What is the function of Vedic Astrology?
Vedic Astrology, also known as “Jyotish,” is the traditional Indian system of astrology, which has been practiced throughout India for thousands of years. Since the 1980s, the subject has gradually gained more recognition in America and Europe. Many Western astrologers have incorporated its techniques into their practices, finding that they can provide accurate insights that would otherwise be unavailable.
The system is used for the following purposes that the book covers in detail:
- It can advise on the essential questions about a person’s life.
- What was I born to do? What talents do I possess that will benefit and serve others, providing me with a livelihood and inner satisfaction? And when will these abilities become available?
- Will I have sufficient financial resources to support myself and my family?
- Will I have satisfactory and happy relationships?
- Will I enter on a spiritual path or be confined to worldly aspirations with karmic consequences?
- Will I have sound health, a successful career, a happy marriage and be financially well off?
- Life will inevitably produce problems. What remedial measures can be taken to mitigate them?
- It is used to determine the auspicious day and time to begin new enterprises or travel to foreign countries.
- The system can be applied to national charts to provide early warning of future wars and natural disasters.
- Humanity is subjected to planetary cycles in which new cultures, societies and nations are created, sustained for a time and eventually dissolved. This system can indicate the timing of such events and the current part of the cycle.
How does it differ from the Western astrological system?
- Vedic Astrology utilises the planetary positions determined by astronomers. Its Western counterpart does not, for it assumes that the Sun at the moment of the Spring Equinox on 20/21 March every year is located at zero degrees Aries. This assumption overlooks the astronomical fact that the Sun is short by 50.7 seconds of arc in its yearly cycle. The two astrological systems were in agreement in 285 AD. Over the centuries, this difference has increased to 24 degrees so that by the early part of the 21st century, the actual Sun’s position at the time of the spring equinox is six degrees Pisces. This error applies to the position of every planet and the ascendant, with some appearing in different signs.
- The Vedic system utilises only nine planets, specifically the Sun, Moon, Mercury, Venus, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Rahu, and Ketu. Western astrologers also include the three outer planets — Uranus, Neptune, and Pluto — as well as the moons of some planets and the largest asteroids, making the system complex.
- Different primary focus. The Western approach focuses on helping people understand their psychological makeup, which affects their behaviour and actions and differs significantly from the Vedic approach mentioned above.
- Vedic Astrology applies unique methods for determining the timing of events in a person’s and a nation’s life.
Sage Parashara, an enlightened Indian, first expressed the detailed rules for applying the Vedic system over two thousand years ago. These were compiled in a text, Brihat Parashara Hora Shastra, written in Sanskrit, which serves as the primary source for the information used in Principles of Vedic Astrology. The system is highly respected in India and elsewhere for its accuracy when applied by a skilful astrologer.
Western astrology has evolved through empirical research into cosmic influences based on studying thousands of charts. Consequently, astrological techniques have been amended over time as new planets, Moons, and asteroids have been discovered.
What resources are needed to study the subject?
Specialised astrological computer software is needed to produce charts, tables, and graphs that involve thousands of calculations. Two such Windows-based systems are recommended in the book. Kala Vedic Astrology Software is available to purchase at Vedic-Astrology.net. And Shri Jyoti Star 10 is available as a free basic version on the Microsoft Store, along with a large, advanced version that can be rented for a small monthly fee. Free software with limited capabilities, as well as sophisticated Windows-based systems, are available elsewhere on the internet and in apps. There is some uncertainty regarding the availability of Vedic astrology software that can run on Mac computers.