Jyotish is the science of astronomy and astrology. The Yajur and Rig Vedas have sections attached to them dealing with astronomy, whereas the Atharva Veda has a section dealing with astrology. Aside from the Vedas, many Rishis such as Parasara, Garga, Narada, Sukadeva, Bhrgu, etc., wrote on this science and preserved it in their sampradayas (discipled successions).
There are six branches of astrology: Gola, (Astronomy); Ganita, (Calculations based on planetary position); Jataka, (Birth Horoscope); Prasna, (Answering specific questions); Muhurta, (Choosing a time to start something); and Nimitta, (Omens).
Astrology is essentially a language, a mystical cryptogram created with the Vedas. Each of the planets according to Sri Parasara Muni, father of Veda Vyasa, is intimately connected with one of Lord’s Avatars(Incarnations) and ultimately is a manifestation of that particular Avatar. As any language has parts such as nouns, verbs, adjectives, adverbs, etc., astrology is no different except that in this language the parts are planets, signs, houses, aspects, etc. It is the language of time.
The horoscope and the zodiac belt are often referred to in the literature as the Kaala chakr, wheel of time. The horoscope is like a big clock, except that while we are familiar with clocks that have three hands, the horoscopic clock has ten hands made up of the Ascendent, Sun, Moon, Mars, Mercury, Jupiter, Venus, Saturn, Rahu, and Ketu. And while the clocks of normal experience measure in hours, minutes, and seconds; the hands of the Kaala chakr measure much longer spans of time. A complete cycle of the ten hands from the Lagna (Ascendent) to Ketu take respectively: one day, one year, 27 days, two years, one year, 12 years, one year, 30 years, 18 years, and 18 years. A complex clock indeed - one only the Lord could create.
To create a horoscope requires the exact date, time and place of birth. The reverse is also true; given a chart, a learned astrologer can tell the date, time, and place of birth. This time-keeping feature of astrology is used today in archeology and history to date personalities and events based on recorded horoscopes or other astronomical observations such as eclipses and comets.
Another way to look at astrology is as a sophisticated and systematic science of Laksanas; that is, symptoms or signs. The science of omens or nimitta is directly a branch of astrology. The study of physiognomy or bodily symptoms (laksana) is called Samudrika Sastra, after Samudraraj, the lord of the sea, who, from his vantage point, was able to study the perfect bodily construction of Sri-Sri Laksmi Narayana. Hasta Samudrika, the science of palmistry, is a specialized sub-branch of Samudrika Sastra. It should be remembered that astrology, palmistry, and physiognomy are all intimately related.
Astrology and related subjects are valid sciences applicable to both the divine and mundane sphere because they are non-causal, rather they are symptomatic of higher laws.
To Be Continued ........... Om Tat Sat
