Jyotisha
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Jyotiṣa (Sanskrit jyotiṣa (Devanagari ज्योतिष), from jyótis- "light, heavenly body": also anglicized Jyotish and Jyotisha) is the Hindu system of astrology (also known as Indian astrology, Hindu astrology, and of late, Vedic astrology). Traditionally, it has three branches: actually the word jyotish which belongs to the Vedangas. There are six Vedangas: Shiksha (phonetics), Kalpa (rituals), Vyakarana (grammar), Jyotishya (astronomy), Nirukta (etymology) and Chhandas (metrics). These are mentioned in the Upanishads. Nirukta has explained as dhyotiti yat tat jyotihi jyotisham i.e. which enlightens us that type of a flame a Jyoti that is Jyotish.
The latter two are part of predictive astrology (Phalita). Conceptually, therefore, Indian astrology has two branches, Ganita (Siddhanta) and Phalita (Samhita plus Hora).
The foundation of Jyotisha is the notion of bandhu of the Vedas or scriptures, which is the connection between the microcosm and the macrocosm. The practice of Jyotisha primarily relies on the sidereal zodiac, which is different from the tropical zodiac used in Western astrology in that an ayanamsa adjustment is made for the gradual precession of the vernal equinox. Jyotisha includes several nuanced sub-systems of interpretation and prediction with elements not found in Hellenistic astrology, such as its system of lunar mansions (nakshatras).
Astrology remains an important facet in the lives of many Hindus. In Hindu culture, newborns are traditionally named based on their jyotish charts, and jyotish concepts are pervasive in the organization of the calendar and holidays as well as in many areas of life, such as in making decisions made about marriage, opening a new business, and moving into a new home. To some extent, astrology even retains a position among the sciences of modern India. Following a controversial judgement of the Andhra Pradesh High Court in 2001, some Indian universities even offer advanced degrees in astrology.
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Contents
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History
The term jyotiṣa in the sense of one of the Vedanga, the six auxiliary disciplines of Vedic religion, is used in the Mundaka Upanishad and thus likely dates to Mauryan times. The Vedanga Jyotisha redacted by Lagadha dates to the Mauryan period, with rules for tracking the motions of the Sun and the Moon.
The documented history of Jyotishas {see http://www.astrowebindia.com/visit/OLD1.html} begins with the interaction of Indian and Hellenistic cultures in the Indo-Greek period. The oldest surviving treatises, such as the Yavanajataka or the Brihat-Samhita, date to the early centuries CE. The oldest astrological treatise in Sanskrit is the Yavanajataka ("Sayings of the Greeks"), a versification by Sphujidhvaja in 269/270 CE of a now lost translation of a Greek treatise by Yavanesvara during the 2nd century CE under the patronage of the Western Satrap Saka king Rudradaman I.
The first named authors writing treatises on astronomy are from the 5th century CE, the date when the classical period of Indian astronomy can be said to begin. Besides the theories of Aryabhata in the Aryabhatiya and the lost Arya-siddhānta, there is the Pancha-Siddhāntika of Varahamihira.
The main texts upon which classical Indian astrology is based are early medieval compilations, notably the Bṛhat Parāśara Horāśāstra, and Sārāvalī by Kalyāṇavarman. The Horashastra is a composite work of 71 chapters, of which the first part (chapters 1-51) dates to the 7th to early 8th centuries and the second part (chapters 52-71) to the later 8th century. The Sārāvalī likewise dates to around 800 CE. English translations of these texts were published by N.N. Krishna Rau and V.B. Choudhari in 1963 and 1961, respectively.
Historically, the study of astrology in India was an important factor in the development of astronomy in the Early Middle Ages.
Elements
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Vargas
There are sixteen varga (Sanskrit: varga, 'part, division'), or divisional, charts used in Jyotisha:
Chart styles
There are two chart styles used in Jyotiṣa:
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North Indian
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South Indian
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Grahas – the planets
Graha (Devanagari: , Sanskrit: graha, 'seizing, laying hold of, holding'.)
Nine grahas, or navagrahas, are used in Jyotisha:
Planets in maximum exaltation, mooltrikona (own sign), and debilitation, are:
Rahu and Ketu are exalted in Taurus/Scorpio and debilitated in Scorpio/Taurus respectively. They are also exalted in Gemini and Virgo.
The natural planetary relationships are:
Rāshis – the zodiac signs
Rāshi (Sanskrit: rāśi, 'part'.) In Jyotisha, the zodiac is called kalpurusha, the eternal time that has no beginning or end. In the Vedas, the ecliptic is referred to as the Sudarshan Chakra, the wheel in the hand of Lord Vishnu, the creator of the universe. The entire chakra is 360°, and is divided into 12 rāshis of 30° each, representing 12 constellations that are the zodiac signs. The progression through the zodiac signs represents the cosmic evolution of the soul. Jyotisha uses the sidereal zodiac.
