Last updated on November 6th, 2022 at 10:33 pm
What is astrology?
Astrology is the science of stars, which examines the positions of planets and other heavenly bodies and concentrates on the study of the effects of these positions of living beings.
The term astrology comes from the Latin word astrologia, which translates to the science and study of the stars.
Astrology is deeply linked with astronomy, which is the science that studies all the celestial objects. Hence, all the scientific details including the physical properties of celestial objects play a major role in determining the exact effect on human being and their behavior.
As a part of astrology is metaphysical, intuition must be harnessed to understand how it affects humans. That is, some of the effects that are caused as per astrological indications, are intangible or ard to explain practically.
At the same time, this science involves real objects that have physical properties and can be interpreted with mathematical formulas and scientific properties. Similarly, the astrological birth chart is created using mathematical formulas that reflect the positioning of these celestial objects.
In addition to that, even though many astrological predictions fail which is part of learning and gaining experience, the effects and accuracy of astrology are tested and proven throughout the history of the human race.
That is why it is considered real science, which at the same time has a metaphysical effect, that cannot be seen or touched. The latter is also the reason why a large part of the scientific community denies that astrology is real science.
This is actually more of a blessing because according to spiritual and religious scriptures, most of life happens in the hidden parts of the world that human eyes can not record.
In fact, the human eye can only see a tiny fraction of energies around us, which is proven by science. Please see the image illustration below.
Nikola Tesla once quoted that all life is built on wavelengths which are included in the image above. Hence, this indicates that the human eye can not see most of the energies and events that happen around us. The only way to understand hidden energies is to become spiritually more aware which is the main function of Jyotish or Vedic astrology.
What is Vedic sidereal astrology aka Jyotish?
To begin with, Jyotish is the original name of Vedic astrology (aka Hindu and Indian astrology) which is an important part of Indian traditions. Actually, it was never called astrology but is recognized as this science because it is similar to astrology. Jyotish is an important part of Vedas which is a large set of religious texts and contains the oldest scriptures of Hinduism. Hinduism is a monotheistic religion based on the study of creation, righteousness, and ultimately achieving salvation.
Hindus recognise one God, Brahman, the eternal origin who is the cause and foundation of all existence.
Hinduism
Jyotish is derived from the Sanskrit word “jyoti” which means light. Hence, Jyotish is the science of light in its purest form because being inspired by religious wisdom.
To dive even deeper, astronomy, or the science of physical objects is integrated with religious wisdom in order to understand the spiritual side of life through the signs of nature or the creation of God.
Herein the spiritual part of Vedic astrology deals with energies that are unseen and holy. These are the energies that must be felt within the heart.
The best and most beautiful things in the world cannot be seen or even touched, they must be felt with the heart.
Helen Keller
Timing system
Vedic astrology uses the sidereal system which observes the actual star or nakshatra positions of the planets.
By using a sidereal timing system it is possible to make more precise interpretations that are in full accordance with the cosmic climate as the planets are accurately aligned with the actual star positions.
Why are outer planets, Uranus, Neptune, and Pluto not practiced in Vedic astrology?
The reason for this is that these planets are outer planets of our Solar system that cannot be observed with the naked eye without a telescope. Because of that, these planets have a less direct effect on life on Earth.
In fact, in addition to these outer planets, there are also other objects (after Pluto) that might be orbiting our solar system but these do not have to be necessarily included in birth chart readings of Earthlings.
As inner planets can be seen with the naked eye, they are said to give a direct effect on us and material reality. This is why ancient sages of astrology adapted these planets into the system called Vedic astrology or Jyotish in Hindi.
What is the difference between Vedic sidereal and western tropical astrology?
Vedic astrology (Jyotish) is recognized as sidereal astrology in modern days. The fundamental astronomical difference between tropical and sidereal astrology is that they use different timing systems wherein a sidereal timing system is applied in Vedic astrology.
The sidereal timekeeping system is actually used by astronomers to keep track of Celestial Objects and their actual positions in the sky.
The word sidereal is derived from the Latin word sidus which means star or nakshatra.
More on Sidereal time system on Wikipedia
This means that the length of a sidereal year is the actual time that takes for the Sun to make a full circle and return to the same position with respect to the star or nakshatra as it started.
