Jyotish, also known as Vedic astrology or Hindu astrology, is an ancient system of knowledge that reveals the connection between the microcosm and the macrocosm, the individual and the universe. Jyotish means “the science of light” or “the eye of wisdom” in Sanskrit, and it is based on the observation and interpretation of the movements of the celestial bodies and their influence on human life.
Jyotish is one of the six Vedangas, or auxiliary disciplines, that support the study of the Vedas, the sacred scriptures of Hinduism. Jyotish is also considered to be one of the five major treatises on Hindu predictive astrology, along with Saravali, Sarvartha Chintamani, Jataka Parijata, and Phaladeepika. Jyotish covers a wide and complex range of topics, such as natal astrology, horary astrology, electional astrology, medical astrology, mundane astrology, and spiritual astrology.
Jyotish uses the sidereal zodiac, which is different from the tropical zodiac used in Western astrology. The sidereal zodiac takes into account the precession of the equinoxes, which causes a gradual shift of the vernal equinox along the ecliptic. The sidereal zodiac is aligned with the fixed stars, while the tropical zodiac is aligned with the seasons. Jyotish also uses a system of lunar mansions, called nakshatras, which divide the ecliptic into 27 or 28 segments, each corresponding to a specific star or constellation.
Jyotish employs various techniques and tools to analyze the birth chart, which is a map of the sky at the moment of birth, showing the position of the planets, the ascendant, the midheaven, and the lunar nodes. Some of these techniques include dashas, which are planetary periods that indicate the timing of events and the activation of karmas; yogas, which are planetary combinations that produce specific effects and results; ashtakavarga, which is a system of points that measure the strength and auspiciousness of each house and planet; and vargas, which are divisional charts that show the finer details and hidden aspects of each area of life.
Brihat Parashara Hora Shastra: The Ancient Classic of Vedic Astrology
Brihat Parashara Hora Shastra (BPHS) is one of the most important and influential texts of Vedic astrology, or Jyotish, the science of light and life. It is attributed to Maharishi Parashara, the grandfather of Vyasa, the compiler of the Vedas, the sacred scriptures of Hinduism. BPHS is considered to be the foundational work of natal astrology, which deals with the analysis of the birth chart and the prediction of the future based on the planetary positions at the time of birth.
BPHS is composed of 97 chapters, covering a wide range of topics, such as the characteristics and effects of the planets, signs, houses, nakshatras, yogas, dashas, vargas, and other astrological factors. It also provides various methods and rules for interpreting the birth chart, such as the strength and weakness of the planets, the aspects and conjunctions, the planetary avasthas, the bhavas, the arudhas, the argalas, the shadbala, the ashtakavarga, the upagrahas, the raja yogas, the maraka and badhaka planets, the longevity, the diseases, the marriage, the children, the profession, the wealth, the death, and many more. BPHS also contains some special topics, such as the gemstones, the remedies, the curses, the varna, the gana, the nadi, the prashna, the muhurta, and the hora.
BPHS is written in the form of a dialogue between Parashara and his disciple Maitreya, who asks questions and Parashara explains the principles and practices of astrology. The text is based on the sidereal zodiac, which is aligned with the fixed stars, and uses the Vimshottari dasha system, which is based on the nakshatras, or the lunar mansions. BPHS also follows the Parashari system of astrology, which is one of the three main systems of Vedic astrology, along with the Jaimini and the Tajika systems.
Gargiya-jyotisha: The Oldest Text of Indian Astrology
Gargiya-jyotisha, also known as Garga-samhita, is a 1st-century Indian Sanskrit-language astrological treatise attributed to Garga, a sage and astronomer who belonged to the lineage of Bharadwaja. It is the oldest extant text of Indian astrology, or jyotiḥśāstra, the science of light and life. It is written in the form of a dialogue between Garga and his disciple Kraushtuki, who asks questions and Garga explains the principles and practices of astrology.
Gargiya-jyotisha is one of the most extensive and comprehensive works of Garga, who is considered to be one of the most important authors in the jyotiḥśāstra tradition. He is also called Vṛddha-Garga, or Garga the Elder, to distinguish him from his later namesakes. He is mentioned in several ancient texts, such as the Mahabharata, the Puranas, and the Harivamsa, as a prominent astrologer who lived at Gargasrota on the banks of the Sarasvati River.
Gargiya-jyotisha contains 64 chapters, called angas, or limbs, covering a wide range of topics, such as the characteristics and effects of the planets, signs, houses, nakshatras, yogas, dashas, vargas, and other astrological factors. It also provides various methods and rules for interpreting the birth chart, which is a map of the sky at the moment of birth, showing the position of the planets, the ascendant, the midheaven, and the lunar nodes. Some of the topics covered in the text are:
- Karma-guṇā: the qualities of action, such as the astrological characters of nakshatras, tithis, grahas, and muhurtas.
