VEDIC ASTROLOGY: Vedic Astrology or Vedanga Jyotisha is Jyothissastra or Jyotish in short in Sanskrit.

Earliest mention of Vedic Astrology comes in the Vedas, originated more than 5000 years before Christ, preceded by details of this Divine Science supposed as being revealed byLord Siva to his Spouse Goddess Parvati. According to many others, Vedic Astrology was revealed to mankind by Lord Brahma who in his infinite wisdom is the only God amongst Gods and humans to truly know the future. Vedic Astrology cannot be taken on any level other than the level of Vedanta, since it contains the quintessence of the Philosophies of the entire world. The signs of the stars give prophesies and presages. They point out the force of supernatural things, and put forth true judgments and disclosure. Vedanta is one of the world's most ancient religious philosophies and one of its broadest. Based on the Vedas, Vedanta affirms the oneness of existence, the divinity of the soul, and the harmonyof religions. Vedanta is the philosophical foundation of Hinduism; but while Hinduism includes aspects of Indian culture, Vedanta is universal in its application and is equally relevant to all countries, allcultures, and all religious backgrounds. Vedanta came from Veda (Knowledge) and Anta (the end or goal). Knowledge here means God; so Vedanta is the search for God or search for self-realization. According to Vedanta, God is infinite existence, infinite consciousness, and infinite bliss.The term for this impersonal,transcendent reality is Brahman, the divine ground of being.Yet Vedanta also maintains that God can be personal as well, immanent and assuming humanform in every stage. Vedanta affirms that all religions teach the same basic truths about God, the world, and our relationship to one another. Thousands of years ago the Rig Veda declared:"Truth is one, Sages call it by various names." The world's religions offer varying approaches to God, each one true and valid, each religion offering the world a unique and irreplaceable path to God-realization. The conflicting messages we find among religions are due more to doctrines and dogmas than to the reality of spiritual experience. While dissimilarities exist in the external observances of the world religions, the internals bear remarkable similarities. God dwells within our own hearts as the divine Self or Atman. The Atman is never born nor will it ever die. Neither stained by our failings nor affected by the fluctuations of the body or mind, the Atman is not subject to our grief or despair or disease or ignorance. Pure, perfect, free from limitations, the Atman, Vedanta declares, is one with Brahman. The greatest temple of God lies within the human heart. Our real nature is divine; God-realization is our birthright. Sooner or later, we will all manifest our divinity either in this or in future livesfor the greatest truth of our existence is our own divine nature. The four Vedas of the earliest Sanskrit hymns and verses are Rig Veda, Sama Veda, YajurVeda, and Atharva Veda. The Atharva Veda contains plenty of references to Jyotish, used inthe context of finding out auspicious times for starting rituals etc. The ancient Hindu Scriptures,accepted as Sanatana Dharma or Vaidika Dharma, considered as the breath of the Lord and comprising the greatest and voluminous literature in the whole world, in the form of Sruti or revelations, Smriti, Vedas, Brahmanas, Aranyakas, Upanishads, Tantras, Puranas, Ithihasas and the like, extol the importance of Jyotish, in them. However Vedic Astrology or VedangaJyotish is supposed to be the first written documents on Astrology in its ancient form in India. Sanatana Dharma is not for any particular religion, it is for every one of us, irrespective ofcaste, creed, color or age. Knowingly or unknowingly, we followed many of its norms and we are still following them, and we will follow in future, for our well being. Most famous modern Philosophers and writers are seen endorsing its prospects and hopefully if followed,I feel certain that it might gradually fill the void of spiritual bankruptcy and one of its consequent results of recession, aswell. Vedic Astrology helps to resolve doubts concerning children, health, spiritual growth,and other subjects. Suggestions regarding donations, gemstones, herbs, mantras, yantras(mystic diagrams), and rituals are integral parts of the system. As all Astrological studie sare based on Astronomy, Vedic Astrology is also based on Astronomy. Aryabhatta,Bhaskaracharya, Kalidasa, Varahamihira, Bhattolpala, Jaimini etc., are a few among the world renowned Astronomers, dealt with Astrology also, in ancient India. Some others though not famous Astronomers,dedicated their lives for the cause of Astrology and contributed precious and valuable information through their hard work and research on the subject. These people with the meager resources they had, and with their naked eyes identified the various planets and measured the distance to them from the earth and foundout their sizes and shapes. They even discovered Uranus and pluto, and named themrespectively as 'Sheweta' and 'Ksharaka', and it is mentioned so in