To be specific, the length of a sidereal day is 23 hours 56 minutes, and 4 seconds. Accordingly, the sidereal year becomes about 20 minutes longer when compared to the tropical year due to the precession of the equinox.
Why are my tropical and sidereal zodiac signs different?
This difference is caused by the precession of the Vernal equinox which means that the rotational axis of the Earth is shifting slowly and it takes 25,800 years for the axis of Earth to make a full rotation.
Tropical astrology fixes the vernal equinox of the Northern Hemisphere to 0 degrees of Aries, which in other words is the Sun’s position at the March equinox. The precession of the equinox is not considered in this system and therefore rest of the zodiac circle is defined from this point.
However, the sidereal system defines all zodiac signs from the point relative to the motion of stars due to the precession of the equinox.
Accordingly, the two systems become different as they drift 1 degree apart every 72 years, as one system accommodates the precession of equinox while another does not.
As a result of this difference, the positions of planets in the tropical birth charts in modern days are also drifted apart from their actual positions in the sky with respect to the stars or nakshatras.
Why is tropical astrology still used when there is such a difference?
When tropical astrology was adopted during the Hellenistic period (323 – 32 BC), the difference between sidereal and tropical was very small.
Hence, during the time when tropical astrology was taken into use, the tropical and sidereal zodiacs lined up almost perfectly.
This also means that tropical birth chart calculations made back in that time were almost in synch with actual star positions.
Back in these times, 0 degrees of Aries of Vernal Equinox (aka First Point Of Aries) corresponded to the actual Aries constellation. However, due to the precession of the equinox, it no longer does correlate in tropical western astrology.
As the equinox shifts approximately 1 degree every 72 years, the Earth’s axis has drifted to approximately 6 degrees of Pisces during the time from the Hellenistic period to the present day and age. It will drift to Aquarius by the year 2600.
Accordingly, the difference is approximately 23 degrees today which is almost the span of a full sign of 30 degrees.
According to all of this information, many planets are misaligned in the tropical birth chart from actual positions in the sky during birth. That is why sidereal and tropical birth charts are different.
However, in the sidereal birth chart, the misalignment is corrected using a special correction degree which is called Ayanamsha.
Ayanamsha
Now when it comes to the calculation of the birth chart using a modern calendar, which is accommodated with the tropical year (which is approximately 20 minutes shorter than a sidereal year), it comes to conflict with the real positioning of the Sun and other planets with the respect of star positions.
As a result, the planetary positions are out of synchronization in a tropical birth chart with respect to the actual positions of planets.
In Vedic sidereal astrology, however, the correction degree synchronizes the modern calendar year with an actual cosmic calendar (sidereal solar year) automatically.
The term is called Ayanamsha in Vedic astrology. To be specific, the most accurate True Lahiri/Chitrapaksha Ayanamsha, which is currently exactly 22.46047 degrees is added during the calculation of the birth chart which synchronizes the drift of the equinox.
As a result, we get a precise position of the planets with respect to actual star positions as a result.
The Ayanamsha will take care that the accurate sidereal calculations will be precise while the equinox continues to drift 1 degree westwards every 72 years.
For the same reason, Ayanamsha can be simply called the difference of degree between tropical and sidereal planetary positions, whereas the sidereal is true and shows actual planetary degrees.
For instance, when you were born on 10th September 1994, your actual and true Sun sign is Leo (sidereal), and not Virgo (tropical).
This is why the Sun sign in tropical or western astrology birth chart is different when compared to the Vedic sidereal astrology birth chart.
Probably most of you, who have different Sun signs in tropical and sidereal, can actually more relate to the sidereal Sun sign as per character and inner soul.
Let us see what people from the community say
Vedic Weekday
This also means that the actual sidereal birthday is different from the birthday in the calendar when a person is born. The actual birthday is termed Vedic Weekday which carries a lot of importance because each day is ruled by each planet.
For instance, when a person was born on the Vedic weekday of Wednesday, it means that this soul was sent to earth by Mercury or Hermes which gives a lot of information about the soul purpose of the native.
As the zodiac signs are different in both astrological branches, it means that the characteristics of zodiac signs are also a bit different. In tropical, the characteristics must be adapted and changed accordingly with the precession of equinox while in sidereal the characteristics of zodiac signs remain the same from the beginning of ages till today.
