Eternal India Encyclopedia

Ancient Concepts, Sciences & Systems

JYOTISHA

(ASTROLOGY)

Eternal India

encyclopedia

Those who know Astrology can only indicate in a way what will take place in future.

Who else, expect, the Creator Brahma, can say with certainty what will definitely happen?

AT LEAST 5000 YEARS OLD

In India, astrology always occupied a unique place and found il-

lustrious supporters until perhaps the advent and consolidation of

the British power when for a time scepticism and derision were the

predominant features, characterising the intellectual equipment of

the then educated Indians, who looked down upon astrology and

allied subjects as fit for study only by unscientific minds. In fact,

the downfall of astrology appeared irremediable. It was at this time

that the late Prof. B. Suryanarain Rao (1856-1936) undertook the

task of reviving the subject by diverting the thoughts of the Indian

cultured public to the awareness of a unique class of phenomenon,

the nexus between cosmic events and terrestrial phenomena.

ASTROLOGY IN ANCIENT INDIAN SOCIAL LIFE

In India we have evidence of astrological knowledge even in the

great classics, the

Ramayana

and the

Mahabharata.

Maharishi Parasara of the

Mahabharata

is deemed the father

of Indian Astrology.

Parasara Hora

enunciates astrological prin-

ciples on which are based all the extant literature on the subject.

Jyotisha

(astrology is an inadequate and loose equivalent of the

term) is one of the six

Vedangas.

A mastery of the

Vedangas

was

a prerequisite to the study of the

Vedas

themselves. As such

Jyotisha

can be dated, without doubt, alongside the

Vedas.

Vedanga Jyotisha

which is both astrology and astronomy com-

bined is at least 5000 years old. Reference to astronomical posi-

tions in

Valmiki Ramayana

and the

Mahabharata

as portending

certain specific results point to the fact that Jyotisha was already a

well-developed discipline by then and was being followed by the

best in the land. The coronation of Sri Rama was planned at an as-

trologically propitious time. The birth-chart of Sri Rama is graphi-

cally described by Sage Valmiki who extols the birth of the child as

of one incomparable due to the Sun, Mars, Jupiter, Venus and

Saturn, the 5 grahas, being in exaltation with the Moon in Punar-

vasu Nakshatra.

Ominous planetary conjunctions during the period preceding the

Mahabharata

war are described in Veda Vyasa’s

Mahabharata.

These planetary conjunctions are interpreted as portending calami-

tous ruin and destructive war. These references conclusively prove

the antiquity of

Jyotisha

and also the wide respect it enjoyed in

ancient Indian social life.

In India, the practice of the astrologer being one of the impor-

tant counsellors of the king can be traced to very distant times.

During the period of the Cholas and other monarchs, the court

astrologer was a very important personage. The king had to have

five assemblies — one each, of people, priests, astrologers, physi-

cians and ministers — to guide him in the administration.

No expedition or war was begun without recourse to astrologi-

cal guidance. Deposed kings bided their time to correspond with

favourable planetary positions to set out on war to regain their lost

kingdoms.

(According to

Brihat Samhita :

A king had no better guide than a good astrologer and hence,

“A king who aspires for fame, victory, prosperity, enjoyment and

spiritual progress ought to employ the best astrologer who is well-

versed in the science”.

An astrologer’s services were deemed invaluable and counsel

from him could ensure victory against even formidable foes and

armies. In fact, the role of the astrologer in running the state was

powerful.

Varahamihira (6th Century A.D.) who describes correctly lunar

and solar eclipses at a time when Europe was debating if the earth

was flat, has also written

Brihat Jataka,

a treatise on astrology. He

and other mathematicians in ancient India were invariably adept at

astrology too showing that it is as much a science as any other. It

would be irrational to assume these brilliant astronomers-cum-

mathematicians were being superstitious in dealing with astrology

as has been projected by men who have failed to understand

astrology.

It is on record that Hindu astrologers at Alexander’s Court pre-

dicted his death by poisoning in Babylon. Alexander avoided that

city for a time but in the end, he entered it and died as foretold.

Julius Ceasar consulted astrology in his battle disposition and was

successful but could not pay heed to the warning of Calpurnia that

he would die on the Ides of March. Napoleon, it is well known, was

advised by the famous woman astrologer, Lenormand, who repeat-

edly advised him not to march on Moscow but he disregarded her

warning and met his fate. In medieval Europe, of course, astrology

occupied an honoured place.

Bacon, the father of modem scientific method (

The Advance-

ment of Learning)

was himself a competent astrologer. He saw no

contradictions between science and astrology. He held that astrol-

ogy should “rather be purged than rejected”.

Even the great Newton, the formulator of the Laws of Motion,

had a collection of astrological works in the library and when his

friend and pupil Hailey protested to him about his regard for

astrology, he replied; “I have studied these things and you have

not”.

WHAT IS ASTROLOGY?

Grahas

are manifestation of matter and they move in space.

Their movements are regulated in time. Therefore astrology con-

nects time, space and matter together and demonstrates the syn-

chronistic as well as causality or deterministic principles. It is an art

of life interpretation and provides us with a technique of self-

improvement and perfection.

One of the main uses of astrology is to confirm if a contemplated

course of action is right for one; if not, it can point in another

direction. Astrology, therefore, is about freedom and choice based

on the indications of planetary positions.