History
Further information: Indian astronomy and Hindu chronology
Jyotiṣa is one of the Vedanga, the six auxiliary disciplines used to support Vedic rituals.[8]:376 Early jyotish is concerned with the preparation of a calendar to fix the date of sacrificial rituals.[8]:377 Nothing is written on planets.[8]:377 There are mentions of eclipse causing "demons" in the Atharaveda and Chandogya Upanish
ad, the Chandogya mentioning Rahu.[8]:382 In fact the term graha, which is now taken to mean planet, originally meant demon.[8]:381 The Rigveda also mentions an eclipse causing demon, Svarbhānu, however the specific term of "graha" becomes applied to Svarbhānu in the later Mahabharata and Ramayana..[8]:382
It is only after the Greek settlement in Bactria (third century BC) that explicit references to planets are attested in Sanskrit texts.[8]:382 It was only after the transmission of Hellenistic astrology that the order of planets in India was fixed in that of the seven-day week.[8]:383 Hellenstic astrology and astronomy also transmitted the twelve zodiacal signs beginning with Aries and the twelve astrological places beginning with the ascendant.[8]:384 The first evidence of the introduction of Greek astrology to India is the Yavanajataka which dates to the early centuries CE.[8]:383 The Yavanajataka ("Sayings of the Greeks") was translated from Greek to Sanskrit by Yavanesvara during the 2nd century CE, under the patronage of the Western Satrap Saka king Rudradaman I, and is considered the first Indian astrological treatise in the Sanskrit language.[9] However the only version that survives is the later verse version of Sphujidhvaja which dates to AD 270.[8]:383 The first Indian astronomical text to define the weekday was the Āryabhaṭīya of Āryabhaṭa (born AD 476).[8]:383 According to Michio Yano, Indian astronomers must have been occupied with the task of Indianizing and Sanskritizing Greek astronomy during the 300 or so years between the first Yavanajataka and the Āryabhaṭīya.[8]:388 The astronomical texts of these 300 years are lost.[8]:388 The later Pañcasiddhāntikā of Varāhamihira summarizes the five known Indian astronomical schools of the sixth century.[8]:388 It is interesting to note that Indian astronomy preserved some of the older pre-Ptolemaic elements of Greek astronomy.[8]:389
The main texts upon which classical Indian astrology is based are early medieval compilations, notably the Bṛhat Parāśara Horāśāstra, and Sārāvalī by Kalyāṇavarman. The Horashastra is a composite work of 71 chapters, of which the first part (chapters 1–51) dates to the 7th to early 8th centuries and the second part (chapters 52–71) to the later 8th century. The Sārāvalī likewise dates to around 800 CE.[10] English translations of these texts were published by N.N. Choudhari in 1963 and 1961, respectively. Elements
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Vargas
Main article: Varga (astrology)
There are sixteen varga (Sanskrit: varga, 'part, division'), or divisional, charts used in Hindu astrology:[11]:61–64
Varga Divisor Chart Purpose
Rasi 1 D-1 Natal chart
Hora 2 D-2 Overall wealth
Drekkana 3 D-3 Siblings
Chaturtamsha 4 D-4 Properties
Panchamsa 5 D-5 Morals, ethics, spiritual values
Saptamsha 7 D-7 Children
Navamsha 9 D-9 Spouse, Etc. Dashamsha 10 D-10 Earning Career
Dwadashamsha 12 D-12 Parents, Grandparents
Shodhashamsha 16 D-16 Vehicles
Vimshamsha 20 D-20 Upasana-s, Sādhana-s
Chaturvimsha 24 D-24 Education (higher)
Saptavimshamsha 27 D-27 Vitality
Khavedamsha 40 D-40 Quality of life
Akshavedamsha 45 D-45 (From here on out,the birth time must be absolutely precise or the divisional chart is incorrect!!)