This is why in sidereal, it is possible to rely on ancient scriptures while reading birth charts.
This is also why readings in tropical and Vedic astrology are done differently. Both lead to correct and precise results but from a completely different angle. For instance, the planetary lordships and aspects are completely different in both systems.
In fact, there is also a branch called western sidereal astrology which uses same timing system as Vedic does. The aspect and planetary lordship system remains different.
Proof
Proof of this can be examined using plain eyesight as well. If you look at the night sky and find a planet in a specific position with respect to the stars, you can see that your sidereal birth chart has exact same actual position while the tropical western chart has another position that in the actual sky.
If you have no experience in finding planets with the naked eye, you can use an astronomical application, such as Stellarium in order to see actual planetary positions and compare it to the Vedic sidereal astrology birth chart of the same date and time when you are observing the sky.
Example of 17.02.2020
Astrology, Philosophy & Religion
To begin with, originally Jyotish which is nowadays known as Vedic astrology is and never was any branch of witchcraft because it studies the creation to understand the challenges on Earth and how to navigate through them to attain salvation or reunite with the creator, one and only almighty God.
The calculations from heavenly bodies are always the same and do not change with the help of magic or unnatural evil beings. However, the science is negatively used by many crafty people which BPHS warns about in the first chapter, the creation.
In religion, the exploitation of witchcraft or magic is strongly prohibited as it means going against the will of God by attempting to alter the destiny of events and people. Doing anything that opposes the almighty God is indeed sinful, and ancient Sages strongly expressed this in a variety of ways.
Jyotish concentrates on actual facts and provides wisdom to deal with reality instead of seeking surrealistic ways to artificially increase fortune. Everything in this universe functions by the will of God which Jyotish tries to prove to us. By looking at our Kundli charts, we can acknowledge who we are and why we are here to help synchronize our souls with the will of God.
Ancient astrology or Jyotish is based entirely on Dharma or righteousness which means that it is originally recorded by supreme Sages or saints through the guidance of God and archangels. It is created for humans to become enlightened through wisdom and find the path back to Almighty God.
The Creation Chapter
As mentioned in the beginning, Hindus, just like other religious people based on righteous principles, recognize only one true God and the owner of everything, including the objects in the vast universe.
In modern days, a lot of things are taken out of context from all religious texts including those related to Hinduism, and altered in crafty ways for personal comfort which is probably caused due to a lack of spiritual discipline or misunderstandings.
Of course, as in other religions, there have been formed many divisions from original Hindu scriptures over a long period of time which causes loss of original information and major translation errors.
Therefore, some people nowadays started to worship planets and angels (mistakenly translated as demi deities by many people) which is wrong on all levels and can lead astray unless the proper path is regained.
To prove this matter, let us have a look at an important verse from the Bhagavad Gita, which is the original holy scripture of Hinduism.
“Worshipers of the demig**s go to the demig**s, worshipers of the ancestors go to the ancestors, worshipers of the ghosts and spirits go to the ghosts and spirits, and my (God) worshipers certainly come to me (Sole Creator, God),”
Bhagavad Gita 9:25
Angels are superior to humans and our supporters, protectors, and messengers, which makes sense why some are tempted to worship them, but it is important to know that they also belong to one almighty God.
God created them before humans to follow his orders directly. Angels (Hanuman, Gabriel, Ophanim, etc as seen in different holy scriptures) carry out the orders of God, help humans to get closer to God, and brings guidance, protection, and messages to help humans in their path toward righteousness. Herein Angels instruct humans to worship and give all devotion to our sole creator, the almighty God.
I can totally understand that some people might be upset. However, this (making someone upset) is not my intention. My sincere intention is to find similarities between nations to help reduce misunderstandings and avoid major clashes. To get a better idea of my intention, let us see this matter from the perspective of Hinduism. Would the one and only almighty creator send avatars in order to distract their nation from their straight (righteous) path? Absolutely no! God sent avatars, which are understood as angels by middle eastern and western people, in order to protect us and help keep the straight path. To delve even further, by shifting the focus from the almighty God to avatars or angels sent by God, it is possible to offend both the angels and God which can lead to deprivation of angelic protection.
Strongly emphasized, it is always important to worship only one true God, for he is the only one worthy of complete devotion, gratitude, and worship.
