ASTROLOGY

GENERAL INTRODUCTION

Vedas are the oldest, the most authentic and the most sacred scriptures to understand the mysteries of nature. According to Maxmuller, a renowned German scholar of the Vedas, 'Vedas are oldest books in the library of the world.' To understand the meaning of these Vedas, our Rishis, Maharathis have categorised the Vedas into six parts. Astrology is one of them and considered as the sixth sense which helps one to see all the unseen objects and the future events of the world.

Even Astrology is divided into three parts or subdivision :

1. THEORY (Siddhant).
2. SAMHITA.
3. JATAKA.

Siddhant helps us to understand the good and evil results (effects), with the help of minute arithmetic calculations related to rising and setting of the planets, Nakshatras, stars, Rashis, the combination of planets (grahayoga), grahayudha and the eclipse of the Moon and the Sun.

Samhita means the good and evil effects, which occur due to the combination of the planets, day and night transitions and seasonal transitions that affect the whole world.

Jataka means the good and evil effects which occur during the transmigration of a soul through 84 lakh yonis, and the effects which the Isht, Lagna, Graha (planets) Nakshatras, have on the joy, sorrow, gain-loss, destiny and age.

Our most revered sages imagined about the planetary orbits by doing penance and Yoga for a long time. They also observed the motion of these heavenly bodies through a distinct and well-marked path in the sky which contains twelve zodiac signs. These twelve zodiac signs of the solar system are established in the twelve parts of our body. They are as follows:
 

The planets travelling in twelve zodiac signs have affect on the following:

This implies that, the position of the seven planets and the twelve Zodiac signs are well established within our body.

The above mentioned organs and parts of the body are greatly influenced by the planets of the solar system and their movement.

Our ancient sages and Rishis, lacking the facilities of laboratories, had established the laws of Solar System, just by observing the internal solar system, which is within the body, with the help of Divine Sight and Yoga Bala.

Colonel Todd was so impressed by Indian Astrology that while mentioning it in his Autobiography 'Todd Rajasthan', has written that 'Where can we find those Astrologers, whose knowledge of the Planetary system is still amazing.'

Similarly, D.Morgan has accepted in his book 'Ancient and Medieval India', that, 'India’s Mathematics and Astrology is of greater value than that of Greece’s. Its contents are ancient and original'.

Today, even the scientific community accepts the fact that the construction of an atom is similar to the solar system. Just as the planets revolve around the Sun in their respective orbits, in the same way, the electrons revolve around the nucleus of the atom. An atom is so small that it cannot be seen with the help of the naked eye. Our body is made up of matter, which itself is made up of atoms. The law governing the movement of the planets around the Sun and the electrons moving around the nucleus of the atom is same.

Thus the planetary system within our body is just a symbol of the solar system. Nature has created the whole world in three qualities (Gunas). They are Satva (quality of goodness) Raja (having both the qualities of Satva and Tama (dark qualities).

The Planets, which have predominantly Satva Guna, shed cool rays, which are like ambrosia (Amrit). The planets, which have Raja Guna, shed mixed rays and the planets with Tamo Guna shed poisonous rays. And the planets, which lack all these three Gunas, have rays without any effect. The auspiciousness and inauspiciousness of the planets have been classified on the basis of these three types of rays.

The concept of 'Muhurta' (Hora, division of time) in Indian Astrology, too is an indication of all the three Gunas of the planets and their effects on humans. The positions of the planets vary because of their movement in their orbits. There are specific moments, during which the atmosphere of the planets are favourable and they shed rays, which are helpful to us, and again there are some specific moments when these planets act harmfully. So there is great importance attached to the concept of Muhurta.

The planets and stars not only have effect on human beings but also on the non-living things. The effects which the Moon and Sun have on the oceans causes high tides and low tides. Even modern science accepts that the 71% of the surface of the earth is covered with water and only 29% is land. Even our bodies and those of all the living beings constitute the same proportion i.e. 71% in water. So, if the Moon can cause tides on a non-living like the ocean, it can definitely affect a man who is a living being with a conscious mind.

