What is Astrology?

Understanding What is Astrology? Indian Vedic Astrology Definition and Basic Concept

Astrology is a very old science which is practiced in different parts of the world in different forms. In India Vedic astrology is more than seven thousand years old which was practiced by Indian saints like saint Prasahara.

Astrology is a concept which basically derived from 12 houses, 7 planets and 2 Nodes and predictions are carved out on the basis of their transits in the sky. Every human has good and bad periods in their life which bring happiness and sadness to them. If we map this event to astrology, good time generally has the backing of benefic planets that are working positively in one horoscope, where as as bad periods are marked with the malefic planets dasa or antardasa in one birth chart. So we can imagine the casting effect of this planet which are having direct connection to one life and there importance cannot be underestimated.

As when the good time comes, it generally passes with ease but when bad time knocks at the door then we generally put the blame on destiny and further, it becomes very difficult to judge why things are going in an adverse way. In this way getting out of that peculiar situation becomes difficult.

From astrology point of view, as stated above bad time can be mapped to the ongoing transits and solutions can be given by looking out one birth chart. Thus astrology is science, religion of its own that can give helping hand to the distressed people in their bad times.

Different Branches of Astrology

Astrology is having different branches and each subdivision has its own significance and importance:

Western Astrology

Under this branch, main importance is given to Sun and on the basis of Sun sign physical traits, looks and other important aspects are being carved out. Sun is the dominating force in western astrology.

Apart from that, Uranus and Pluto are included in western astrology where as in Vedic astrology, these two planets are not evaluated.

In western astrology, aspects also give prime importance which plays a major role in casting predictions.

Indian Vedic Astrology

This is the mother of all branches of astrology. In Vedic astrology, main importance is given to Moon as compared to western astrology where the sun gives prime importance. The moon is soul, mind and without soul body cannot exist.

"Horoscope Matching" which is an important concept in Vedic astrology is being done through the help of Moon sign and Birth Nakshatra (Asterism). In Vedic astrology there are 12 houses, 7 planets, 2 nodes, 27 Nakshtras (Constellations) which give important significations at the time of making predictions.

There is a concept of "Divisional charts" in Vedic Indian astrology. Under this section, there are charts which judge the strength of planets and houses in our different areas of life which further give more power to predictions. For ex- for testing the wealth area D2 (Hora) chart, for children D-7 (Saptamansha) chart, for Marriage ( D-9 ) charts are evaluated which give further clues for making predictions.

In Vedic astrology, to further test the strength of planets, there are various tools like "shad Bala" and "vimpoksa Bala" which give guiding clues whether planets are beneficial or malefic in one horoscope and in what quantum. There are various parameters which are evaluated in both of these tools.

In Vedic astrology every planet gives 7th aspect from its position to where it is situated in one horoscope. For ex- Mars in 1st house will also gives aspect to 7th house in the birth chart and its role would be equally important when making predictions for 7th house. Apart from 7th aspect Mars, Jupiter and Saturn have special aspects which further had to be studied. Mars give aspect to 4th house and 8th house. Jupiter gives an aspect to 5th house and 9th house and Saturn gives an aspect to 3rd house and 10th house from its own position in the birth horoscope.

There is a concept of Retrograde and combustion too in Vedic astrology. Generally planets move forward in their transits, but at times planet behaves as they are moving in opposite directions. This phenomenon is called as retrograde.

When particular planet comes very near to the sun in transits then it becomes compost. So both these procedures hold equal importance in making predictions.

Last but not the least is a concept of dasha mahadasha-antardasa from which predictions are carved out by studying birth chart and taking note of ongoing transits in the chart. Thus by studying all these concepts, an astrologer can tell about fortune and if necessary can provide astrological remedies as well.

Horary Astrology

This type of astrology is also called as prasna astrology. To this type of astrology, prime importance is given to date, time and place of question and on the basis of that prediction Is being given in person. In this astrology, date, time and place of birth is not used. Sometimes the serious question comes to our mind and that particular moment will be recorded as birth details of questions which should be given to astrologer and on the basis of that chart is cast and conclusions are provided by the astrologer.

Tajik Astrology

This astrology is basically used for carving predictions for the year. In other words, what the year had in store for us in the forthcoming time. Under this section on astrology basically when the sun reaches the same longitude as it was in the birth chart, solar chart is made and positions of planets are studied in that chart. Under this section, predictions are made from one birthday to his/her next birthday.

In this section as well there are important concepts and some of them are:-

Muntha

Muntha is situated in Lagna ( Ascendant) at the time of birth. Every year muntha moves one sign ahead in birth chart. For ex- if Muntha is in Aries in 1st house, next year muntha will go with Taurus in the 2nd house and so on and so forth. Muntha assessment is important when making predictions for yearly astrology.

