Astrology or Jyotish is a branch of Veda. It gives us an insight to the questions we have about the future and helps us understand the happenings of the past, the reasons those events occurred and their repercussions on the present and future. All of these predictions are made in accordance with the position of the planets at the time of birth or at the time a query arises.
Astrology can be broadly divided into three categories namely: Siddhanta, Samhita, and Hora. Siddhanta deals with the astronomical side of the science, Samhita with the world events and Hora with horoscopy of human and animate objects.
“Lord Brahma” is the mighty creator of all beings. As recalled from the scriptures, in ancient Vedic times sages had immense Shakti (spiritual powers) with the help of which they could connect with the almighty and initiated the divine science. These Rishis laid the principles for Jyotish Vidya and propagated them to benefit all. The age old principles still hold true in present times.
Vedic Astrology establishes a relationship between the various phases of human life and planetary movements. Each of the nine planets used in Vedic Astrology is associated with particular qualities present in each individual including malefic or benefic, strong or weak, and exalted or debilitated.
Calculations are made to assess the future movements of the planets and their present positions. While our birth charts are fixed, planets and constellations are constantly in motion. Vedic Astrology system considers what happens when various planets move over the positions of planets or signs in a person’s birth chart. A study of such transition is done and some predictions, with the help of a certain amount of foresight, are made.
Based on the analysis, a Horoscope is made, which gives detailed information about various phases that are supposed to come in a person’s life.
It will be worthwhile for those who want to know more about this divine field, to know the names of those great men who put these principles in writing for the benefit of others, they are Varahamihira, Kalidasa, Varunchi, Vashista, Vyas, Parashara, Venkatesa, Kashyap, Neelkantha, Jayadeva, Ganapathi, Satyacharya, Manitha, Jeeva Sharma, Bhaskaracharya, Aryabhatt and many others.
It is true that astrology is a science of tendencies, and fatalistic or deterministic approach to horoscopes and events is not called for. In this connection we may quote frequently repeated principle of astrology constantly:
“Phalani grahcharen suochayanti manishinah,
Ko vakta tartamyasya vedhsam vina”
“Those who know astrology can indicate in a way what will take place in future. Who else but the creator Brahma, can say with certainty what will definitely happen?”