Shastiamsha 60 D-60 Used to differentiate between twins, etc., etc. Chart styles
There are three chart styles used in Jyotiṣa, which are depicted below:
North Indian
South Indian
Eastern Indian
Legend:Ashu Ra - Rahu, Sa - Saturn, Ve - Venus, Su -Sun, Ma - Mars, Me - Mercury, As - Lagna, Mo - Moon, Ke - Kethu, Ju - Jupiter. Grahas – the planets
Main article: Navagraha
Graha (Devanagari: ग्रह, Sanskrit: graha, 'seizing, laying hold of, holding'.)[12]
Nine grahas, or navagrahas, are used:[11]:38–51
Sanskrit Name Telugu Name Kannada Name Tamil Name Malayalam Name English Name Abbreviation Gender Guna
Surya (सूर्य) రవి ಸೂರ್ಯ ஞாயிறு, சூரியன் ആദിത്യന് Sun Sy or Su M Sattva
Chandra (चंद्र) చంద్ర ಚಂದ್ರ திங்கள், சந்திரன் ചന്ദ്രന് Moon Ch or Mo F Sattva
Mangala (मंगल) కుజ ಮಂಗಳ செவ்வாய் ചൊവ്വ Mars Ma M Tamas
Budha (बुध) బుధ ಬುಧ புதன் ബുധന് Mercury Bu or Me N Rajas
Brihaspati(बृहस्पति) గురు ಗುರು வியாழன், குரு വ്യാഴം Jupiter Gu or Ju M Sattva
Shukra (शुक्र) శుక్ర ಶುಕ್ರ வெள்ளி, சுக்கிரன் ശുക്രന് Venus Sk or Ve F Rajas
Shani (शनि) శని ಶನಿ சனி ശനി Saturn Sa N Tamas
Rahu (राहु) రాహు ರಾಹು ராகு, கரும்பாம்பு രാഹു North Lunar Node Ra F Tamas
Ketu (केतु) కేతు ಕೇತು கேது, செம்பாம்பு കേതു South Lunar Node Ke M Tamas
Planets in maximum exaltation, mooltrikona (own sign), and debilitation, are:[11]:21
Graha Exaltation Mooltrikona Debilitation Sign Rulership
Sun 10° Aries 4°-20° Leo 10° Libra Leo
Moon 3° Ta**us 4°-20° Cancer 3° Scorpio Cancer
Mars 28° Capricorn 0°-12° Aries 28° Cancer Aries, Scorpio
Mercury 15° Virgo 16°-20° Virgo 15° Pisces Gemini, Virgo
Jupiter 5° Cancer 0°-10° Sagittarius 5° Capricorn Sagittarius, Pisces
Venus 27° Pisces 0°-15° Libra 27° Virgo Ta**us, Libra
Saturn 20° Libra 0°-20° Aquarius 20° Aries Capricorn, Aquarius
Rahu Ta**us, Gemini Virgo Scorpio, Sagittarius Aquarius (co-ruler)
Ketu Scorpio, Sagittarius Pisces Ta**us, Gemini Scorpio (co-ruler)
The natural planetary relationships are:[11]:21
Graha Friends Neutral Enemies
Sun Moon, Mars, Jupiter Mercury Venus, Saturn
Moon Sun, Mercury Mars, Jupiter, Venus, Saturn Mercury, Venus, Saturn
Mars Sun, Moon, Jupiter Venus,Saturn Mercury
Mercury Sun, Venus Mars, Jupiter, Saturn Moon
Jupiter Sun, Moon, Mars Saturn Mercury, Venus
Venus Mercury, Saturn Mars, Jupiter Sun, Moon
Saturn Venus, Mercury Jupiter Sun, Moon, Mars
Rahu Sun, Venus Mars, Mercury, Jupiter, Saturn Moon
Ketu Mars Moon, Mercury, Jupiter, Venus, Saturn Sun
Rāśi – the zodiac signs
The sidereal zodiac is an imaginary belt of 360 degrees (like the tropical zodiac), divided into 12 equal parts. Each twelfth part (of 30 degrees) is called a sign or rāśi (Sanskrit: rāśi, 'part'). Jyotiṣa and Western zodiacs differ in the method of measurement. While synchronically, the two systems are identical, Jyotiṣa uses primarily the sidereal zodiac (in which stars are considered to be the fixed background against which the motion of the planets is measured), whereas most Western astrology uses the tropical zodiac (the motion of the planets is measured against the position of the Sun on the Spring equinox). This difference becomes noticeable over time. After two millennia, as a result of the precession of the equinoxes, the origin of the ecliptic longitude has shifted by about 22 degrees. As a result the placement of planets in the Jyotiṣa system is consistent with the actual zodiac, while in western astrology the planets fall into the following sign, as compared to their placement in the sidereal zodiac, about two thirds of the time. Number Sanskrit International Alphabet of Sanskrit Transliteration Sanskrit gloss Western name Greek Gloss Tattva (Element) Quality Ruling Planet
