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Vedic Astrology:
What Is It?
by William R. Levacy
 Vedic
astrology is an ancient behavioral analysis and forecasting system. It
employs a diagram of the positions of the planets relative to the earth
and sky, based on the time and place of a person's birth. An astrologer
reviews this chart to find information about an individual's concerns and
about terrestrial events. The astrologer, depending on skill and clarity
of consciousness, makes inferences regarding an individual's disposition
and character and may foretell events in that person's life. Using
advanced techniques, an astrologer may even forecast events on a
community, national, or global scale.
What draws people to
astrology through the ages, I believe, is the desire to make the right
decisions. Plagued with poor decision-making capabilities, a person can
retreat and inordinately reduce their expectations. Taking lower risks,
they attain lower results, lower rewards, and basically, a life of
diminished joy. Astrologers help their clients understand whether they are
in a slump or a surge and what might be the anticipated duration of either
one. Astrologers, as counselors, want to help lead their clients to
positive outcomes and to help them build a psychology that naturally
triggers life-supporting behaviors.
Ultimately, the best way
to get out of trouble is not to get into trouble to start with. Patanjali,
the author of the Yoga Sutras, offered a timely aphorism: "Avoid the
danger which has not come yet:" Vedic astrology offers us a map to
guide our life and gives us an analytical time profile of our behavior to
help us understand what compels us to act. Vedic astrology helps us
determine which behavioral traits to promote and which ones to target for
self improvement.
As a final note, it is not
Vedic astrology's purpose to replace an individual's responsibility to
decide for themselves what is best. Astrology tells us about the absence
or presence of certain tendencies. We may use this information as a tool
to form our own decisions and take our own actions. Armed with that, we
can move forward joyfully in our lives, anticipating the best and averting
the rest.
How Does It Work?
At the time and place of
birth, there is a specific astronomical pattern in the heavens. This sky
model is recorded from a distinct geographical point. Astrologers document
this planet-earth-sky pattern and call it a chart. On the chart, they mark
significant features such as the following:
-
Where the planets are
in the sky -- by listing their location in a constellation, or sign of
the zodiac
-
The location on the
earth -- by using latitude and longitude; these are called
houses
-
Which sign is on the
horizon, or that part of the sky east of the birth location, at the
time of birth -- this point is called the rising sign or ascendant.
The above are the three
most significant components of a chart. As the earth rotates, the signs
move through the houses, following the clock throughout the day. The birth
diagram is called a horoscope (from Greek horo, indicating time, and
scope, meaning to look at). In India, the chart is called the chakra
(wheel), Janma Kundali (rising), or Kala Purusha (body of time). In Vedic
astrology, a chart is drawn as a square and/or a box of triangles, but in
Western astrology, it is drawn as a wheel.
The birth chart diagram is
interpreted according to specific rules of Vedic astrology as laid out by
the ancient rishis, or seers, such as Maharishi Parasara. Fundamentally,
Vedic astrology, or Jyotish, is a system for interpreting how behavior
will unfold over time. Modern Western psychology analyzes behavior, but
Vedic astrology shows how behavior might change over time. Life patterns
seen in the birth chart are matched by the astrologer against the patterns
seen in historical rules and records of parallel astronomical information.
For predictive purposes, the Jyotishi uses a Vedic planetary almanac, or a
computer program, to track the location of planets from sign to sign, and
house to house, to locate when circumstances will emerge.
An astrologer determines
when a planet will cross a sensitive point in the birth chart, stimulating
a specific event. This event, waiting in the storehouse of that person's
destiny, occurs as promised in the birth chart, modified somewhat by
actions performed in this life. While these events are not necessarily
predestined or even required to happen, they show a tendency to do so over
the course of a person's life. The chart is a record of that person's
karma. The astrologer's role is to match the patterns in the birth chart
with the current patterns in the heavens, and to understand the nature of
that person's environment. The astrologer consults the records in the
ancient texts, much of which is memorized, and then analyzes, synthesizes,
and draws a conclusion about the events at hand. The correctness of the
reading is directly proportional to the experience and spiritual
advancement of the astrologer, as well as to the recipient's desire and
receptivity to having their chart read clearly. The reading is a
short-term partnership.
