Vedic Jyotish-Understanding Basics

Vedic Jyotish-Understanding Basics.

I am learning astrology since I was a child. At that time I found it very difficult to grasp even the base formulae. I still remember that however how much I tried to understand it I was not able to make any heads or tails of it. The article series is an outcome of the problems that I faced when I was learning astrology. I have spent considerable time teaching astrology to many people and have found that most often they could not understand most of it. I decided that I will write regular articles which will make astrology accessible to even to a simpleton. I have tried my best that I should make the whole thing very simple. For this I have come out with new formulae that have never been used before. These formulae are based on Parashara principles. They are strictly old and have no relation with new thoughts. Through this I have tried to maintain the authenticity of Vedic principles. I am bounded by the old thoughts of ancient Vedic seers. I respect their knowledge and consider their words and thoughts and ideas to be the last piece of advice on any matter. Lastly I want to thank my revered —– who introduced me to this ancient knowledge.

Definition of astrology:  

Old definition: Astrology means ‘Jyotish’ in Hindi. The word ‘Jyotish’ is comprised of two words ‘Jyoti’ and ‘Ieesh’. ‘Jyoti’ means light and ‘Ieesh’ means God. So when the divine light of knowledge is kindled inside the heart of a human he becomes a ‘Jyotishi’ and the divine light is ‘Jyotish’.

New Definition: The science  that deals with analysis of future through the study of planets and constellations.

Horoscope or Kundali: The word ‘Kundali’ refers to the coil of the serpent. But in astrology Kundali refers to the astronomical positions of planets derived from the place of birth where the concerned person is born. It looks like the following:

 

 

 

 

The Kundali or the horoscope is the base of Vedic astrology. It is like the powerful serpent energy coiled near our solar plexus. A kundali is the seat of energy that stores all our previous and coming births. In short it is the key to our known and unknown lives and secrets. In normal language it defines our innermost thoughts and upcoming events of the life. It is the basic tool of astrological interpretation.

Basic calculation: The first question that arrives in the mind is that how a horoscope is been calculated. This will be discussed as you read it further but before that you should first learn about the Zodiac.

The Zodiac: Please look at the following pictures to get an easy understanding of the zodiac. Imagine a big circle in the sky. Now most of us know that the area of a circle is 360 degree. Let us solve this simple question. Suppose I want to divide the area of 360 degree into 12 equal halves then what should I do. As a matter of fact I will divide 360 by 12 (360/12) and the answer is 30 degree. This means that each division carries a part of 30 degree. To understand it better please refer to the picture below.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Each of the twelve divisions carries an area of 30 degree. These twelve divisions are the twelve signs of the zodiac.

These signs are represented by numbers and are the base of Vedic astrology. They are as follows:

This the approximate dates when the Sun stays in these signs.
If you find this difficult then you can make your own formulae. But please remember that you have to first learn them before you move ahead. Without this basic knowledge it will be difficult to understand the next steps.

We will start from the previous exercise of circle of the Zodiac. The same circle I have defined as a zodiac is represented by the horoscope. A horoscope or a Kundali comprises of the following: 1.Twelve signs including the Lagna or the ascendant (I am going to define it).2.The placement of planets and constellations. Now the first thing is to calculate the ascendant or the Lagna. Before going ahead one should know that a zodiac always keeps on moving. It rotates (Refer to the pictures) towards the upward direction. The reference point is the eastern direction. It is the point from where we see the zodiac as a circle rotating upwards.

 

 

 

 

 

Now this zodiac carries twelve signs (Refer to the previous notes). The zodiac covers a simple rotation in 24 hours. This means that twelve signs rotate around the earth in 24 hours. Now do this simple exercise: If twelve signs signs rotate in 24 hours then how much time a single sign will take for one rotation. (The point of starting will be the eastern direction.) . The answer is: 24/12= 2 hours approximately. This means that a sign takes around two hours to move around the reference point in the eastern direction. Refer to pictures for easy understanding.

Please read it very carefully: The sign which is rising in the eastern direction during the time of your birth is described as the ascendant or the lagna. It is placed in the first house of the horoscope and is represented by the number i have explained previously. Please refer to pictures. Suppose I am born in Aries ascendant then my horoscope should carry number one in the first house. If I am born in Taurus Lagna then my horoscope should carry number 2 in the first house and so on. To make it more simple Please read the following:

 

 

 

 

 

 

I was born on March 3 1977 at 2:15 pm. Refer to table of signs. You will see that Sun stays in Aquarius during this time. Sun stays in Aquarius from Feb 15 th to March 15 th and March 3 lies in between this span. Now I want to calculate my ascendant. I have already explained that the sign rising in the eastern direction is the ascendant or the Lagna. To calculate the ascendant we should know the approximate position of Sun during particular hours. The approximate position of Sun during various hours: From 5:30 am to 7:30 in the first house of the horoscope. It is the eastern direction where we see the sun rising during these hours. The eastern direction is represented by the first house of the horoscope. The rotation of the signs is anti-clock wise and so after 7:30 Sun will be in twelfth house of the horoscope. 7:30 to 9:30 AM ( 2 hours) In twelfth house 9:30 to 11.30 AM In eleventh house. 11:30 to 1:30 In tenth house. 1:30 to 3:30 PM In ninth house. 3:30 to 5:30 PM In eighth house. 5:30 to 7:30 PM In seventh house. (Sun is setting and 7 th house shows the western direction of the sky) 7:30 to 9:30 PM In the sixth house. 9:30 to 11:30 PM In the fifth house. 11.30 to 1.30 AM In the fourth house ( Direction is North ) 1:30 to 3:30 AM In the third house. 3:30 to 5:30 AM In the second house. Now we come to the approximate calculation of the ascendant. I was born on March 3 rd 1977 at 14:15 hours. On March 3 rd Sun was in sign Aquarius. At 14:15 hours Sun is in ninth house. Refer to the picture;

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Now if I place the sign Aquarius or number eleven in the ninth house then by following the sequence number three comes in the first house. According to the table number three means Gemini so my Lagna or ascendant should be Gemini. It is bit difficult to calculate so we will do it again. Suppose a person is born on 18 th of Feb at 17:40 hours or 5:40 PM. First we should know the sign acquired by Sun during 18 th of Feb. On 18 th Feb Sun will be Aquarius. At 5:40 Sun will be setting in the seventh house. If we place Sign Aquarius or number 11 in the seventh house then Leo should be in the first house according to the sequence and Leo Should be the ascendant. But please remember that this is approximate way of calculation. This is because the Sun may not be in Aquarius if we are referring the date of 15 th March. It sometimes takes 17 th of march to move to another sign. This was done to explain the method through which the ascendant is derived. The accurate calculations require much more time and knowledge. But at large the above calculations will work fine.   Day3 The methods explained in exercise of day 2 were related to calculation of ascendant but there are many other calculations related to a horoscope. The foremost is the calculation of the planets and their positions. Then there are 27 constellations too. Also there is no need to learn the name of constellations but at least we should know how they all are calculated. Firstly we should see how constellations are linked to zodiac. We already know that there are 12 signs in Zodiac. We have calculated that each sign has 30 degree. But if we want to allocate 27 constellations to twelve sings than we should have 2 and half constellation allocated to each sign. This means 27/12=2.25 for each sign. But how will they actually be allocated or divided between the twelve signs.To know this we should divide 30 degree (related to sign) to 12 signs. to be continued………….