1 मेष Meṣa ram Aries Κριός ram Tejas (Fire) Cara (Movable) Mars
2 वृषभ Vṛṣabha bull Ta**us Ταῦρος bull Prithivi (Earth) Sthira (Fixed) Venus
3 मिथुन Mithuna twins Gemini Δίδυμοι twins Vayu (Air) Dvisvabhava (Dual) Mercury
4 कर्कट Karkaṭa crab Cancer Καρκίνος crab Jala (Water) Cara (Movable) Moon
5 सिंह Siṃha lion Leo Λέων lion Tejas (Fire) Sthira (Fixed) Sun
6 कन्या Kanyā girl Virgo Παρθένος virgin Prithivi (Earth) Dvisvabhava (Dual) Mercury
7 तुला Tulā balance Libra Ζυγός balance Vayu (Air) Cara (Movable) Venus
8 वृश्चिक Vṛścika scorpion Scorpio Σκoρπιός scorpion Jala (Water) Sthira (Fixed) Mars
9 धनुष Dhanus bow Sagittarius Τοξότης archer Tejas (Fire) Dvisvabhava (Dual) Jupiter
10 मकर Makara sea-monster Capricorn Αἰγόκερως goat-horned Prithivi (Earth) Cara (Movable) Saturn
11 कुम्भ Kumbha pitcher Aquarius Ὑδροχόος water-pourer Vayu (Air) Sthira (Fixed) Saturn
12 मीन Mīna fish Pisces Ἰχθεῖς fish Jala (Water) Dvisvabhava (Dual) Jupiter
The zodiac signs in Hindu astrology correspond to parts of the body:[13]
Sign Part of Body
Meṣa (Aries) head
Vṛṣabha (Ta**us) mouth
Mithuna (Gemini) arms
Karka (Cancer) two sides
Siṃha (Leo) heart
Kanyā (Virgo) digestive system
Tula (Libra) umbilical area
Vṛścika (Scorpio) generative organs
Dhanus (Sagittarius) thighs
Makara (Capricorn) knees
Kumbha (Aquarius) Lower part of legs
Mīna (Pisces) feet
Bhāvas – the houses
Main article: Bhāva
Bhāva (Sanskrit: bhāva, 'division'.) In Hindu astrology, the natal chart is the bhava chakra (Sanskrit: chakra, 'wheel'.) The bhava chakra is the complete 360° circle of life, divided into houses, and represents our way of enacting the influences in the wheel. Each house has associated karaka (Sanskrit: karaka, 'significator') planets that can alter the interpretation of a particular house.[11]:93–167
House Name Karakas Meanings
1 Lagna Sun outer personality, physique, health/well-being, hair, appearance
2 Dhana Jupiter, Mercury, Venus, Sun, Moon wealth (fixed assets), family relationships, eating habits, speech, eyesight, death
3 Sahaja Mars natural state, innate temperament, courage, valor, virility, younger siblings, communication
4 Sukha Moon inner life, emotions, home, property,middle education, mother
5 Putra Jupiter creativity, children, spiritual practices, punya, love, s*x, higher education
6 Ari Mars, Saturn acute illness, injury, openly known enemies, litigation, daily work, foreigners, service
7 Yuvati Venus, Jupiter business and personal relationships, marriage, spouse, war, fighting, ge****ls
8 Randhara Saturn longevity, length of life, death, mokṣa, chronic illness, deep and ancient traditions, s*x-life
9 Dharma Jupiter, Sun luck, fortune, spirituality, dharma, guru, relationship with father
10 Karma Mercury, Jupiter, Sun, Saturn dream fulfillment, knees and spine, current karmas, career, sky, father
