"You do and undo
your destiny. You are your own architect. A person who truly believes
in Karma has no words such as 'fate' or 'destiny' in his lexicon.
He believes in making his own destiny through his words, deeds and
thoughts..."
~ AANDY
Vedic
Astrology refers to Indian or Hindu astrology, a system that originated in ancient
India, and was documented by sages in the Vedic
scriptures. Also known as "Jyotish" -- the science of light, Vedic
astrology deals with astral light patterns that are thought to determine our
destiny.
What is Astrology?
Astrology is the science of the effects of planetary movements on our lives.
Astrology is based on astronomy, and astrologers need to know the correct positions
of the planets at any given time, as well as the correct positions of the zodiacal
fixed star signs in relation to any place on earth at any given time. Once the
correct positions of the signs and planets are known, astrologers can construct
charts representing these positions. And using his knowledge, the astrologer
can study the charts and can make a wide range of conclusions about the moment
the chart was cast for. Primarily, astrology is used to understand one's self,
and our karma for this life.
Basic Principle
The basic premise of this astrology is that all things are linked. Your karma
or fortune is determined by a predestined cosmic design. You are a soul incarnating
in a body at a very specific time and place, and your life is a reflection of
the greater whole into which you are born just as flowers bloom at certain times,
say during spring time, when all conditions are perfectly congenial. So is the
case with our births on this palnet.
What are Charts?
In Jyotish, the main item is your chart. It's a map of the planets in the signs
of the zodiac. Charts are cast based on an exact moment at an exact place on
earth. Therefore, the moment you were born and the place you were born has a
chart, and that is your "birth chart" or "natal chart".
By reading the
chart of the heavens for the time and place of your birth, claim astrologers,
they can know much about you. The positions of the planets in the real star-based
zodiac are taken and your "dashas" (predictive timeline) are arranged.
Your Vedic chart will most likely reflect your real life and your dashas are
probably operating the way they should. The Vedic astrologer looks at these
planets, signs and house placements in your chart and can "see" your
personality, as well as life events and possibilities - both the good and the
bad times in your life. The dashas are then used to determine "when"
the events will unfold in the life.
Its Predictive
Magic
Dashas give a greater predictive accuracy to Vedic astrology than Western astrology.
These "planetary ruling periods," which are unique to this system,
give Vedic astrologers a tool for quite accurately predicting the trends, changes
and events in your life with amazing precision. Therefore, Vedic astrologers
are less limited to talking about your general overall self and can get more
deeply into what's going to happen in your life.
How is it Different
from Western Astrology?
Vedic astrology differs from Western or Tropical astrology mainly in that it
uses the fixed zodiac as opposed to the moving zodiac. Because of the gradual
tilting of the earth in space on its axis, the zodiac, if you calculate it from
the sun's relationship to the earth, appears to be moving at the rate of a little
less than 1/60th of a degree per year. Currently, the relative or movable zodiac
is off or out of alignment with the fixed or real star-based zodiac by roughly
23 degrees, which is almost one whole sign of the zodiac. Because the two systems
are skewed from each other by nearly one whole sign, most people's "Sun
Sign", that which you can get from the newspaper each day, is usually one
sign back when the chart is refigured using Vedic astrology. So, the first surprise
of using the Vedic system is that you are no longer the Sun Sign you always
thought you were. However, if you were born in the last 5 days or so of the
Western sign month, then you will probably still be the same sign in the Vedic
system.
Personal Experience
Vedic Astrology is one of the most interesting artifacts of intelligent life
on earth. I mean, it's one of the greatest things we can share with each other.
It's like understanding how the whole darn big picture is swirling in unison
with the dance of life. What I'm saying is, "This system really works!"
It's amazing! No wonder it comes from the books of the Vedic era. I've personally
found no greater source of profound knowledge than Vedic literature.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR Das
Goravani is an American living in Oregon. He was profoundly swept over by
the spread of Hinduism in the 1970s and 80s, primarily through the Hare Krishna
movement. He is also a computer programmer and creator of Goravani
Jyotish Software. His computer skills and knowledge of Hinduism and Jyotish
has led him to his current career of teaching Jyotish and Hindu Spiritual concepts.
His Website contains many
of his writings.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
BY DAS GORAVANI
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