works, piercing, army commanding, treaty, backing off treaty / agreement, fort, igniting fire, weapon, storing of war material, poison, lying, deception, thief, thievery, coral, gold related works & collection thereof, metal work, forest, night worker, doctor, ascetic / religious mendicant, treasurer, business of catching snakes, animal, trees with red coloured flowers, red colour items, works related to blood.

WEDNESDAY: Fine arts, literature-music- dancing & starting thereof; poetry, sculpturing, all type of art, theater, education, writing, learning of Vedas, idol making, Mantra Kriya, meritorious works, marriage, friendship, starting of fast, holy bathing, trade, clever works, ordinary works, science, metal work, war, argument, intelligence, skill, ingenuity, messenger, physical exercise, collection of articles, juices & food grains, green sapphire, earth, clothes, fragrant articles, works which end fast - works which take long time â€" works which finish in the middle.

THURSDAY : Auspicious (Manglik) works, Yagya, Havan, worshipping, peaceful religious works, fast, oblation to the deads (Pitri Sharadh) , temple, installing of idol, Alankaar, education, knowledge related works, learning in general, Shaastras, truthful works, wearing new clothes & trading thereof, ornaments, starting living in house, doctor, medicine, trading in medicine, physical works, health related works, physical works, development & expanding works, king, wealth, trees, gold, silver, elephant, horse, bullock, transport, travel.

FRIDAY: Good for starting dance, music, singing painting; luxurious works, festivals, wearing new clothes & ornaments, friendship, worshipping sex God (Kamdev), females, passionate women, sex, passion, prostitutes, beds, increase in semen, fragrance, comedy, laughter, cows, trade related to food grain & agriculture, farming, selling & purchase of land, sugar cane, juicy foods, gems, gold, silver, coffer, transport, lotus, earth, medicine.

SATURDAY : Entering into new house & city, trading with deceit & forgery, telling lies, dreadful deeds, insurgency, works related to obstruction, trading of arms & ammunition, poisoning, bereft of courtesy, usage of iron & steel, arm & armory, dead, servant, debased person, old persons, thief, buffalo, camel, birds, trapping of elephant, stable works, profession related to capturing, collection of houses, departure, broken utensils, glass, stones, learning secret Mantras from Guru (Deeksha), service.

According to Sage Narad, Acharya Garga, Ramdeen, & host of other exponents it is opined that it is beneficial & augurs fortunate effects to initiate & conduct works related to iron on Saturdays. With this the learned readers may help remove doubts / superstition in certain parts of the country that purchase or sale of iron items, & doing works related to iron (steel) on Saturdays is inauspicious.

LOGICS FOR SELECTION OF WEEKDAYS

Sun, Moon, Mars, Mercury, Jupiter, Venus & Saturn in order are the rulers of the weekdays. Depending upon the inherent natures of the ruling planets, Monday, Wednesday, Thursday & Friday are auspicious, benefic & good days; while Sunday, Tuesday & Saturday in general are malefic & cruel days. Tuesday & Saturday are maximum malefic, while Sunday is partially malefic. Auspicious & Manglik works are done on benefic days; while cruel, sinful (Paap Karamas), unethical works in general; & the specified works are done on Saturday, Tuesday & Sunday. Some benefic works also fructify on malefic days depending upon the nature of the work & special dictums regarding election (Muhurt). There is no very tight demarcation of the allocated works for the weekdays, and the day is selected based on the type of work, planet signifying the work, time of starting & host of other factors related to the weekday.

Nature of Sunday is fixed / stationary; of Monday is movable; of Tuesday is cruel; of Wednesday is mixed / ordinary; of Thursday is small / short; of Friday is sweet; & of Saturday is sharp / horrible. When constellation (occupied by the Moon) & day lord are of same nature then, the combined efficacy increases many folds â€" like when asterisms of Rohini & 3 Uttras coincide on a Sunday; fixed / stationary types of works fructify.

Thursday, Friday & Sunday are effective during daytime; Monday, Tuesday & Saturday are effective during night-time while Mercury is effective both during daytime & night-time. Malefic effect of Sunday, Tuesday & Saturday does not exist after mid-day. Some opine that "Vaar Dosha"(evil effects of weekday) does not prevail during night.

Colour of the work: Consistent with the colour of the ruling planet of the day, it is beneficial to conduct work with that colour on the weekday ruled by the planet .The Sun's colour is red mixed with black or blood red; Moon's - white; Mars' - pale red; Mercury's - grass green; Jupiter's - yellow; Venus's - swarthy (dark skin) & Saturn's - black. Wearing of the clothes of the above stated colours during planets' weekdays is beneficial to the user. Aspirant may also use colours ruled by the rulers of the weekdays. Some opine that, copper-red, white, ultra red, blue, ultra yellow, variegated (mixed, spotted) & black are the colours ruled by the planets from the Sun to Saturn.

Like for election of white washing / painting of a house certain criteria have been laid down. Meeting those requirements, the colour of the white washing / painting if done in yellow on Thursday or in green shade on Wednesday, enhances the beneficence. Similar guidance is taken in respect of other usages of the colours. Saturday is not recommended to sow seeds, but is considered fruitful to sow seeds of black grains, more profitable if Saturn is in the rising sign.