The zodiac signs in Jyotisha correspond to parts of the body:
Bhāvas – the houses
Bhāva (Sanskrit: bhāva, 'division'.) In Jyotisha, the natal chart is the bhava chakra (Sanskrit: chakra, 'wheel'.) The bhava chakra is the complete 360° circle of life, divided into houses, and represents our way of enacting the influences in the wheel. Each house has associated karaka (Sanskrit: karaka, 'significator') planets that can alter the interpretation of a particular house.
Nakshatras
Nakshatra (Devanagari: नक्षत्र, Sanskrit: nakshatra, 'star', from naksha, 'approach', and tra, 'guard') or lunar mansion is one of the 27 divisions of the sky, identified by the prominent star(s) in them, used in Jyotisha.
The 27 nakshatras cover 13°20’ of the ecliptic each. Each nakshatra is divided into quarters or padas of 3°20’:
Daśā-s - the planetary periods
Dasha (Devanagari: दशा, Sanskrit,daśā, 'planetary period'.) The dasha system shows which planets will be ruling at particular times in Jyotisha. There are several dasha systems; however, the primary system used by astrologers is the Vimshottari dasha system. The first maha dasha is determined by the position of the natal Moon. Each maha dasha is divided into subperiods called bhuktis. Vimshottari dasha lengths are:
Drishtis - the planetary aspects
Drishti (Sanskrit: drishti, 'sight'.) In Jyotisha, the aspect is to an entire sign, and grahas only cast forward aspects:
Gocharas - the transits
Gochara (Sanskrit: gochara, 'transit'.) In Jyotisha, a natal chart shows the actual positions of the grahas at the moment of birth. Since that moment, the grahas have continued to move around the zodiac, interacting with the natal chart grahas. This period of interaction is called gochara.
Yogas - the planetary combinations
Yoga (Sanskrit: yoga, 'union'.) In Jyotisha, yogas are planetary combinations placed in specific relationships to each other.
Kalasarpa Yoga If all planets (excepting Uranus, Neptune, Pluto) are 1-side of Rahu and Ketu, it becomes Kala-Sarpa Yoga. Kala-Sarpa means "Black snake." Traditional astrology sees this as the harbinger of many maladies--however, more recent interpretations view it in a different light. According to Barbara Pijan: Kala-Sarpa Yoga is a rather late accrual to the Jyotisha inventory of planetary yogas.
Historically, Rahu and Ketu gained prominence in the Jyotisha commentary literature starting around 600-800 C.E. -- long after the main body of literary classics were recorded. Therefore Kala-Sarpa Yoga is not listed in the hoary classical works such as Brihat Parashara Hora Shastra.
Since its medieval rise to popularity, however, Kala-Sarpa Yoga has captured the interests of practicing Jyotishi. Similar to the common but ridiculously over-simplified beliefs surrounding Kuja dosha ("mangalika") KSY is believed to entail many horrible & crippling consequences.
Kala-Sarpa Yoga is associated with dreadful experiences like suffering from poisons, relentless catastrophes, sudden and disastrous changes in every aspect of life, and every type of scandal. The victim may be homeless, unmarriageable, unemployable, or a pariah -- all due to this single excruciating planetary configuration.
In truth, few of these terrifying results will manifest. What the yoga does involve is a rather deep and complex psychological compulsion to re-enact a past-life memory of being a human sacrifice.
This psycho-mental condition may lead to obsessive-compulsive behavior of giving over one's life force to the goals and needs of others (including giving one's life for one's tribe or nation) -- until the native learns to consciously control it.
Dig bala - the directional strength
Dig bala (Sanskrit: dig bala, 'directional strength'.) Graha-s gain strength when they are placed in specific cardinal houses:
Horoscopy
Lagna – the ascendant
Lagna (Sanskrit: lagna, 'ascendant'.) Lagna is the first moment of contact between the soul and its new life on earth in Jyotisha.
Atmakaraka - the soul significator
Atmakaraka (Sanskrit: atmakaraka, from atma, 'soul', and karaka, 'significator' .) Atmakaraka is the significator of the soul's desire in Jyotisha.
Gandanta - the karmic knot
Gandanta (Sanskrit: gandanta, from gand, 'knot', and anta, 'end'.) Gandanta is a spiritual or karmic knot in Jyotisha. Gandanta describes the junction points in the natal chart where the solar and lunar zodiacs meet, and are directly associated with times of soul growth.