PRACTICAL ASPECTS OF INDIAN ASTROLOGY

One of the many mysteries of Indian Astrology is that it does not have any good or evil effects but merely gives us prior information about the events that will occur.

Therefore, the chief objective and usefulness of Astrology is to make prior presumptions of the incidents by studying the nature and qualities of the planets. In this way, we can be alert well in advance and can even transform our sorrow into joy.

People, who believe that things which are bound to happen will certainly happen and cannot be changed, generally have no belief in Astrology. But there is no doubt that the prior knowledge of the favourability and unfavourability of the planets alerts a man to look for remedial methods. It can even make him alert to such an extent so that he takes such precautionary methods which will minimise or even nullify their effects. People who believe in destiny, have classified the Karma (action) in two parts (1) PRARABDHA,
2) ANARABDHA

Prarabdha means those actions, which were committed in the previous life and the results of which one faces in the present life.

Anarabdha means those actions, which are committed in the present life, or are about to be committed and the results will be faced in the next birth.

It is impossible to do Karmas without aims or objectives. The theory of Bhagyawada (Fatalism) is that one should do such Karmas, which give good results in the present and the next birth. People who do not believe in 'PUNARJANMA' (Reincarnation), work hard and do virtuous actions, but still remain poor and unhappy. On the other hand, there are people who do little work but still manage to acquire and accumulate wealth and enjoy life to the full extent. And again there are rich people who face the wrath of the nature and become poor. What are the reasons for that? Do the people, who don’t believe in destiny, have any explanations?

The Sun and the Moon are considered as the two principle planets, in Indian Astrology. The Sun is considered to be a 'PURUSHA' (Masculine) and the Moon is considered to be a 'STREE' or 'PRAKRITI' (Feminine). The planets, Mars, Mercury, Jupiter, Venus and Saturn have been said to be the five elements. The Astrological cycle moves around with the help of Purusha, Prakriti and all the five elements, altogether.

SUPERIORITY OF INDIAN ASTROLOGY

Today, almost all the newspapers and magazines publish daily predictions on the basis of date of birth and Sun signs (Zodiac sign); the western Astrology considers the Sun as the principal planet, whereas in Indian astrology, Moon has been given that honour. Due to this contradiction in the two systems, people get confused.

In Indian Astrology, both the Sun and the Moon have been given prominence. The factor affecting the Atma (Soul) is the Sun and the factor affecting the 'Mana' (Mind) is the Moon.

It implies that our body remains active as long as the symbol of Surya (Sun) that is Atma in our body exists. Without it, our body has no meaning. For the accomplishment of any work, we need a healthy body. So it is obvious that the Sun is the most important.

On the other hand, Moon is a factor affecting the mind (Mana). Indian philosophy considers that Mind is the principle factor that affects our feelings like joy and sorrow, wealth and poverty, and rise and fall etc.

According to Shankaracharya
MUN EVA MANUSHYAANAAM KAARANAM BANDH MOKSHAYOH

The great Poet Kalidas has said that
SARVASVE DVAYA SUMATI KUMATI SAMPADAAPATTI HETUH|

Kabir has said
AKATHA KATHAA MUN KI BADEE
TAA JUG KAAL NA KHAAYA

All these statements stress upon the greatness of the mind.
Our body can be compared with a chariot, our mind–the charioteer, and our sense organs as the horses of the chariot. Just as a charioteer controls the horses pulling the chariot, in the same way, our mind controls the body and senses and is not controlled by Atma (soul).

The importance of mind is, thus, obvious. Similarly the Moon, which has been compared to the mind, causes tides in the ocean. It is only because of the Moon's motion that we know when it would be a high tide or a low.

Thus it is adequately proved that the zodiac signs based on the Chandra (Moon) and the calculations of Dasha (position of planets) and the calculations of Rashiphala (prediction made on the basis of zodiac signs) is relatively more subtle and near perfection.