Jyotish Shastra / Vedic Astrology

Sage Parashara

'Jyohati' (Sanskrit: जूटी) means radiance. 'Jyo Tish' (Sanskrit: जूतिस) means light. Light creates radiance. Planetary objects like bright stars are also included in Jyotish in Sanskrit. Another meaning here is visual perception or seeing. Seeing with the mind also belongs to this. Many people think that this science has been given that name because it is a science built in association with bright celestial objects. I think a more appropriate introduction would be to say, "Jyosatish Shastrata is the science that indicates the current and future conditions that may occur in the world due to the influence of bright celestial bodies."

Jyoitish Shastra is one of the six supplementary branches or 'Vedanga'* of the Indian Veda Shastra. Vedanga Jyotishaya or Vedic Astrology is the most popular tradition in our country. The first notes on astrology in the 'Rig' Veda, written about fifteen centuries before Christ, which holds a very important place among the world's oldest sources that mention matters related to astronomy, are found. It mentions how a solar eclipse occurred due to the influence of the Asura** named 'Swarabhanu'. Also in 'Atharva' Veda and 'Chandyogya Upanishad', there is mention of the planet 'Rahu' which causes lunar eclipse. The term 'Griha' has been introduced not by the meaning of 'planet' but by the animal sign of 'asura'. In the old practice, Rahu was said to be Asurendravaya to that Rahu Gradhaya.

All the principles of Vedic astrology are built on the basis of the Nakshadatra zodiac circle, while Western astrology is built on the tropical zodiac circle. Ayanamsa has been abandoned in the prevailing Vedic tradition of our country, and other Vedic traditions that consider Ayanamsa are practiced in India. Many things like naming the days of the week according to Grasahas, separating twelve zodiac signs starting from Aries and twelve bhavas starting from Lagna have been received from the West to the East.

It can be shown from the association of Yavanabhatia and Aryabhatia that the ancient Indian Vedic tradition from Astronomy to Astrology has been inspired by Greek. The Panchasiddhantika of sixth century Varamihira Acharya is also an important source of Indian astronomy. The savarnamaya yuga of Vedic astrology begins around the seventh century with the writing of Hora Shastra by Parashara Acharya.

According to Parashara Acharya, Vedic Astrology consists of three major parts namely Hora, Math and Samhita.* Hora Shastras is the most important among these.

Kalyatanavarman Acharin, who wrote the Saravali, was also a great sage who played a pioneering role in the development of Indian Jyo*tish Shastrastra.