Classical Jyotish / Vedic astrology Treatises/Books/Texts


    *Treatises on Nativity :
    * Skanda Hora or Jyotishmati(God Brahma)
    * Brihat Prajapatya (Daksha Prajapati)
    * Vasishta Hora (Sage Vasishta)
    * Garga Hora (Sage Garga)
    * Kousika Hora (Sage Viswamitra)
    * Sounaka Hora (Sage Sounaka)
    * Brihat Parasara Hora Sastram (Sage Parasara)
    * Jaimini Sutram (Sage Jaimini)
    * Brigu Sutram (Sage Brigu)
    * Vedanga Jyotish (Lagadha)
    * Yavaneswara Hora or Yavanajataka (Sage Yavaneswara)
    * Sphujudwaja Hora (King Sphujidwaja)
    * MeenarajaHora or Vridha Yavana Hora (King Meenaraja)
    * Saravali (Kalyana Verma)
    * Brihat Jatakam (Varahamihira)
    * Phala deepika (Mantreswara)
    * Hora Saram (Prithu Yasas)
    * Sarvartha Chintamani (Venkatesa Daivajna)
    * Hora Ratna (Acharya Balabhadra)
    * Jataka Parijatam (Vaidyanatha Deekshita)
    * Chatkara Chintamani
    * Kashyapa Hora
    * Poorva Kalamritam (Ganaka Kalidasa)
    * Uttara Kalamritam (Ganaka Kalidasa)
    * Suka Nadi
    * Deva Keralam or Chandra Kala Nadi (Achyuta)
    * Tajaka Neelakanthi (Neelakantha)
    * Pranasanushata Padhati
    * Prasna Ratna
    * Prasna Margam (Panakkattu Sankaran Nambootiri Brahmin)
    * Daivajna Vallabha (Varahamihira)
    * Kaalaprakashika
    *Treatises on Hindu Electional Astrology
    *Adbhuta Sagaar
    *Brihannarad
    *Brihatdaivygyaranjan
    *Brihatjyotisaar
    *Daivygyamanoranjan Daivygyamanohar Granth
    *Ganak Mandan
    *Gian Manjari
    *Hindu Electional Astrology (V K Shridhar)
    *Jaganmohan Granth
    *Jyotiprakash
    *Jyotirnibandh
    *Jyotish Ratan
    *Jyotishsaar
    *Jyotish Chintamani
    *Jyotirvidabharnam
    *Kaal Khanda
    *Kaal Nirnaya Deepika
    *Kaal Prakashika
    *Madhaveeyam
    *Muhurtarnava
    *Muhurt Bhaskar
    *Muhurt Chintamani (Daivygya Ram)
    *Muhurt Chudamani
    *Muhurt Darpaan
    *Muhurt Deepak
    *Muhurt Deepika
    *Muhurt Ganpati
    *Muhurt Kalpadrum
    *Muhurt Maala
    *Muhurt Manjari
    *Muhurt Martanda
    *Muhurt Muktaavali
    *Muhurt Prakash
    *Muhurt Padavi
    *Muhurt Saagar
    *Muhurt Sangraha
    *Muhurt Tattva
    *Muhurt Tattvapradeep
    *Muhurtarnava
    *Muktaavali
    *Narpatijacharyaaswarodaya
    *Naardeeya
    *Nibandh Chudamani
    *Poorva Kaalamrit (2)
    *Rajmartanda
    *Ratan Koosh
    *Ratanmaala
    *Samarsaar
    *Shiv Swarodaya
    *Vaivahaar Pradeep
    *Vivah Kautuhal
    *Vivah Patal
    *Vivah Pradeep
    *Vivah Saar
    *Vivah Vrindavan
    *Vyvahaarochchya
    *Yoga Yatra
    *Vyvaharsaar
    *Samhitas : treatises on mundane, portents, omens, meteorology etc.
    *Brahmarshi Samhita
    *Brihaspati Samhita
    *Brihat Samhita
    *Parasara Samhita
    *Garga Samhita
    *Rishiputra Samhita
    *Guru Samhita
    *Kashyap Samhita
    *Lomasha Samhita
    *Maanav Samhita
    *Naagarjun Samhita
    *Narad Samhita
    *Shakalya Samhita
    *Samaas Samhita
    *Samhita Pradeep
    *Samhita Sidhhanta
    *Satya Samhita
    *Sur Samhita
    *Vaikhaan Samhita
    *Vasist Samhita
    *Siddhanta :
    Astronomy and Mathematics and its application to astrology.''
    * Ancient Surya Sidhata (Maya)
    * Brahma Sidhanta (God Brahma)
    * Lomasa Sidhanta (Sage Lomasa)
    * Poulisa Sidhanta (Sage Poulisa)
    * Pitamaha Sidhanta (God Brahma)
    * Vasishta Sidhata (Sage Vasishta)
    * Vridha Vasishta Sidhanta (Sage Vridha Vasishta)
    * Garga Sidhanta (Sage Garga)
    * Parasara Sidhanta (Sage Parasara)
    * Pancha Sidhantika (Varaha Mihira)
    * Modern Surya Sidhanta (Aryabhata II)

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