Lesson #1

Compiled by Palanivelu
Topics Covered:
1. Mantras for learning astrology.
2. Introduction to Vedic astrology (basic concepts).
Key Points:
1. Lord Ganesha/Ganapathi is the deity for learning astrology. The
associated mantra is "Om sri mahaganapataye namah".
2. Recite the parampara mantra "Hare Rama Krishna". [This is the
moola mantra for the "Hare Rama Hare Rama, Rama Rama
Hare Hare; Hare Krishna, Hare Krishna, Krishna Krishna Hare
Hare" maha mantra.] This moola mantra tells you that, you have
to analyze a horoscope from three different standpoints, namely,
Lagna (Hari), Su (Rama), Mo (Krishna). Su represents atma, Mo
represents the mind and Lagna (ASC) represents the physical
body. These three form the tripod of life.
3. Another mantra to recite regularly is "Om Shleem Dhleem
Jjyotirbraahmaaya Namah", which will make the derivation of
knowledge from the universal light.
4. Another mantra is "Om Shreem Dhleem
Medhadakshinamurthaye Namah" to remove the confusion in
the mind of astrologers.
5. Recite these mantras 108 times (or 11 times, if 108 times if not
possible). If you want you can also add "Om" in front of it, to
safeguard from the mistakes.
6. There are 12 Rasis (signs) and 9 planets. The planets are Sun,
Moon, Mercury, Venus, Mars, Ju and Sa. Two more planets, Ra
and Ke are used, which are not physical objects. These are
points where the Moons orbit around the earth intersects the
plane of the earths orbit around the Su. They are also called
chaya grahas as these are formed of shadows.
7. The entire zodiac is divided into 12 equal parts (each of 30
degrees) and each such part is called a rasi (sign). The first sign
is Ar (Ar) and is also called Mesha in Sanskrit. Mesha spans 0 to
30 degrees. The next part is Taurus (Ta) or Vrishabha from 30 to
60 degrees. The subsequent Rasis in order are Gemini (Ge) or
Mithuna, Cancer or Karkataka, Leo (Le) or Simha, Virgo (Vi) or
Kanya, Libra (Li) or Tula, Scorpio (Sc) or Vrishchika, Sagittarius
(Sg) or Dhanush, Capricorn (Cp) or Makara, Aquarius (Aq) or
Kumbha and Pisces (Pi) or Meena. These divisions are based
on real stars in the sky.
8. The book Brihat Parasara Hora Sastra (BHPS) is like a bible of
astrology.

Lessons on Vedic Astrology

2

9. ASC is a very important point and it shows you, self. All the other
planets show other people or circumstances that are influencing
you. So positions of the nine planets (in their respective signs)
around the Lagna at the time of birth of a person, constitutes a

rasi Chart. Similarly, rasi charts can be drawn for a group of

people or a country. For example, the moment when certain
persons got together and declared the formation of a party is the
moment of the birth of the party and will determine the fortunes
of it.
10. Lagna takes approximately 1 whole day to go around the zodiac
and come back to the same point. For Mo it is about 29 days, for
Su about 365 days (1 year), for Ma about 1.5 years, for Me and
Ve about 1 year, for Ju about 12 years and finally for Sa
approximately 30 years. Ra and Ke each take 18 years to go
around the zodiac once, approximately.
11. The periods when transit Sa is posited in three signs i.e., the
sign behind the Moon, the sign of the Mo and the sign ahead of
the Mo are called Sade-Sati period. This period is important
because Mo is the significator of the mind and Saturns
placement in these signs may cause much trouble to mind. So
each Sade-sati period is for 2.5 years and the total is 7.5 years
for one full rotation of the zodiac.
12. From the earth, if a planet appears to go backward, it is called
Vakri or retrograde. The process of retrogression is called vakragamanam.
13. According to the shastras, the whole universe is made of a
material called Narayana. Out of it, only 1/8th part is
perceivable by us and it is called Vasudeva. The rest of
Narayana cannot be perceived by ordinary mortals.
14. Jupiter, the Brihaspati, is the teacher of gods, represents our
intelligence and power of discretion. Venus, Sukracharya, the
teacher of the demons, represents the demonic / Rajasik
qualities in us. The Su represents the atma / soul, the Mo
represents the mind etc...
15. In Vedic astrology, there are so-called Varga chakras or
divisional charts that we create for a person in addition to the
rasi Chart, and in these charts the ASC changes in few minutes.
According to maharshis of our tradition, the rasi chart shows our
physical existence and health (i.e. physical manifestation) and
each of the Varga chakras represents a specific area of our lives
e.g. education, career, marriage etc.
16. If you dont have any good muhurta pre-calculated for your
purpose, you can use the muhurta of the mid day (i.e. when the
Su is at the highest point in the sky at a particular location). This
muhurta is called Abhijit muhurta and is universally good. Abhijit
means great victory. The reason why shastras recommend on

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this is because at mid day, the Su is located three signs
(equivalent to 6 hrs) behind the ASC and thus will be located in
the 10th house from the ASC (each Rasi is a house with ASC as
the 1st house; the houses are counted in the zodiacal direction;
10th house represents one's karma and the success in it). Thus
Su being in the 10th house is auspicious for any activity.

17. Astrology is a probabilistic knowledge of the future happenings

in our lives and it helps us to mentally prepare for the good and
the bad in the future. Astrology reveals hidden traits in a
persons personality. Astrology can offer remedies for certain
bad situations.