11 Labha Jupiter gains, profits from work, ability to earn money, steady income, social contexts and organizations
12 Vyaya Saturn loss, intuition, imprisonment, foreign travel, moksha
Nakshatras
Main article: Nakshatra
A nakshatra or lunar mansion is one of the 27 divisions of the sky, identified by the prominent star(s) in them, used in Hindu astrology.[11]:168
Historical (medieval) Hindu astrology enumerated either 27 or 28 nakshatras. Today, popular usage[clarification needed] favours a rigid system of 27 nakshatras covering 13°20’ of the ecliptic each. The missing 28th nakshatra is Abhijeeta. Each nakshatra is divided into quarters or padas of 3°20’:
# Name Location (Sidereal Longitude) Ruler Pada 1 Pada 2 Pada 3 Pada 4
1 Ashvinī (अश्विनी) 0 – 13°20' Aries Ketu चु Chu चे Che चो Cho ला La
2 Bharanī (भरणी) 13°20' – 26°40' Aries Venus ली Li लू Lu ले Le पो Lo
3 Krittikā (कृत्तिका) 26°40' Aries – 10°00' Ta**us Sun अ A ई I उ U ए E
4 Rohini (रोहिणी) 10°00' – 23°20' Ta**us Moon ओ O वा Va/Ba वी Vi/Bi वु Vu/Bu
5 Mrigashīra (मृगशिरा) 23°20' Ta**us – 6°40' Gemini Mars वे Ve/Be वो Vo/Bo का Ka की Ke
6 Ārdrā (आर्द्रा) 6°40' – 20°00' Gemini Rahu कु Ku घ Gha ङ Ng/Na छ Chha
7 Punarvasu (पुनर्वसु) 20°00' Gemini – 3°20' Cancer Jupiter के Ke को Ko हा Ha ही Hi
8 Pushya (पुष्य) 3°20' – 16°40' Cancer Saturn हु Hu हे He हो Ho ड Da
9 Āshleshā (आश्लेषा) 16°40' Cancer – 0°00' Leo Mercury डी Di डू Du डे De डो Do
10 Maghā (मघा) 0°00' – 13°20' Leo Ketu मा Ma मी Mi मू Mu मे Me
11 Pūrva or Pūrva Phalgunī (पूर्व फल्गुनी) 13°20' – 26°40' Leo Venus नो Mo टा Ta टी Ti टू Tu
12 Uttara or Uttara Phalgunī (उत्तर फल्गुनी) 26°40' Leo – 10°00' Virgo Sun टे Te टो To पा Pa पी Pi
13 Hasta (हस्त) 10°00' – 23°20' Virgo Moon पू Pu ष Sha ण Na ठ Tha
14 Chitrā (चित्रा) 23°20' Virgo – 6°40' Libra Mars पे Pe पो Po रा Ra री Ri
15 Svātī (स्वाती) 6°40' – 20°00 Libra Rahu रू Ru रे Re रो Ro ता Ta
16 Vishākhā (विशाखा) 20°00' Libra – 3°20' Scorpio Jupiter ती Ti तू Tu ते Te तो To
17 Anurādhā (अनुराधा) 3°20' – 16°40' Scorpio Saturn ना Na नी Ni नू Nu ने Ne
18 Jyeshtha (ज्येष्ठा) 16°40' Scorpio – 0°00' Sagittarius Mercury नो No या Ya यी Yi यू Yu
19 Mūla (मूल) 0°00' – 13°20' Sagittarius Ketu ये Ye यो Yo भा Bha भी Bhi
20 Pūrva Ashādhā (पूर्वाषाढ़ा) 13°20' – 26°40' Sagittarius Venus भू Bhu धा Dha फा Bha/Pha ढा Dha
21 Uttara Ashadha (उत्तराषाढ़ा) 26°40' Sagittarius – 10°00' Capricorn Sun भे Bhe भो Bho जा Ja जी Ji
22 Shravana (श्रवण) 10°00' – 23°20' Capricorn Moon खी Ju/Khi खू Je/Khu खे Jo/Khe खो Gha/Kho
23 Shravishthā (धनिष्ठा) or Dhanistā 23°20' Capricorn – 6°40' Aquarius Mars गा Ga गी Gi गु Gu गे Ge
24 Shatabhishā (शतभिषा)or Shatataraka 6°40' – 20°00' Aquarius Rahu गो Go सा Sa सी Si सू Su
25 Pūrva Bhādrapadā (पूर्वभाद्रपदा) 20°00' Aquarius – 3°20' Pisces Jupiter से Se सो So दा Da दी Di
26 Uttara Bhādrapadā (उत्तरभाद्रपदा) 3°20' – 16°40' Pisces Saturn दू Du थ Tha झ Jha ञ Da/Tra
27 Revatī (रेवती) 16°40' – 30°00' Pisces Mercury दे De दो Do च Cha ची Chi
Daśā-s – the planetary periods
Main article: Dasha (astrology)
