Vedic Astrology: The Ultimate Guide to Hindu Astrology and the 12 Zodiac Signs

© Copyright 2020

The contents of this book may not be reproduced, duplicated or transmitted without direct written permission from the author.

Under no circumstances will any legal responsibility or blame be held against the publisher for any reparation, damages, or monetary loss due to the information herein, either directly or indirectly.

Legal Notice:

This book is copyright protected. This is only for personal use. You cannot amend, distribute, sell, use, quote or paraphrase any part or the content within this book without the consent of the author.

Disclaimer Notice:

Please note the information contained within this document is for educational and entertainment purposes only. Every attempt has been made to provide accurate, up to date and reliable complete information. No warranties of any kind are expressed or implied. Readers acknowledge that the author is not engaging in the rendering of legal, financial, medical or professional advice. The content of this book has been derived from various sources. Please consult a licensed professional before attempting any techniques outlined in this book.

By reading this document, the reader agrees that under no circumstances is the author responsible for any losses, direct or indirect, which are incurred as a result of the use of information contained within this document, including, but not limited to, errors, omissions, or inaccuracies.

Your Free Gift

Thanks for downloading this book! If you want to learn more about various spirituality topics, then join Mari Silva's community and get a free guided meditation MP3 for awakening your third eye. This guided meditation mp3 is designed to open and strengthen ones third eye so you can experience a higher state of consciousness.

Click here to download the free guided meditation MP3 for awakening your third eye

Introduction

Vedic Astrology or Jyotishya is a gift to the world from ancient India, predating the Christian era. This science is not experimentally contrived but perceived through the power of enlightened vision by ancient sages and seers, notably among them, Sage Parashara, believed to be the original author of the Vedic texts.

Vedic Astrology is the need of the hour considering the confusing milieu that boggles the modern world. Despite the apparent achievement of high levels of modern materialistic comfort, we are still doggedly pursuing sustainable happiness. The primary reason for this dichotomy is that we don't seem to know or accept that each of us is unique and has different needs and life purposes.

Vedic Astrology is a tool of wisdom gifted to us by the ancient seers of India to help us understand this uniqueness of our individuality so we can follow the path of our personal life purpose.

This book is written with the view of teaching the basics of Vedic Astrology to the beginner. And yet, people who already have a reasonably sound knowledge of this fascinating and vast subject will benefit from it. The book contains numerous aspects of Vedic Astrology within its covers. Knowing you can access a wide variety of topics without having to shift from one book to another is a great advantage for both new and experienced learners.

Starting from the most basic part, namely a simple yet powerful introduction to this ancient but timeless subject - right up to the complex and layered topic of Ashtakavarga tables, this book is great for all those interested in Vedic Astrology. Furthermore, this book is up-to-date and comprehensive, giving both beginners and experts the perfect combination to learn and refresh their knowledge on the various subtopics of Jyotishya.

A beginner can start from Chapter 1 and learn step-by-step as the complexity increases. An expert could just flip through the table of contents and choose a topic he or she needs to access immediately and clear any doubt arising at the moment. Therefore, although it is a beginner book, it can be a valuable addition for an expert too.

Chapter 1: Introduction to Ancient Vedic Astrological Texts

Centuries ago, India's ancient sages and rishis had spoken about the now-popular concept of self-awareness, which is proven to be highly beneficial for the growth and development of an individual. The ancient seers said, Self-knowledge is the basis of all knowledge. The more you know about yourself, the better your ability to assimilate external knowledge learned from books, teachers, guides, and mentors.

Learning about yourself includes knowing the effects of the planetary system on your life, which is what Vedic Astrology or Jyotishya is about. Jyotish, in Sanskrit, translates as the science of light. It is an important limb of the Vedas, the ancient sacred texts of India, and the Sanatana Dharma, which the western world knows as Hinduism. Jyotish is referred to with other names and different spellings, including:

•  Jyotisha

•  Jyotishya

•  Hindu Astrology

•  Vedic Astrology

•  Indian Astrology

The term Hindu Astrology has been in use since the beginning of the 19th century. Vedic Astrology gained prominence, especially in the western world, around the 1970s, thanks to Yoga and Ayurveda's spread. Vedanga Jyotishya is one of the earliest astronomical texts found within the Vedas, dated many centuries before Christ's birth.

Vedic Astrology is based on two primary concepts in Hinduism, namely karma and rebirth. Simplistically put, in Hinduism, the law of Karma states we live and work within certain parameters and limitations created by actions or karma performed in our previous lifetimes. Therefore, it is possible to predict our future through Vedic Astrology, which has the power to demonstrate which of the previous karma will come to fruition in the present lifetime.

And it paves the path to spiritual development by showing how individuals can improve their quality of life through the practice of higher thoughts and better living.

History of Vedic Astrology

There are six Vedangas, the auxiliary disciplines of the Indian Vedic System of learning. These six Vedangas or branches of studies are essential for the support of Vedic rituals and education. They are:

•  Shiksha (Phonetics)

•  Kalpa (Ritual Canon)

•  Vyakaran (Grammar)

•  Nirukta (Explanation)

•  Chhanda (Vedic Meter)

•  Jyotishya (Astrology)

Vedanga Jyotishya is one of the earliest known texts on Vedic Astrology. The extant work is dated to the last few centuries B.C. But it is strongly believed that the Vedanga Jyotishya describes a tradition that goes back at least to 600-700 B.C.

The Vedanga Jyotishya is highly relevant to the dating of the Vedas because it depicts the winter solstice for the period around 1400 B.C. This story of the winter solstice is used to discover the antiquity of the Vedas. There are two versions of the Vedanga Jyotishya, one for the Rig Veda and a second one for the Yajur Veda. Both these recensions have the same verses except for eight extra verses in the Yajur Veda recension.

Experts believe that the description of the winter solstice around 1400 B.C. means the text was written around the same time. Other experts felt this period's narrative does not mean it was written then because it could have been recorded later. Regardless of its antiquity, Vedanga Jyotishya being a significant auxiliary discipline to the study of the Vedas, reflect the criticality of Vedic Astrology in Sanatana Dharma.

The ancient practice of Jyotishya was an important aspect of Vedic rituals, especially to determine the auspicious time and date of yogic events for optimal benefits for all concerned. In multiple Hindu scriptures like the Chandogya Upanishad and the Atharva Veda, there are warnings of demonic eclipses we should be cautious of and do the preparation needed for protection against their negative influence. Chandogya Upanishad talks of Rahu being a shadowy figure responsible for eclipse occurrences, an accurate analogical explanation of eclipses, according to modern science.

Today, the Sanskrit word, "Graha means planet. But Graha actually translates to demon." The foundation of Vedic Astrology lies in the core principle of Sanatana Dharma, which believes there is an infallible connection between the macrocosm and the microcosm. Jyotish is like a lens through which we can gain insight about our lives and understand our extended life, which includes the bigger picture, both in the materialistic and the metaphysical world. What happens to an individual is affected by what happens in the outside world, including the vast astronomical spaces beyond the realm of humans.

Ancient Classical Texts of Vedic Astrology

Many classical texts of Vedic Astrology have been in use from ancient times to the present day. Important names that come to mind when discussing ancient texts are Parashar, Varahamihir, and Jaimini. Let us look at the most important works written by these famous authors and others.

Brihat Parashara Hora Shastra

Believed to have been created by Sage Parashara, a highly learned rishi of the ancient Vedic period, the original version of this large, extant text is supposed to have had 100 chapters. However, no one has the text in its full form. The current form has 13 chapters.

Nearly all scholars agree that the Brihat Parashara Hora Shastra is