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Introduction to Jyotish
Author: Krishna Darshan - Alan Wiuker
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Vedic astrology is therefore spiritual by nature, and aims to help to understand the personal
Karma, to be able to correct it, unidentified with it, and eventually be free of its bondage to dwell
fully in our divine inner nature, the immortal Soul or "Atman".
The Rishis knew, thousands of years before the invention of the telescope, very advanced
astronomical principles. They knew that the earth and planets orbit around the Sun and could
calculate their position very precisely, and they understood their function as the instruments or
agents by which the law of Karma operates.
Jyotish is one of the 6 "vedangas" or limbs of the Vedas, 6 sciences which are to be studied
beforw being able to understand fully and practice the Vedic teaching.
Each of the vedangas represent one limb of the Vedas, and Jyotish is called "The eye of the
Vedas"
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Karma:
Karma is the universal law of action and reaction, cause and effect.
Every action we perform, starting from the very thought and intention behind it, will sow a seed
that will sprout and later bear a fruit which we will have to reap, a life situation which we will
have to experience, which could be pleasant or painful, depending on the type of action.
Life is a school towards illumination and perfect happiness, were we learn by experience and
error.
Every selfish or harmful action generates a situation of suffering that will teach us the lesson, and
every generous, selfless, loving and detached action will create a more favorable situation for
happiness and illumination.
The effects of an action may manifest after long time, therefore one life is not enough to work it
all out, especially since we are creating new karma while experiencing the results of the previous
one.
That is the cause of reincarnation, as a form to continue the learning process and experience the
karmic debts from the past.
When we are born, we don't do it just by "chance" in a particular place and time, but in the
condition which is the ripening of the previous actions or Karma, were we will continue what we
left unfinished in the past.
The Vedas declare that the planets and stars are the instruments of God by which Karma operates,
and by analyzing their position in the sky at the moment of birth we can understand the "prarabda
karma" - the portion of the past karma that will manifest in this life, as well as the creative tools
or potentials to create a new Karma.
The Vedic and yogic view is not "fatalist" and emphasizes that through the "agami"or
"kriyamana" karma, the karma that we create in this life by our actions, we can correct our past
actions and create a new destiny. It is here where we have the free will to choose in which
direction we project our life, and sow the future.
There is also a part of the Karma that we cannot change, and we need to understand it and work it
out. So aceptance of that Karma with detachment, wisdom and surender to God's will is also
important for inner peace.
The philosophy of Vedic astrology goes hand to hand with the practice of Yoga, the powerful
path of self discipline by which the soul can develop it's higher spiritual potentials, enabling him
to go beyond the bondage of Karma, and attain "Moksha", liberation or illumination.
Jyotish can show us the "samskaras"or mental tendencies and deep-rooted patterns that we bring
from the past, that are the cause of our present and future situations, but it is Yoga that is the
method by which one can change those samskaras and liberate oneself from their grip.
As an analogy we can say that Jyotish can show you the battlefield of this life, and which are
your friends, allies and foes, but Yoga is the powerful weapon by which you fight and win the
battle.
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There are many important differences between the western and Vedic systems of astrology.
One of the most important one is that western astrology uses the “tropical” zodiac, considering
the vernal equinox as the 0 degree of Aries, but there is a phenomena called the precesion of the
echinoxes, and every year it goes back a fraction of degree. Now a days the vernal echinoxe takes
place in Pices about 4 degrees. So there is a difference of around -24 degrees. This difference is
called the “Ayanamsha” and is the base of the “Sidereal” Zodiac, used in Vedic astrology. So the
western tropical zodiac is more a kind of symbolic or archetypical zodiac but it doesn’t reflect the
real position of the planets in relation with the stars and the universe, but is more based in the
relation between the Sun and the Earth and the seasons, and therefore, more concerned about the
worldly matters, while the Sidereal zodiac used in Vedic astrology is very precise in making
accurate predictions, and for understanding the relationship of the individual with the entire
universe, and is more suitable for spiritual maters.
Becose of the diferent zodiac sistems, the position of the planets will be diferent in the chart, and
many planets will be in a previous sign, creating a whole diferent chart.
Another point is that vedic astrology is a Moon based sistem, instead of the Sun based sistem in
western. A special importance is given to the ascendant as well.
Even though the Sun is the soul of the universe and has an importan signification, all the
experience of the individual take place on the mind, and that is seen on the Moon. The Moon is
the “prana” or vital force in each individual and each action, wich will determine his actions,
reaction and therefore, Karma.
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Another important factor to understand is that unlike the western system, the Vedic understanding
of the birth chart is thet it represents the “maya” or illusion of the person. The Yogi does not
identify with it, but rather understands that the chart represents the ignorant tendency of the mind
to cling to a personality, which actually limits and prevents the spiritual experience, the
realization of the true Self.
The planets show the karma, and karma means bondage to the material consciousness, it is
something that the Yogi wants to liberate from, and not strength the identification with it.
We can clearly see that the western culture in general is based on strengthening and identifying
with the ego and uses astrology to justify the personality.
Even many modern Vedic astrologers who only study the astrological techniques, without the
knowledge of Vedanta philosophy and study of the Vedas and without a personal Sadhana or
experience in yoga and meditation, tend to do the same mistake.
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