Jyotish – Indian Astrology

Jyotish is India’s system of divination. It is sometimes referred to as Hindu or Vedic astrology.

The word Jyotish in Sanskrit means ‘Lord of light’. It is the study of the light that comes to us from the sun, moon, stars and planets.

It is also a study of the light that is present within our consciousness, the light that illuminates our daily perceptions and experience of our lives.

Jyotish can be a spiritual practice in itself or it can be used in combination with yoga and meditation practices to awaken higher consciousness.

In general however, most people use Jyotish astrology to understand and remedy their negative karma and to create better karma for themselves and their family.

Our potential life karma, including health,?wealth, relationships, education, occupation and spiritual life,?is mapped by the natal horoscope.

The astrologer, the Jyotishi, is the reader of the horoscope, the map of our karma.?A good Jyotishi can see which areas of life may be strong, happy and flowing, and which areas may be weak, problematic or blocked.

A highly developed Jyotishi may offer possible remedies for negative karmas. These remedies may be in the form of advice about lifestyle changes, the timing of important events such as marriage, career changes, purchase of property, good locations to live, mantras, meditations, jewels to wear, and so on.

Many aspects of yoga, meditation and tantra are influenced by jyotish astrology. For example, initiation into?mantra yoga is often given according to one’s birthdate, or by other important astrological indications.

Hatha yoga?is the science of balancing the solar and lunar forces within the body-mind to awaken the fire of consciousness.

In hatha and kundalini yoga, and in tantra, the yogi seeks to connect to, and control cosmic forces through powerful practices within their own being.

Most tantric practices are performed at certain lunar intervals, such as the full moon, or during certain seasons. The yogi connects to and resonates with the cosmos in a conscious relationship with higher forces.

Jyotish astrology is part of Vedic knowledge; the collected verbal wisdom handed down by the great rishis, seers of the Vedas.

In Vedic circles, the knowledge contained in Jyotish is called the jyotir vidya. This vidya is a force, or Shakti, and it is regarded as a living intelligent entity.

Jyotish has 6 limbs:

Observational astronomy – observing the movement of the heavenly bodiesCalculation – of movements of planets, stars, eclipses, conjunctions and so onNatal astrology – the birth chartHorary astrology – which examines the astrological conditions at the time a question is askedElectional astrology – to determine the best time to start an activity to ensure successOmenology – the reading of omens

There are a number of forms of Jyotish:

Parashari astrology – based on the work of the great astrologer Parashara who wrote the great work Brihat Parashara Hora Shastra.Jaimini astrology – based on the work of the great Vedic seer Maharishi Jaimini.Tajika astrology – based on the astrology of the Arabs.Nadi astrology -? devised by seers long ago and was so precise that it was able to prepare horoscopes for people who would live in the future. An individual’s precise horoscope was made before their birth.Tantric astrology – includes yogic, tantric and shamanic methods, such as the use of rituals, the worship of elements, and various forms of meditation.

Jyotish is a complex and difficult subject to master.?Becoming a Jyotish astrologer requires great dedication and focus.

The student of Jyotish needs a guru, teacher, or mentor to explain the principles and demonstrate how to apply them.

The student also requires some knowledge of Sanskrit language and Samkhya Philosophy, as these are the basis of many of the concepts used in Jyotish.

Far beyond intellectual knowledge, the student need to develop, life experience and intuition. Intuition can be developed through yoga?practices such as pranayama, mantra and meditation.

Listen to this Introduction to Jyotish Astrology Dr Robert Svoboda and hear why this ancient science is so powerful in predicting life events, and remedying karma.?Introduction to Jyotish – Indian Astrology MP3 Lecture

Read the book by Hart de Fouw and Dr Robert Svoboda?Light on Life: An Introduction to the Astrology of India

Planetary Alignment and Karma

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