The ancient Hindu way of life, based on the Karma theory, looked at the progress of the human soul based on three essential parameters. They are: The Karma acquired from your past life, the karma you acquire by virtue of your actions in your present life and based on these your future life. They classified our present life into four broad aspects. Dharma or right living, Artha or the monetary aspect, Kama or the desires and finally Moksha or spiritual progress and liberation. They recognized the importance of balancing these four aspects of life for the proper progress.The entire basis and theology of our astrology is based on these principles.
Indian astrology or Jyotish is based on the theory of fate. The good and the bad actions of the past life determine your fate or Karma of your present life, and the actions of your present life determine your future Karma. According to Indian astrology a person is born at that place, on that day and on that moment when his individual fate is in perfect mathematical harmony with the progress of the stars in heaven. However it does not preach total dependence on fate. Astrology lets you know what you were born with, what your possibilities are, the limitations, your strong points and your weaknesses. What type of life partners and professions suit you and to expect is also indicated. It also prescribes various remedial measures to ward off the bad effects and to enhance the good results. Astrology is your roadmap of destiny. However your fate is in your hands. The scriptures guide us by telling us what is good and what is bad; what to do and what not to do; how to do and how not to do. You are given a piece of land and the seeds to sow. How much effort to put in to it, what amount of manure and water to add and when how to reap the produce is your job. After that it is you who have to act using your knowledge intelligence, discrimination and experience. Fate is like a game of cards where you cannot help the cards that have been dealt to you but how to play them is in your hands. You may get good cards but if you play badly you will lose and you may get bad cards and still may win if you play carefully. Don’t blame the roadmap if you get drunk, drive badly and have an accident! In the Mahabharata Lord Krishna gave advise to Arjuna and also to Duryodhana. One listened and the other did not!
There are two main systems of Vedic astrology practiced today: Parashari and Jaimini, which were developed by the sages Parashara and Jaimini respectively. The sage Parashara is said to be the 'Father of Vedic astrology' who recorded the main principles of vedic astrology or Jyotish, the science of light, into the classic Sanskrit text known as the Brihat Parashara Hora Shastra. This forms the basis for the entire Parashari system, which is by far the most widely used in India and the world today.
Firstly, we have the divisional chart system, called the Varga system. Based on the planetary degrees at the time of birth, sixteen divisional charts are prepared, by dividing the degrees of the planets. These divisional charts are studied to ascertain the strength and weakness of planets and houses and also to study various aspects of ones life. For example, one-ninth division called Navamsa to study spouse and married life, one-tenth division to study profession, one-seventh for children and so on. The last Varga, called Shodashamsa, is prepared by dividing the planet’s degrees in to one-sixtieth part! Second is the dasa system. Based on ones moons degrees at birth, we calculate the Dasas, or the ruling periods of various planets, which keeps changing during ones life. It is not just one planets dasa but Maha dasa, or main dasa, of a planet, Antardasa, or sub period, of another planet and so on till we arrive at a fifth level dasa to study each day.
Third is the Gochara, or transit of planets. Planets transiting various houses produce various results. But a planet transits a sign for quite some time. For example Saturn transits a sign for two and half years. During this entire period its results cannot be totally good or bad. Vedic astrology further pinpoints its good and bad periods even during its transit in one sign. We have the Asthakavarga and Prastharasthakavarga system, which divides a planets transit in a sign into eight parts and shows which part is good and which part is bad.
Lastly, there is the Prasna Kundali system, or chart cast based on the time of the query. This is studied as an add-on chart to give predictions.
From the astrological point of view, for the purpose of charting the planetary positions and calculations etc, the 360 degrees of the zodiac was divided into 12 equal parts, called Rasi or sign, of 30 degrees each. This is the 1st basic division. In the Vedic astrology there are 9 Grahas or planets which influence our lives. Out of these seven – the Sun, the Moon, Mars, Mercury, Jupiter, Venus, and Saturn – are actual heavenly bodies. The other two – Rahu and Ketu – are shadowy planets whose positions are calculated mathematically. Vedic astrology ignores Neptune, Uranus, and Pluto.
These 9 planets own certain rasis, represent several things in our life, have several inherent qualities and influence certain facets of our life. It all depends on how these planets are placed and in which rasis they are placed. Let us understand these basics first.
The names of the 12 Rasis (Zodiac signs) in their natural order and their rulers:
1. Aries or Mesha is ruled by Mars.
2. Taurus or Vrishabha is ruled by Venus.
3. Gemini or Mithuna is ruled by Mercury.
4. Cancer or Karka is ruled by the Moon.
5. Leo or Simha is ruled by the Sun.
6. Virgo or Kanya is ruled by Mercury.
7. Libra or Tula is ruled by Venus.
8. Scorpio or Vrischika is ruled by Mars.
9. Sagittarius or Dhanu is ruled by Jupiter.
10. Capricorn or Makara is ruled by Saturn.
11. Aquarius or Kumbha is ruled by Saturn.
12. Pisces or Meena is ruled by Jupiter.
The rasis are further divided into several categories. The categories are:
The Trikona or Triangular groups.
The 1st triangle formed by Aries, Leo, and Sagittarius are Agni-Tatwa or Fire signs. They are active, aggressive, adventurous and dominating by nature and are good leaders and administrators. These signs, and people with these signs strong, have the Dharma aspect predominant.
The 2nd triangle formed by Taurus, Virgo, and Capricorn are Bhu-Tatwa or Earth signs. They are down to earth, practical and careful by nature and have a good sense of money. These signs, and people with these signs strong, have the Artha aspect predominant.
The 3rd triangle formed by Gemini, Libra, and Aquarius are Vayu-Tatwa or Air signs. They are intelligent, carefree, jovial and social by nature and enjoy life more than the other signs. These signs, and people with these signs strong, have the Kama aspect predominant.
The 4th triangle formed by Cancer, Scorpio and Pisces are Jala-Tatwa or Water signs. They are emotional, sensitive, romantic, artistic, nature loving and spiritual by nature. These signs, and people with these signs strong, have the Moksha aspect predominant.
2. The Kendra or Quadrangular groups
Aries, Cancer, Libra, and Capricorn forming the 1st quadrangle are Chara or Movable rasis. They are active by nature, like change and direct in their approach. Normally people with chara rasis dominating in the birth chart travel a lot.
Taurus, Leo, Scorpio, and Aquarius forming the 2nd quadrangle are Sthira or Fixed rasis. They take their time to act, do not like change, and have a fixed views and ways of doing things.
Gemini, Virgo, Sagittarius, and Pisces forming the 3rd quadrangle are Dwichara or Dual rasis. They are very intelligent and like exploring new ways and theories.
“The development and progress of the people and the creation are all under the administration and authority of the planets.” —Brihat Parashara Hora Shastra, Chapter 84
Every aspect of human physiology and life has its counterpart in the structure and functioning of the cosmic physiology, represented by the Grahas, Rashis and Nakshatras.The 9 Planets