Jyotish or the science of astronomy is considered one important part of Vedanga, which is the collection of important teachings in Hinduism. In fact, Hinduism is the oldest religion formed around 7000 BCE which concentrates entirely on righteousness just like the religious teachings of all other religions in the world formed throughout time.
With that being said, Jyotish, the study of light or creation also teaches that there is only one source of every beginning, only one and only almighty God.
The Question We Ask Ourselves
So is ultimately learning Astrology the right thing to do? According to religious texts, no. Even Vedic texts (BPHS) warn us about the dangers of it and that most people will use it for selfish purposes in crafty tactics. Vedic, which is a purely intended way of learning stars, is meant for God-fearing people according to BPHS. In Abrahamic religions, it is taught that the mistake of Eve & Adam was to disobey and eat from the tree of knowledge. After having done that, they tasted what is it like to know good and evil. So they were then expelled from the Garden to the current system where energies such as debilitations and immaturities are present that are carriers of evil.
So the moral of the story is clear. Why one must question the creation of God when they were provided for abundantly and protected? Soon after, Adam repented and was promised ways (guidance) to reenter heavenly destinations.
Soon after Adam, another Prophet named Idris (Enoch) learned to write and started studying the effects of stars (part of creation) on Earth. Enoch ascended to Heaven alive and his work is known to be lost. Later, in a similar way, Aryan people started Vedic studies to build a map to navigate back to God through the mess of good and evil. This was effective back them helping to arrange people into groups and tasks effectively. However, as time passed, many sects grew and efficiency decreased leading to more confusion than clarity. Fast forward to The Last Prophet [PBUH], the final and most significant revelation promised to Adam was finally released by God via The Messenger Of God, which concentrates on the ultimate truth and presents the straightest path (efficient) to attaining salvation, the ultimate fulfillment of each and every soul on Earth. The straightest path is to submit oneself (12th) fully to God, increase religious discipline (to protect from sinful tendencies) and become righteous to attract extra support from God which is helpful for salvation but far from the only important thing. What a precious and most miraculous gift is that for us sinners!
My personal thought is that as the stars indicate both good and bad things, this science is actually similar (I Do Not Know How Much Though) to the fruit of the tree from the Garden. Why one must seek knowledge from stars if one intends to perform piously with full trust in the future, which is in God’s hand whether we know it or not. While ideally, one shouldn’t question existence, because of confusion many people nowadays still learn it with good intent to find the path out of the mess. However, as we already tasted it (Vedic students), we must carry increased responsibilities, even when having good intent behind learning. While speaking about it, the shortcut out of the mess is to get rid of negative patterns and increase religious devotion and spiritual purity.
My personal way to carry this responsibility is to use this science as a platform to explain to people that stars are part of creation. As we are near the beginning of great new times (we are ending Kali Yuga), people are more drawn to sciences that have visible objects, such as astrology, which are useful for modern life and unarguably give worldly benefits when learned. But, I truly believe that integrating higher values with intelligent studies improves well being of every person on Earth as this motivates us to apply knowledge righteously yielding lasting blessings both in this life and hereafter. Worldly success should never compromise nor hinder religious progress.
In the world of material, people start to rely on their senses of visibility more than what is intangible inside their hearts which is the reason why people become less devoted to religious discipline. However, the balance must be regained. Hence, it makes a perfect platform to get the (full) attention of (massive amounts of) people and prove that submitting to God, our one and only creator is the true straightest way back to Heaven.
Whereas astrology just explains good and bad things happening on Earth which will expire while the love of God is ETERNAL. Just imagine that! So if you really have to learn Vedic from curiosity, I hope this platform will get you back on track and closer to God Almighty. Use the Vedic science for good purposes only as directed in BPHS the creation chapter, otherwise, it bestows woes.
With enthusiasm, I strive to express this Vedic science in an original and pure way according to Sages, to make it as auspicious as possible for Vedic learners, and try my hardest to direct them to a straight path. To get rid of (or lessen) the grip (Graha) of curses of this Earth, one must increase spiritual devotion and pray regularly towards one and only Creator, God Almighty, who has no image but can be only felt in the heart. Try it [no excuses accepted] and I promise it will improve life manyfold. After all, souls need faith and salvation, not the other way around.