Ayanamsa - the zodiac conversion
Ayanamsa (Sanskrit: ayanāṃsa , from ayana, 'movement', and aṃsa, 'component') is the longitudinal difference between the Tropical (Sayana) and Sidereal (Nirayana) zodiacs.
Moudhya - the combustion
Moudhya (Sanskrit: moudhya, 'combustion') is a planet that is in conjunction with the Sun. The degrees the planets are considered combust are:
Sade sati - the critical transit
Sadi sati, the transit of Saturn over the natal Moon, is the most important transit in a birth chart and takes approximately 7.5 years to complete. The transit begins when Saturn enters the house before the Moon, and ends when Saturn departs the house after the Moon. The most intense phase is when Saturn is 2-3° on either side of the Moon. The beginning of the transit will give an indication of the issues to be addressed. Sade sati results in a complete transformation, usually with a change in career or life direction.
Panchangam
Panchangam (Sanskrit: pañcāṅgam, from panch, 'five' and anga, 'limbs'.) The panchangam is a Hindu astrological almanac that follows traditional Indian cosmology, and presents important astronomical data in tabulated form. Panchangam means five limbs, or five lights that influence every day.
In modern India
David Pingree notes that astrology and traditional medicine are the two traditional sciences that have survived best in modern India, although both have been much transformed by their western counterparts.
A number of Indian universities currently offer advanced degrees in Jyotisha, including Benaras Hindu University.
Innovations
New approaches developed by Hindu astrologers in the modern epoch include the following:
- New Techniques of Predictions by the late Mr. H.R.S. Iyer. In the 1960s, H.R. Seshadri Iyer, introduced a system including the yoga point, which became popular in the West.
- Systems' Approach for Interpreting Horoscopes by Mr. V.K. Choudhry. In the early 1990s, Indian Vedic Astrologer and Author, V.K. Choudhry introduced the Systems' Approach for Interpreting Horoscopes a simplified system of Jyotish (predictive astrology). The system, also known as "SA", helps those who are trying to learn Jyotisha.
- Krishnamurti Paddhati by the late Mr. K. S. Krishnamurti. The system developed by Shri Krishnamurti is mainly based on the analysis of the stars (nakshatras), by sub-dividing the stars in the ratio of the dasha of the concerned planets. The system is also known as "KP" and "sub theory".
Controversy
In the early 2000s, under the Bharatiya Janata Party led government, astrology became a topic of political contention between the religious right and academic establishment, comparable to the "Creation science" debate in US education. The University Grants Commission and the Ministry of Human Resource Development of the Government decided to introduce "Jyotir Vigyan" (i.e. jyotir vijñāna) or "Vedic astrology" as a discipline of study in Indian universities, backed up by a decision by the Andhra Pradesh High Court, despite widespread protests from the scientific community in India and Indian scientists working abroad. In September of the same year, the Supreme Court of India issued a notice to the Ministry of Human Resource Development in reaction to a petition, stating that the introduction of astrology to university curricula is "a giant leap backwards, undermining whatever scientific credibility the country has achieved so far". In 2004, the Supreme Court dismissed a further petition, judging that the teaching of astrology does not qualify as promotion of religion. In modern India
Relation between astrology and karma
Charles Keyes, professor emeritus at the University of Washington and E. Valentine Daniel, professor of anthropology at Columbia University state that many Hindus believe that heavenly bodies, including the planets, have an influence throughout the life of a human being, and these planetary influences are the "fruit of karma."
The Navagraha, planetary deities, are considered subordinate to Ishvara, i.e., the Supreme Being) and are believed by many to assist in the administration of justice. Thus, these planets can influence earthly life.
Such planetary influences are believed by many to be measurable using astrological methods including Jyotiṣa, the Hindu system of astrology.
See also
- http://www.srisivanadi.com/
- http://www.divinescripts.com/
- Jyotiṣa resources
- Bhrigu Samhita
- Hindu calendar
- Hindu cosmology
- Hindu chronology
- Nadi astrology
- Electional Astrology- Vedic Muhurta
- Phonetical astrology- Swar Shaastra
- Planets in astrology
- Tithi
- Indian astronomy
- History of astrology
Notes
- ^ What is Jyotisha Astrology
- ^ "In countries such as India, where only a small intellectual elite has been trained in Western physics, astrology manages to retain here and there its position among the sciences." David Pingree and Robert Gilbert, "Astrology; Astrology In India; Astrology in modern times" Encyclopedia Britannica 2008
- ^ Mohan Rao, Female foeticide: where do we go? Indian Journal of Medical Ethics Oct-Dec2001-9(4) [1]; T. Jayaraman, A judicial blow, Frontline Volume 18 - Issue 12, Jun. 09 - 22, 2001 [2]
- ^ Mc Evilley "The shape of ancient thought", p385 ("The Yavanajataka is the earliest surviving Sanskrit text in horoscopy, and constitute the basis of all later Indian developments in horoscopy", himself quoting David Pingree "The Yavanajataka of Sphujidhvaja" p5)
- ^ David Pingree, Jyotiḥśāstra (J. Gonda (Ed.) A History of Indian Literature, Vol VI Fasc 4), p.81
- ^ Sutton pp.61-64.
