How Does Vedic Astrology Work and How It Is Important In Your Life?

Skeptics say no! Believers say yes!

A man has always been willy-nilly about the soothsayers about predicting the uncertainty in life. But can the future be foretold? The Indian “science” of foretelling future – “Vedic Astrology” is also called “Jyotish Vidya” or “Science of Light”.

Is Astrology a rocket science?

In the modern world, people question proven theories and experiments. The concept of astrology with no explanatory power will obviously be an object of rejection. Astrology is not magic! The basis of astrology is astronomy and mathematics.

Astrology is the observation of positions of celestial bodies in relation to the earth. It is believed that there exists a correspondence between relative positions and events that occur on the Earth.

How are humans linked to Celestial Bodies?

We are bundle of atoms held together by physical bond of Universe just like planets. This theory may be called the basis of astrology, possible predictions and remedial measure.

But how does Astrology work?

Imagine Vedic Astrology chart to be a clock that shows the timings of your life. Astrologers claim they can know much about you by reading the chart. Strangely, the astrological clock has not just three arms like the conventional clocks, they have ten hands namely your rising sign and the planets and stars.

To give meaning to observations made in terms of psychological and physical, Hindu astrologers rely on 5 rational factors

1.      Zodiac - fixed background

2.      Nakshatra- Subsection of zodiacs

3.      Dasa - the planetary periods

4.      Graha – Our solar system

5.      Bhāvas – The houses

What is a zodiac?

●       Definition: A Fixed background of positions and groupings of celestial bodies serves as a plane of reference called the zodiac

●       It is the same plane as the ellipse that earth and other planets motion around the sun. Thus, one can say Zodiac is merely the ecliptic extended limitlessly into space

●       Purpose: zodiac represents emotions, inner mood and personality

Zodiac is subdivided into 12 equal sections and are named and numbered as follows

1.      Mesha (Aries)

2.      Vrishabha (Taurus)

3.      Mithuna (Gemini)

4.      Karka (Cancer)

5.      Sinha (Leo)

6.      Kanya (Virgo)

7.      Tula (Libra)

8.      Vrischika (Scorpio)

9.      Dhane (Sagittarius)

10.  Makara (Capricorn)

11.  Kumbha (Aquarius)

12.  Mina (Pisces)

The Asterisms or Nakshatra

●       Definition: With the help of belt of fixed stars that encircle Earth at equator, the zodiac is subdivided into 27 nakshatras

●       A 30-degree zone change within the zodiac necessitates subdivisions of zodiac. Each of the zone is identified by its prominent star

●       Each Nakshatra is divided into 4 parts of 3.20’ (3 degrees and 20 minutes). These parts are called padas

●       With a starting point in constellation Aries, extending an arc of 13 deg-20’, these 27 nakshatras complete 360-degree circle

●       Puspose: It can be said that the signs of the padas give information about the soul of a person

Dasas – The planetary Periods

●       Definition: The word dasa translates to “state of being”

●       Dasa is used to indicate planetary periods - It considers an active period of a particular planet

●       Astrologers study the transit of the Daśā lord from various reference points in the horoscope

o   The study of transits is based on the transit of the Moon (Chandra), the movement of Mercury (Budha) and Venus (Åšukra) across the celestial sphere

o   The movement of the slower planets – Jupiter (Guru), Saturn (Åšani) and Rāhu–Ketu — is always of considerable importance

o   There are several dasha systems, each with its own utility and area of application

●       Purpose: The ruling planet eclipses the mind of a person compelling him to act per the nature of planet

Grahas – Sun and planets

Rotating on their own axis and orbiting around sun, millions of miles away from us, do they truly control our destiny? Apparently yes. The chemistry and atomic make up of our bodies react to the planetary cycles and their relative gravity.

●       There are 9 celestial bodies used in the hindu astrology named as Grahas

o   The seven planets i.e. Sun, moon, Mars, Mercury, Jupiter, Venus and Saturn with physical existence

o   Rahu, Ketu with no physical existence

●       Purpose: The grahas are said to be the forces that capture the mind and decision making of humans

o   When grahas are active in their periodicity, they are said to be empowered to direct the affairs od people and events

o    Each planet has its precise function in nata chart representing a specific energy

Bhāvas – The houses

●       Definition: They are Imaginary space divisions radiating out from a particular point on Earth’s surface

●       The complete 360° circle of life, divided into houses, and represents a way of enacting the influences in the wheel

●       Each house has associated planets that can alter the interpretation of a particular house.

●       Purpose: These are a crucial part of any horoscopic study since the Bhāvas, understood as 'state of being'

The best way to study the various facets of Jyotiá¹£a is to see their role in chart evaluation of actual persons and how these are construed. Taking into account all these observations, an accomplished astrologer can clearly reveal a great part of your life including the instances when you will succeed and fail, the times when you shall experience good health and ill health, when you will come across love relationships, when you can marry, the information about your children and your relationship

How is it different from Western Astrology?

Indian astrology is deeply spiritual. It heavily draws from the universal forces and powers that are superhuman and beyond the purview of the senses. It differs from western astrology by the following

●       The major difference between Vedic and Western astrology is that one uses the fixed zodiac while the other uses movable zodiac to decide the starting point of the zodiac

●       Western Astrology uses the tropical Zodiac (earth to be the center and the celestial bodies to be revolving around it) and Vedic astrology assumes sun to be the center

●       Vedic Astrology is based on Moon sign while western astrology is based on Sun sign

How can it be of importance to us?

Everyone's personal zodiac chart and astrological chart are the ones that tick their lives on the earth. None have the power to change it. However, understanding it shall let you benefit a lot and stay at peace. It helps you understand the following

●        Your personality, looks, attitude & temperament

●        Family life, speech & communication, thinking patterns

●        Career, money matters, success in investments, income sources & level of affluence

●        Communications, courage and career

●        Parents, siblings, level of happiness & domestic harmony

●        Children, status, creative power

●        Health, debts, enemies, competition

●        Marriage / partnerships

●        Unearned wealth & property luck

●        Interest in religion & spirituality, level of morality; karma & deeds

●        Sexual desires & their fulfillment

●        Losses, expenses & events beyond your control

Conclusion - Do we trust it?

Astrology is an incomparable asset to assess the potential possibilities of our lives. At the right time, the right code of conduct and right method to perform a task will always aid in success. Astrology serves as a mirror. It need not be 100% correct which discipline is?  But it helps within its limits.

 Practitioners believe that Vedic astrology, with its ties to the ancient wisdom of Vedic literature, is a great source of profound knowledge.

You can’t change your clock, but you can make peace with it and make the most of your life by understanding it. It’s such a relief to know what will happen and when, and what WON’T happen, no matter how hard you try

When you know what shall happen at a point and what shall not happen despite best efforts, you can plan the course of your life accordingly and do a better job. This is the essence of helping people with the interpretations regarding their astrological chart.