Maha Bharata. Their recordings when verified later with those found out with the help of telescopes invented by Galileo, were exact and accurate. They predicted correctly the time of solar and lunar eclipses that are to come for many hundreds of years ahead, aswell. Vedic Astrology is very sharp, because there is provision to go deep into the root causeof the matter since each sign and planet is divisible into 60-minute parts called the shashtyamsa. By studying these minute parts in detail the intricacies can be realized. Moreover the saptavarga and the ashtakavarga studies also reveal the manifold characteristics of various planets in detail.The planets are supposed to be hereditary transmitters from one generation to the other. Births and re-births are taken place to complete the cycle of life. The horoscope indicates the residues of the results of the deeds of the past births or karma phala. In this birth one will carry three sorts of karma, sanchitam, that is stored from the past birth, prarabdham, accumulating in this birth and agami stored for the future.We can compare the theory of karma to the savings bank account of a depositor. The ledger account of a depositor will start with an opening balance which can be equated with Sanchita Karma, fresh deposits during the current year being Prarabha Karma, withdrawals during the year being the experiences due to karma phala , and closing balance carried forward to the next year being agami karma. When there is no residuary balance , that is to say,when the sum of opening balance and current year's deposits are fully withdrwan, the account will be closed and not carried forward to another year. Vedanta Philosophy asks us not to make fresh deposits of sin during the current year. But,at the same time , it acknowledges the fact that a man cannot remain with out action even for asecond. So, Karma has necessarily to be performed. But it should not result in making a fresh deposit od any sin to our account. The deposit of our karma should go to the account of some one else .Lord Krishna therefore exhorts Arjuna in Bhagavat Gita, (9-27) thus: " yat karoshi yadashnasi yajjuhoshi dadasi yat yathapasyasi Kauntheya tat kurushva madarppanam," meaning, Oh, Kauntheya ! Whatever you do , whatever you eat, whatever yajna you perform, whatever gift you give, whatever penance you observe, do them as worship to me. Since the karma done to God is pure, no sin will accummulate along with it. Karma is the law of consequences- of merits and demerits. Only Astrology isthe available proof for 'Karma Theory', which is the reason for all happenings in the world, and when the karma phala is exhausted there will be no more births. The microcosm becomes one with the macrocosm, which is the materialization of life as if a drop of water becomes one with the sea, from where it is originated. Thisis liberation, the ultimate aim of human birth. If we do cruelties, we will be born again and again in different forms of living creatures and get liberated eventually only after the karma phalas, the results of our doings, are exhausted. Amongst other amazing aspects of Vedic Astrology, the most impressive one is the Dasa System or the periods and duration of planetary cycles in human life(exclusive to Hindu Astrology) where predetermined periods are designated tothe nine planets and a detailed interpretation is available at birth. The interpretationof Nakshtra or constellation of stars, is the most superior and sophisticated method of analysis. Vedic system is also the only reliable system to offer remedial measuresto the adversities of malefic planets, some of which are mentioned even in the AtharvaVeda. Vedic Astrology covers Karmic, Spiritual and Materialistic aspects of one's entire life with the timing of events. It is s really richer and more accurate than all othersystems especially for the prediction of events with time frame. This, not only tells us,what is going to be happen in our life but also, when it will happen, provided the analysis is deep, authoritative, scientific, classical, unblemished, impartial, and with full Providence and based on correct and exact birth details or time of events, as the case may be. Nakshatra (Star or Constellation) is the further division of the Zodiac into 27 parts, each part of 13 degree 20'. This division is based on the average daily motion of the Moon. These Nakshatras are zone or group of stars or a major star, which are at a great distance from our Solar system. Each Nakshatra or Star is ruled by a planet, called 'Star Lord in this system. Two or more planets in the same RASHI (SIGN) and same BHAVA (HOUSE) in a horoscope can give different results. Vedic Astrology is considered as the supreme knowledge granted to human beingby the God, Almighty. If it is not properly used it will cause tantra virodha causing havoc in life, to the person who misuses it. It should therefore be used only after deep study, dedication and full Providence, and in its proper perspective. The three time periods

namely past, present and future are supposed to be the transcendence of time and space in Vedic Astrology. It is therefore true knowledge. It is the path of eternal bliss. The conscious, unconscious and subconscious are contained in it. Old Indian sages say that no knowledge is complete with out the knowledge ofAstrology. It is the most valuable possession human beings can have. Vedic Astrology can be usedto find out the ways to cure diseases, to gain any knowledge, to make friends with any one and gain his intimacy, to answer questions, to lead healthier and happier life, to get through interviews,to negotiate successfully most difficult business deals, to determine the sex of a child, to gain wealth,to evaluate the position of stocks and shares, to win horse races, to speculate successfully and to lead a better, meaningful and contented life. One who uses Vedic Astrology in its proper perspective attainsMoksha or eternal liberation also, through which our Creator is realized to fulfill the ultimate purpose of our life. There are so many branches to Vedic Astrology like Jathaka or Nativity Chart; Prasna or Horary, Muhurta or Electional Astrology, Vana Nireekshana or Meteorology, Nashta Prasna, Missing persons or things, Deva Prasna or the affairs of Temple or Church, and the affairs of all Sanctum Sanctorum, and the like. Authoritative texts are there to study deep into those subjects.There were hundreds of thousands of books in Astrology in ancient India. Originally most of them were written in palm leaves, chemically prepared for the purpose. Almost all books were written inSanskrit. The most voluminous literature in the world namely Tantra is also written in Sanskrit.These books were later translated into many Indian and foreign languages and were spread throughout the world. Many famous universities in the world, besides India, have manuscripts and copies of these books with them. The Vedas, Upanishads, Agamas (Sastras or science) Puranas, Ithihasas like Ramayana, Maha Bharatha, Maha Bhagavatha, Bhagavad Gita and many other books, depicting the culture and rich heritage of India and conveying the message of good will, peace, fraternity, moral principles and human values etc. were all printed originally in Sanskrit. Since these books are available inmany languages, it is not difficult to get them and study by those interested.