No understanding of Hinduism is complete without delving into the fascinating subject known as Vedic astrology. Dating back to ancient times, Vedic astrology makes use of planetary positions and complex mathematical formulae to make predictions. Over thousands of years, this study has evolved into a highly accurate system that practitioners use to chart the courses of people’s lives.
What is Vedic Astrology?
Vedic astrology refers to Hindu astrology, a practice that dates back thousands of years to ancient Hindu times. Also called ‘Jyotish’, or the study of light, Vedic astrology operates on the premise that cosmic patterns determine human destiny. It derives from knowledge and beliefs that Vedic sages documented in their scriptures several thousand years ago. Today, Vedic astrology has a wide range of applications in India and abroad, including marriage, health and diet, education, business contracts and predicting the outcome of a new venture.
Premise of Astrology
Astrology is essentially the study of how planetary movements impact human lives. Astrologers calculate charts based on the position of the planets with relation to the fixed stars as well as the position of the fixed zodiac star signs in relation to a fixed point on earth. These charts tell astrologers a great deal about the significance of any particular moment or lifetime. The ‘dashas’, or planetary periods, offer a lot of information about when different events will occur over the course of a life.
The basic premise of Vedic astrology is that all aspects of the universe are interlinked. Each life plays out in accordance with a cosmic design and every incident occurs because it was meant to. Vedic predictions take this interlinking into account and thus chart out an individual’s life.
How Horoscopes Depend on Vedic Astrology
A Vedic astrology birth chart, or Janam Patri, is an important instrument used to predict a person’s fortune at birth. It features the nine planets and the twelve zodiac signs distributed across different ‘houses’. Each of these houses denotes some aspect of life such as education, career, marriage or health. By examining this chart, an astrologer can assess a person’s qualities, talents, preferences and flaws, and accordingly predict what he or she is likely to do.
While not everyone believes in the accuracy of a Vedic astrology horoscope, many cultures and communities still rely on these horoscopes to take important decisions related to personal and professional life. In India, most Hindu marriages still depend on Vedic astrology matching, where astrologers compare the horoscopes of the prospective bride and groom and thus determine whether they are a good fit.
Secrets of the Vedas
Vedic astrology is highly accurate because it relies on ancient science. The Vedic astrology secrets all derive from the Vedas, ancient Indian texts that are full of wisdom. It differs from Western astrology primarily in its use of the ‘fixed’ zodiac rather than the ‘moving’ zodiac. The earth gradually tilts on its axis as it revolves about the sun, and hence the moving zodiac is shifting slightly every year. In fact, it is currently almost one whole sun sign behind the Vedic system. Vedic astrology thus holds more esteem among astrologers as being more accurate.
The use of planetary ruling periods allows Vedic astrologers to make in-depth predictions about a person’s life. The positions of the stars and planets at the moment of a person’s birth can say a great deal about what that person’s life will be like. These predictions thus hold greater meaning than generalised statements made simply by looking at a person’s zodiac sign.
Significance of Vedic Astrology
Apart from the accuracy of Vedic astrology predictions, practitioners hold the subject in high regard because of its ties to ancient Hindu wisdom. Vedic belief is largely about understanding the self along with its relation to the world around it. Vedic astrology thus focuses on truly understanding oneself and acting accordingly rather than opting for quick solutions. Ancient Vedic texts hold many profound ideas about life and are thus excellent sources of knowledge even in the modern context. Over 4000 years of evolution, Vedic astrology has derived elements of Western astrology – however, its essence remains traditionally Indian.
At the end of the day, it is important to remember that no form of astrology is completely accurate. We are each in control of our own destinies and should thus choose our own paths. However, Vedic astrology can tell us a lot about the general trends our life will follow and hence the possible steps we can take to live the best life possible.