Dasha (Devanagari: दशा, Sanskrit,daśā, 'planetary period'.) The dasha system shows which planets will be ruling at particular times in Hindu astrology. There are several dasha systems; however, the primary system used by astrologers is the Vimshottari dasha system. The first maha dasha is determined by the position of the natal Moon. Each maha dasha is divided into subperiods called bhuktis or antar-dasas, which are of proportional division of the maha-dasa. Further proportional sub-divisions can be made (but error margin based on accuracy of the birth-time grows exponentially). Next sub-division is called pratyantar-dasa, which, in turn can be divided into sookshma-antardasa, which in turn can be divided into praana-antardasa, which can be sub-divided into deha-antardasa. Vimshottari dasha lengths are:[11]:211
Maha Dasha Length (Lunar Year) Bhuktis
Ketu 7 Years Ketu, Venus, Sun, Moon, Mars, Rahu, Jupiter, Saturn, Mercury
Venus 20 Years Venus, Sun, Moon, Mars, Rahu, Jupiter, Saturn, Mercury, Ketu
Sun 6 Years Sun, Moon, Mars, Rahu, Jupiter, Saturn, Mercury, Ketu, Venus
Moon 10 Years Moon, Mars, Rahu, Jupiter, Saturn, Mercury, Ketu, Venus, Sun
Mars 7 Years Mars, Rahu, Jupiter, Saturn, Mercury, Ketu, Venus, Sun, Moon
Rahu 18 Years Rahu, Jupiter, Saturn, Mercury, Ketu, Venus, Sun, Moon, Mars
Jupiter 16 Years Jupiter, Saturn, Mercury, Ketu, Venus, Sun, Moon, Mars, Rahu
Saturn 19 Years Saturn, Mercury, Ketu, Venus, Sun, Moon, Mars, Rahu, Jupiter
Mercury 17 Years Mercury, Ketu, Venus, Sun, Moon, Mars, Rahu, Jupiter, Saturn
Drishtis – the planetary aspects
Main article: Astrological aspect (Hindu Astrology)
Drishti (Sanskrit: drishti, 'sight'.) In Hindu astrology, the aspect is to an entire house, and grahas only cast forward aspects, and the furthest aspect is considered the strongest. For example, Mars aspects the 4th, 7th and 8th house from its position. It's 8th house aspect is considered more powerful than 7th aspect, which in turn is more powerful than it's 4th aspect.[11]:26–27
Graha Houses
Sun 7th
Moon 7th
Mercury 7th
Venus 7th
Mars 4th, 7th, 8th
Jupiter 5th, 7th, 9th
Saturn 3rd, 7th, 10th
Rahu 5th, 7th, 9th
Ketu No planetary aspect (while some do consider it to aspect 5th, 7th, 9th)
Gocharas – the transits
Gochara (Sanskrit: gochara, 'transit'.) Natal chart shows the position of the grahas at the moment of birth. Since that moment, the grahas have continued to move around the zodiac, interacting with the natal chart grahas. This period of interaction is called gochara.[11]:227
Yogas – the planetary combinations
Main article: Yoga (Hindu astrology)
Main article: Raja yoga (Hindu astrology)
Main article: Sanyasa yoga
Yoga (Sanskrit: yoga, 'union'.) In Hindu astrology, yogas are planetary combinations placed in specific relationships to each other.[11]:265
"There are many yogas that in Hindu system, but predominantly in today's age the positive and negative yogas have to be seen in different context as far as situations are concerned. Some yogas like Kaal Sarp are referred to as bad, but there are many famous people and billionaires with Kaal Sarp yoga." Dig bala – the directional strength
Dig bala (Sanskrit: dig bala, 'directional strength'.) Graha-s gain strength when they are placed in specific cardinal houses:[11]:25–26
House Grahas Direction
1st Jupiter, Mercury East
4th Venus, Moon North
7th Saturn West
10th Sun, Mars South