Some authors feel that
planets actually cause events to happen. They attempt to scientifically
verify astrology with references to gravity, cosmic radiation, and the
like. While this may or may not be true exactly, I think it more useful to
view the planets as indicators of vast emerging patterns more than
singular causative agents. To me, that's a bit like saying that the city
limit signs for Los Angeles cause the city to exist, rather than to mark
where it begins and ends.
As background material, it
is good to know that the Vedic texts declare that Vishnu, the great
maintainer of the universe, incarnated and reincarnated in cycles born of
the essence of the nine planets. Brahma, the creator, acting on behalf of
Vishnu, uses the planets in specific ways to disperse the creation around
the universe.
How Is Vedic Astrology
Different?
The Vedic system is a more
accurate astronomical representation of the Sun's position in relation to
the skies. The Western systems emphasize the relationship of the Sun to
the earth and the seasons. For this reason, Western astrology can be
referred to as "tropical astrology", and Vedic astrology can be
called "sidereal astrology." Sidereal astrology simply means
that planetary movements are tracked against the positions of the stars,
thus favoring the astral positions. In contrast, tropical astrology favors
our point of view from Earth, tracking the planets in reference to
seasonal points, such as the springtime.
Over the last several
hundred years, this difference has caused the two systems to drift apart
by about 24 degrees on where they mark the start of an astrological year.
Both use the vernal or spring equinox as the start, but in Vedic systems,
the vernal equinox currently marks 6 degrees of the Sun in Pisces -- this
is 24 degrees back from where western astrologers mark the equinox as the
beginning of Aries.
The difference between the
Western start of the astrological year in Aries, and the Vedic or sidereal
start in Pisces, is called the ayanamsa. Ayanamsa means "division of
the year". Unless you were born between about the 15th and 20th of
the month, you will find your "Western" Sun has most likely
moved back by one sign in a Vedic astrological chart. Vedic scholars have
differences of opinion as to the exact date and time when the two systems
started drifting away from each other (the ayanamsa point). The government
of India chose the calculations of N. C. Lahiri. Ayanamsas also exist for
Raman, Krishnamurti, and Sri Yukteswar. However, they are all close to
plus or minus 6 degrees of Pisces.
Vedic astrology
traditionally uses one house system, called the "equal house"
system. (There is another system, called the Bhava Chalita, which adjusts
the size of the houses according to the latitude of the birth place.) In
Western astrology, there are numerous methods for dividing up the earth's
latitude and longitude and forming the astrological land and time
divisions called the houses.
Vedic, sidereal astrology
also incorporates star signs based on the movement of the moon -- about
one day per Sun sign. These 27 moon signs are called nakshatras. Vedic
astrology also divides the ecliptic, or the Sun's path, into 15 additional
divisions, so we not only have the 30 degree divisions of each Sun sign,
but further divisions of up to 150 segments. These are called the
Shodasavargas. It's like having an additional 15 birth charts to read
from. Vedic astrology also distinguishes itself in its predictive tools.
Of especial note is the 120-year cycle forecasting system called the
Vimshottari Dasa, where each planet is allotted a specific period of
influence in the chart and is used to forecast more deeply into the nature
of an individual's future.
Vedic astrology is also
integrated into Hindu societal functions and remains to this day an
accepted part of religion and of most daily life. It is not uncommon to
see heads of state as key speakers at Vedic astrology conferences. Many
modern Indian business managers and computer experts working in the United
States still wear astrological pendants to bring them success.
Vedic astrology is also a
companion system to Ayurveda, the major health care system of India. In
fact, Vaidyas, or "doctors" of Ayurveda, often consult the
astrological chart of a client to seek additional diagnostic information.
Vastu, the art of architectural measurement and placement (similar to
China's Feng Shui), can be linked to the astrological tendencies of an
individual's birth chart. Finally, Vedic astrology has its roots in
consciousness, and so remedial measures can be taken, which can include
religious performances (yagyas, pujas, and shantis); gemstones; mantras;
charitable acts; gandarvaveda musical renditions; stotras (prayers);
vratas (vows); herbs; and mineral concoctions (bashmas). All of these
corrective measures are held to counterbalance the negative impressions
from previous actions (samskaras).
Taking such
countermeasures, the client of astrology can not only know what needs to
be corrected, but how to apply restorative techniques as indicated in
their birth chart.
 This
article is excerpted from the book "Beneath
a Vedic Sky", ©1999, by William R. Levacy. Reprinted with
permission of the publisher, Hay House Inc. www.hayhouse.com
Info/Order
this book.
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