- Candra-mārga: the course of the Moon, such as the phases, the eclipses, and the lunar mansions.
- Nakshatra-kendrabha: the appearance of the circle of nakshatras, such as the rising and setting times, the durations, and the distances.
- Rāhu-cāra: the course of Rahu, the ascending lunar node, such as the motion, the conjunctions, and the effects.
- Bṛhaspati-cāra: the course of Jupiter, such as the motion, the conjunctions, the retrogression, and the effects.
- Śukra-cāra: the course of Venus, such as the motion, the conjunctions, the retrogression, and the effects.
- Ketu-mālā: the line of Ketu, the descending lunar node, such as the motion, the conjunctions, and the effects.
- Śanaiścara-cāra: the course of Saturn, such as the motion, the conjunctions, the retrogression, and the effects.
- Aṅgāraka-cāra: the course of Mars, such as the motion, the conjunctions, the retrogression, and the effects.
- Budha-cāra: the course of Mercury, such as the motion, the conjunctions, the retrogression, and the effects.
- Āditya-cāra: the course of the Sun, such as the motion, the conjunctions, the solstices, and the effects.
- Agastya-cāra: the course of Agastya, a star in the constellation of Canopus, such as the motion, the conjunctions, and the effects.
- Antara-cakra: the circle of the intermediate region, such as the planets, the signs, the houses, and the aspects.
- Mṛga-cakra: the circle of deer, such as the omens of deer, antelopes, and other animals.
- Śva-cakra: the circle of dogs, such as the omens of dogs, jackals, and other animals.
- Vāta-cakra: the circle of wind, such as the omens of wind, thunder, lightning, and other phenomena.
- Vāstu-vidyā: the knowledge of houses, such as the construction, the orientation, the measurement, and the auspiciousness of houses.
- Aṅga-vidyā: the knowledge of limbs, such as the marks, the moles, the shapes, and the effects of limbs.
- Vāyasa-vidyā: the knowledge of birds, such as the omens of crows, parrots, pigeons, and other birds.
- Svāti-yoga: the conjunction with Svāti, a star in the constellation of Libra, such as the effects of rain, wind, and other phenomena.
Garga Hora: The Ancient Treatise on Predictive Astrology
Garga Hora is a Sanskrit text that deals with the predictive aspect of Hindu astrology, or Jyotish, the science of light and life. It is attributed to Rishi Garga, a sage and astronomer who was the son of Rishi Bharadvaja and the family priest of the Yadu dynasty, to which Krishna belonged. Garga Hora is one of the oldest and most authoritative works on Vedic astrology, and it is considered to be one of the eight Siddhantas, or doctrines, of Jyotish, along with Brahma, Surya, Soma, Vasishtha, Pulastya, Romaka, and Arya Siddhantas.
Garga Hora is written in the form of sutras, or concise aphorisms, that explain and illustrate various astrological principles and techniques. The text consists of 150 sutras, divided into two parts: the first part contains 100 sutras, and the second part contains 50 sutras. The first part deals with natal astrology, which analyzes the birth chart and the effects of the planets, signs, houses, nakshatras, yogas, dashas, and other factors on the native’s life. The second part deals with horary astrology, which answers specific questions based on the time and place of asking.
Some of the topics covered in Garga Hora are:
- The effects of Jupiter, Venus, Saturn, Mercury, Mars, Rahu, Ketu, the Sun, and the Moon in different houses and signs.
- The effects of various planetary combinations, aspects, conjunctions, and avasthas, or states.
- The effects of various yogas, or planetary configurations, that produce auspicious or inauspicious results.
- The effects of various dashas, or planetary periods, that indicate the timing of events and the activation of karmas.
- The effects of various vargas, or divisional charts, that show the finer details and hidden aspects of each area of life.
- The effects of various gemstones, remedies, curses, and other special topics.
- The rules and methods of horary astrology, such as the prashna, or the question, the hora, or the hour, the chakra, or the chart, and the phala, or the result.
Jaimini Sutra: The Ancient Text of Vedic Astrology
Jaimini Sutra, also known as Upadesa Sutra, is an ancient Sanskrit text that deals with the predictive part of Vedic astrology, or Jyotish, the science of light and life. It is attributed to the sage Jaimini, the founder of the Purva Mimamsa branch of Hindu philosophy, a disciple of Vyasa and grandson of Parashara. Jaimini Sutra is one of the most important and influential texts of Vedic astrology, and it is considered to be one of the eight Siddhantas, or doctrines, of Jyotish, along with Brahma, Surya, Soma, Vasishtha, Pulastya, Romaka, and Arya Siddhantas.
