What
is Vedic Astrology?
Narrated by Satrajit Majumdar
Vedic Astrology is the study of positions of heavenly
bodies like Sun, Moon, Mars etc. with respect to
the zodiac and the interpretation of the effect
of such heavenly bodies on the events in earth in
the life of an individual or a country or the whole
world. It is called Vedic Astrology, because the
principles on which the study and interpretations
are made were first enumerated in the 'Vedas' -
the first treatise of ancient Hindu philosophy.
What is Zodiac?
What is Zodiac ? If we imagine a path in the sky
at approximately 18 degrees arc in the width encircling
the earth in an east west direction, groups of stars
will appear to be apparently fixed with respect
to earth along this imaginary path. There are 27
groups of stars in the path which are recognized
by Vedic Astrology. These groups of stars in the
imaginary path are called zodiac. This zodiac forms
the reference for fixing up the position of any
planet or star in the sky. Since this zodiac is
encircling the earth it can be measured as 360 degrees,
where these 27 groups of stars are evenly placed,
hence each of them have a span of 360 degrees/27
= 13 degrees 20' arc.
What are Zodiac Signs or Rashis?
When the zodiac is divided into 12 equal parts
each having a span of 30 degrees arc, then each
of this arc is called a zodiac sign. A sign, therefore,
will consist of 2 ¼ groups of stars. A particular
group of stars called Ashwini, in the zodiac is
considered the starting point of the zodiac and
is called the star no.1. Similarly, there are individual
name for the 26 group of stars. Ashwini(1), Bharini(2),
Krittika(3) are the first three stars in the zodiac.
As stated earlier, the first span of 30 degrees
arc in the zodiac will consist of Ashwini, Bharini
and ¼ of Krittika constitute the first zodiac sign
called 'Aries'. The name of the remaining 11 zodiac
signs after 'Aries' are : Taurus(2), Gemini(3),
Cancer(4), Leo(5), Virgo(6), Libra(7), Scorpio(8),
Sagittarius(9), Capricorn(10), Aquarius(11) and
Pisces(12).
What are Heavenly Bodies?
Influencing the events on earth Sun, Moon, Mars,
Mercury, Venus, Jupiter, Saturn, Rahu, and Ketu
all loosely termed as planets, appear to revolve
around the earth continuously while always staying
within the limits of zodiac. Vedic astrology in
the ancient text had recognized these 9 entities.
Out of which, the Sun is a star. Moon is the satellite
of earth. Rahu and Ketu are two mathematical points
on the zodiac and the rest are planets. Modern Vedic
Astrologers also consider the effect of distant
planets like Neptune, Uranus and Pluto.
What is an Ecliptic?
The apparent movement or
path of the Sun along the zodiac is called the Ecliptic.
The ecliptic passes through the center of zodiac
and is inclined at an angle of 23 degrees and 28
minutes to the center of zodiac.
What are Rahu and Ketu?
Moon's apparent path around
the earth intersects the ecliptic obliquely at two
points called the 'Nodes'. The point where the Moon
crosses the ecliptic from south to north is called
the ascending node or 'Rahu' when it crosses the
ecliptic from north to south is called the descending
node or 'Ketu'. These 2 points are 6 zodiac signs
or 180 degrees apart. The position of these two
points with respect to zodiac signs are of equal
importance to position of other planets with respect
to zodiac sign in Vedic astrology.
What is Ascendant/Rising
Sign?
The ecliptic passes through
the center of the zodiacal belt which extends 9
degrees on its either(north or south) side. The
planets remain within the limits of the zodiac.
The earth rotates around its axis once in twenty
four hours from west to east. As a consequence,
all planets appear to revolve around the earth from
east to west once in twenty four hours. The zodiac
with its stars and signs fixed upon it also appears
to revolve around the earth from east to west once
in every 24 hours. Thus, all points on signs and
stars on the zodiac will appear to successfully
rise in the eastern horizon and set at the western
horizon once in 24 hours. Thus, for every point
and time on earth there will be a unique point on
a particular zodiac sign which will be rising at
the eastern horizon.
When an individual is born,
the point in the particular zodiac sign, expressed
in longitude, which is rising at the eastern horizon
at the exact time of his/her birth for the exact
latitude/longitude of the place where he/she is
born is the unique space time coordinate for the
individual. This is called the individual's Ascendant(Lagna)
or the Rising Sign.
What is Janma Rashi/Moon
Sign/Moon Ascendant?
In Vedic Astrology, the exact
position of the Moon at the exact time of birth
with respect to the zodiac sign and the point in
the zodiac sign expressed in longitudes will be
Janma Rashi/ Moon Sign/ Moon Ascendant.
What is Sun Sign/Sun Ascendant?
Like the Moon sign, the
longitude of Sun with respect to zodiac at the exact
time of birth is the Sun Sign of the individual.
Western astrology lays great importance on Sun signs
and ALL YOUR ZODIAC SIGNS are your Sun signs as
per Vedic astrology. The Sun sign on the basis of
Western astrology and Vedic Astrology, will differ
by one sign many a times. This is because as per
Western astrology the zodiac is also moving, whereas,
the Vedic astrologers considers the zodiacs to be
fixed. The reason why this difference comes will
be explained on the web page at a later date. Meanwhile,
we are just mentioning this so that you do not get
alarmed to see the difference in the zodiac sun
signs when computed by the Vedic astrology.
This will be an on going
page which will be updated regularly. You are most
welcome to contribute your views and your questions
for the benefit of all visitors on our site. Click
for e-mail option to F & Q. Acknowledgment : In
compiling this edition of FAQ extensive use has
been made from Dr. K. S. Charak, book of Vedic Astrology,
Volume-1, Published by Systems Vision.
Relevance of Astrology?
As per Vedic philosophy,
what will happen to us in this life is predetermined
and based on the 'Karma' of our past lives. What
is the relevance of 'free will' is a matter of screens
philosophical debate. But, we in Cyber Astro believe
that 75% of what will happen to us is what we can
possibly know through astrology, but the balance
25% is critical, which we create through our own
efforts and it is we with our efforts control our
day to day destiny and that is our 'Karma' in this
life. Astrology provides us with an insight in our
quest to shape our destiny.
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