Munthesh

House lord of muntha is called munthesh and its situation in the solar return chart had to be seen as well in order to reach to any conclusion.

Yearly Lord

Under this section, powerful planet for that solar return year is yearly lord. Its assessment is very vital to judge scenario in the chart.

Mudda Dasa

This is the short form of vimshottari dasa. Here ongoing dasa-antardasa of planets is looked to give yearly predictions.

Thus it can be judged that this subdivision of astrology has much more to give which can forsee positive or negative period that may come in the year ahead.

Muhuratha Astrology

Under this section. Timing to undertake auspicious activities is carved out by looking out various parameters. In India, to undertake any auspicious activity, peoples take out the auspicious time from astrologers, so that they can get success.

Now comes the question of various parameters. To be precise various parameters are:-

Tithi

Overall there are 30 Tithis (days) and these are divided into 2 parts. Shukla (brighter part) and Krishna paksha (darker half). This tithis is based on the position of the moon. In this table some tithis are good while in some tithis auspicious work is prohibited.

Nakshatra

Overall there are 27 Nakshatras and some nakshatras are auspicious for a particular task but bad for others. For ex- Punarvasu Nakshatra will be good for undertaking religious activities, while Dhanistha Nakshatra would be good for legal battle etc.

Yoga

As like Nakshatra there is a concept of yoga too. Yoga for the day had to be checked in order to ascertain the auspiciousness. In this case also some yogas are good while others are bad.

Karana

Half part of tithi is called as karana. Out of that "Vishti" Karana is inauspicious and any auspicious activities are prohibited in this half part of tithi.

Rahu Kaal

This period comes in each day for some period of time and that time should be avoided to do any auspicious work.

Apart from that, there are numerous other parameters that had to be looked as well in order to give 1 line answer for muhuratha.

Palmistry

Though in real sense, it does not come directly under the astrology section, but as palmistry also unfolds the future and it is also the ancient science, so indirectly it had relation to astrology as well.

Palmistry is based totally on lines in the hands and mounts which are located on finger base. On the basis of that, palmist studies hand and try to diagnose the future. There are several lines like fate line, head line, heart line, life line, rascettes, travel line which gives guiding clues to palmist about the future.

Apart from that there are various mounts like a mount of Jupiter, Saturn, mercury, Sun etc which unveils specific traits of an individual. Even by looking out a thumb, palmist will able to give you various clues relating to your personality.

Astro-Numerology

This branch of astrology is dealt in numbers and on the basis of numbers derived, predictions are made. In this sub branch of astrology various numbers are allotted to all planets and on the basis of one birth date and different kind of parameters, a series of different type of numbers is taken through which predictions are carved out.

For Ex- If DOB is 1/1/1911 total sum comes for DOB is 14 and again 1+4 is added and it becomes 5. 5 numbers in Astro-numerology is for Mercury, so for that person Mercury holds important place and one would put lots of energy into thinking before taking any action. One will use his/her communication skills to get maximum benefits. As Mercury is of dual element, so one can change according to circumstances as well.

Thus much more can be extracted by getting numbers according to different parameters and predictions are made just by numbers.

Vastu

Vastu is an ancient science of India which helps one to make life happy by altering the house so by that consideration we can include "Vastu" as part of astrology. As often we heard that house owner is sick most of the times or there is one problem or the other in homes and finding solutions to that at times gets difficult.

If we go by vastu point, every room has its best location where it can get maximum positive energy and if that location is altered, then positive energy gets broken which disrupt positive vibes and may bring problems.

For Ex- If any member of the family is sleeping below the beam, He/She may suffers from mental stress or burden and ultimately and occasionally one will complain of headaches and other mental disorders.

Similarly the ideal location for your lockers will be Northern side. If location of lockers is not right the there will be financial problems in house. Thus every room and house objects should be in the proper place to absorb positive vibes which only good and efficient vastu consultant can tell.

Astrology Wide Uses

Thus astrology uses can be categorized into different areas:-

One can get benefits in:-

- Career
- Business
- Financial problem
- Health
- Marriage problems
- Obstructions
- House or immovable assets
- Litigation

Here astrologer will analyze birth chart and look out negative points that are giving obstructions to person and with the use of remedies one may get benefit.

Astrology Bottom line

When we are in distressful situation, we go for god blessings and in turn God had made astrology so that people in melancholy situation may get benefit from this old science. After all astrology is a science of faith and believe and without it, astrology had no meaning.

God Bless.