Jaimini Sutra is written in the form of sutras, or concise aphorisms, that explain and illustrate various astrological principles and techniques. The text consists of four chapters, called adhyayas, each containing four sections, called padas. The four chapters are:
Adhyaya 1: This chapter deals with the basic concepts and definitions of astrology, such as the signs, the houses, the planets, the aspects, the nakshatras, the karakas, the arudhas, the upapadas, and the navamsas.
Adhyaya 2: This chapter deals with the longevity and death of the native, such as the determination of the life span, the causes and types of death, the maraka and badhaka planets, the timing of death, and the afterlife.
Adhyaya 3: This chapter deals with the various aspects of life, such as the health, the wealth, the marriage, the children, the profession, the fame, the happiness, and the spirituality of the native.
Adhyaya 4: This chapter deals with the special topics and techniques of astrology, such as the curses, the remedies, the prashna, the muhurta, the hora, the drekkana, the shodashvarga, the dasha, and the raja yoga.
Jaimini Sutra is a treasure trove of astrological wisdom and knowledge, which has been preserved and transmitted by generations of astrologers and scholars. It is a source of inspiration and guidance for anyone who wants to learn and practice Vedic astrology, and to understand the cosmic order and the divine plan for human life. Jaimini Sutra is not only a book of prediction, but also a book of spirituality and enlightenment.
Yavanajataka: The Ancient Text of Greek Astrology in Sanskrit
Yavanajataka, which means “nativity according to the Greeks” in Sanskrit, is an ancient text of astrology that was translated from Greek into Sanskrit in the 2nd century CE. It is one of the earliest and most influential texts of Vedic astrology, or Jyotish, the science of light and life. It is also one of the main sources of evidence for the transmission and interaction of astrological knowledge between the Greek and Indian civilizations.
The authorship of Yavanajataka is attributed to Yavanesvara, or “Lord of the Greeks”, who was a Greek astrologer living in India under the rule of the Western Kshatrapa king Rudrakarman I. He translated an original Greek text, thought to have been written around 120 CE in Alexandria, into Sanskrit in 149 CE. The original Greek text is lost, but it is believed to have been based on the works of earlier Greek astrologers, such as Dorotheus of Sidon, Ptolemy, and Vettius Valens.
The translation of Yavanesvara was later versified by Sphujidhvaja, an Indian king and scholar, under the rule of Rudrasena II in 269 CE. He composed the text in 4,000 verses, divided into 79 chapters, covering a wide range of topics, such as the characteristics and effects of the planets, signs, houses, nakshatras, yogas, dashas, vargas, and other astrological factors. He also provided various methods and rules for interpreting the birth chart, which is a map of the sky at the moment of birth, showing the position of the planets, the ascendant, the midheaven, and the lunar nodes. Some of the topics covered in the text are:
- The nature and qualities of the planets, such as their color, shape, size, motion, exaltation, debilitation, friendship, enmity, and lordship.
- The nature and qualities of the signs, such as their element, gender, caste, direction, season, body part, and animal.
- The nature and qualities of the houses, such as their significations, strength, aspect, and relation to the planets and signs.
- The nature and qualities of the nakshatras, or the lunar mansions, such as their number, name, deity, symbol, and effect.
- The nature and qualities of the yogas, or the planetary combinations, such as their types, names, and results.
- The nature and qualities of the dashas, or the planetary periods, such as their calculation, order, duration, and effect.
- The nature and qualities of the vargas, or the divisional charts, such as their number, name, and use.
- The special topics and techniques of astrology, such as the gemstones, the remedies, the curses, the prashna, the muhurta, and the hora.
Sārāvalī: The Classic Text of Vedic Astrology by Kalyāṇavarman
Sārāvalī is a Sanskrit text that deals with the predictive aspect of Vedic astrology, or Jyotish, the science of light and life. It is written by Kalyāṇavarman, a renowned astrologer and scholar who lived in the 10th century CE. Sārāvalī is one of the most important and influential texts of Vedic astrology, and it is considered to be one of the eight Siddhantas, or doctrines, of Jyotish, along with Brahma, Surya, Soma, Vasishtha, Pulastya, Romaka, and Arya Siddhantas1
Sārāvalī is composed of 55 chapters, covering a wide range of topics, such as the characteristics and effects of the planets, signs, houses, nakshatras, yogas, dashas, vargas, and other astrological factors. It also provides various methods and rules for interpreting the birth chart, which is a map of the sky at the moment of birth, showing the position of the planets, the ascendant, the midheaven, and the lunar nodes.