- ^ Sanskrit-English Dictionary by Monier-Williams, (c) 1899
- ^ Sutton pp.38-51.
- ^ Sutton p.21.
- ^ Sutton p.21.
- ^ Sutton p.74.
- ^ Charak, Dr. K.S. (1996). Essentials of Medical Astrology, Uma Publications, pp.5-6.
- ^ Sutton pp.93-167.
- ^ Sutton p.168.
- ^ Sutton p.211.
- ^ Sutton pp.26-27.
- ^ Sutton p.227.
- ^ Sutton p.265.
- ^ Sutton pp.25-26.
- ^ Sutton p.96.
- ^ Sutton p.326.
- ^ Sutton pp.61-64.
- ^ Sutton p.11.
- ^ Sutton p.33.
- ^ Sutton p.231-232.
- ^ Sutton, Komilla (2007). Personal Panchanga and the Five Sources of Light, The Wessex Astrologer Ltd, England, p.1.
- ^ David Pingree, review of G. Prakash, Science and the Imagination of Modern India, Journal of the American Oriental Society (2002), p. 154 f.
- ^ Department of Jyotish, Faculty of Sanskrit Vidya Dharma Vijnan Sankaya
- ^ T. Jayaraman, A judicial blow, Frontline Volume 18 - Issue 12, Jun. 09 - 22, 2001 [3]
- ^ Supreme Court questions 'Jyotir Vigyan', Times of India, 3 September 2001 [4]
- ^ Supreme Court: Teaching of astrology no promotion of religion; Introduction of Vedic astrology courses in universities upheld
- ^ Karma, an anthropological inquiry, pg. 134, at http://books.google.com/books?id=49GVZGD8d4oC&pg=PA132&dq=shani+karma&lr=&cd=2#v=onepage&q=shani%20karma&f=false
- ^ Karma, an anthropological inquiry, pg. 134, at http://books.google.com/books?id=49GVZGD8d4oC&pg=PA132&dq=shani+karma&lr=&cd=2#v=onepage&q=shani%20karma&f=false
- ^ Karma, an anthropological inquiry, pg. 134, at http://books.google.com/books?id=49GVZGD8d4oC&pg=PA132&dq=shani+karma&lr=&cd=2#v=onepage&q=shani%20karma&f=false
- ^ Karma, an anthropological inquiry, pgs. 133-134, at http://books.google.com/books?id=49GVZGD8d4oC&pg=PA132&dq=shani+karma&lr=&cd=2#v=onepage&q=shani%20karma&f=false
References
- Sutton, Komilla (1999). The Essentials of Vedic Astrology, The Wessex Astrologer Ltd, England
Bibliography
- Encyclopedic treatments
- Kim Plofker, "South Asian mathematics; The role of astronomy and astrology", Encyclopedia Britannica (online edition, 2008)
- David Pingree and Robert Gilbert, "Astrology; Astrology In India; Astrology in modern times", Encyclopedia Britannica (online edition, 2008)
- "Hindu Chronology", Encyclopædia Britannica Eleventh Edition (1911) [5]
- Academic literature
- David Pingree, "Astronomy and Astrology in India and Iran", Isis - Journal of The History of Science Society (1963), 229-246.
- David Pingree, Jyotiḥśāstra in J. Gonda (ed.) A History of Indian Literature, Vol VI, Fasc 4, Otto Harrassowitz, Wiesbaden (1981).
- Ebenezer Burgess, "On the Origin of the Lunar Division of the Zodiac represented in the Nakshatra System of the Hindus", Journal of the American Oriental Society (1866).
- William D. Whitney, "On the Views of Biot and Weber Respecting the Relations of the Hindu and Chinese Systems of Asterisms"", Journal of the American Oriental Society (1866).
- Satish Chandra, "Religion and State in India and Search for Rationality", Social Scientist (2002).
External links
- Jyotiṣa at the Open Directory Project