Astrology and the vedic tradition
By Gauranga Das Although there is much
difference of opinions regarding the origins of Vedic civilization amongst the
scientist, we could conclude that according to the tradition Vedic culture is
the culture based on the Vedas, the ancient Sanskrit writings. Foremost of all
this literature are the four Vedas, viz. Rig, Saama, Yajur and Atharva Veda.
Tradition also holds that the Brahmanas, the Vedic priests who were responsible
for the proper performance of the yajnas, the religious rituals prescribed by
the Vedas, had to learn certain auxiliary sciences facilitating their duty.
These were the six Vedanga, or limbs of the Veda, which include Siksha, Kalpa,
Nirukta, Vyakarana, Chhanda and finally Jyotisha.
Branches of Jyotisha
In his great work Maharishi Parasara
explains that there are three divisions (skandhas) to the holy science of
Jyotisha. These are Hora, Ganita and Samhita. Hora (or Jataka, as named
elsewhere) refers to interpreting the planetary positions at someone's birth in
terms of his karma, or past acitivites. Ganita (or Siddhanta) refers to
calculations of planetary positions and movement. This branch may be called
astronomy and it has a basic role in determining the time units, favorable
times for Vedic rituals and serves as a basic for erecting the Janma Kundali,
or birth chart as well. And finally the third one is Samhita, which refers not
only to celestial phenomena but to a wide range of other omens (lakshana or
shakuna) for predicting the future events. Pandit Harihara in is Prashna Marga
mentions six further subdivisions or angas to this great science. These are
Jataka (predicitve astrology), Gola (movements of the Earth), Nimitta (omens),
Prashna (queries), Muhurtha (electional astrology) and Ganita (astronomical
calculations). Still, on the whole we should consider Jyotisha as an intrinsic
art of Vedic tradition and a complex science elaborated upon by the greatest
Maharishis of Vedic time, like Parashara, Bhrigu, Jaimini, Garga, Vyaasa and
others. All these sages had learned this science in the disciplic succession
(sampradaya or guru-parampara) from their predecessors and taught it to their
disciples. Maharishi Parasara says thus (BPHS translated by Pundit G.C.Sharma,
vol. 1. pg. 4.): " . . . I shall relate to you the science of astrology as
it was heard by me from Brahma. The teachings of this science of astrology are
to be given only to the students who are good and peacefully disposed, who
honour the perceptors and elders, who speak only truth and who are God-fearing.
It is only in this way that good will follow. The teachings of this science,
again, should not be given to an unwilling student, to an atheist or to a
crafty person."
The Qualifications of an Astrologer:
In the above quotation we have seen that this
science should be received through the parampara or disciplic succession. So
the first qualification of a Jyotishi is to become accepted as a disciple of a
learned and pure brahmana, who have received this science in the disciplic
succession and mastered it. The further qualifications are listed by Maharishi
Parashara and other sages in their works as follows:
" O vipra! The shastra expounded by Lord
Brahma for Mahatma Narada and he (Narada) with all humbleness narrated the same
to Rishis Shaunaka etc. and I have unfolded the same Shastra as it is, before
you. This knowledge should never be imparted to a person who is jealous,
backbiter, dull, arrogant and unknown. This supreme and pious shastra amongst
all Vedanga should be taught well to the humble, devoted, truthful,
intelligent, submissive and known persons. (. . .) A person knowing the subject
matter of Hora Shastra should be truthful and able to exercise control over his
senses. The auspicious and inauspicious predictions of such a person will come
true." (BPHS, vol. 2., pg. 794-795., transl. by G.C. Sharma)
Acharya Varaha Mihira amongst others lists the
following qualifications for an astrologer:
"Now the following are the virtues of an
astrologer: He must be clean, efficient, bold, eloquent, possessed of genius or
ready wit, knower of the time and place, sincere, not timid in assemblies, not
to be overpowered by his fellow students, expert, free from vices, well-versed
in the art of performing rituals of both curative and preventive types, as well
as in that of magic and bathing, engaged in the worship of Gods, observances of
austerities and fast, possessed of great power generated by the wonderful
achievements of his scientific knowledge and capable of answering queries made
by others and suggesting remedial measures for troubles other than the
visitations of God." (Brihat Samhita, transl. M. Ramakrishna Bhat, vol.1,
pg. 8.) And finally, Pandit Harihara also elaborates on this subject as
follows: " The exalted and recondite science of astrology is to be studied
only by Brahmins. A proper study of the subject leads one to the acquisition of
wealth, merit, salvation, respect and fame. (. . )That person, who has mastery
of this science, who has a good knowledge of mathematics, who leads a religious
life, who is truthful, who is free from conceit and who is well versed in the
Vedas, mantras and tantras, he alone can be called a Daivajna or seer. All the
predictions made by such a person will come true and will never be false. The
learned support this statement. (. . .)He who has acquired a thorough knowledge
of the different Horas, who is an adept in the five Siddhantas, who has
inferential ability and who is initiated into a secret mantra by a perceptor,
can alone know horoscopy" (Prashna Marga, transl. by B.V. Raman, Vol. 1,
pg. 9-13.)
Here the Pundit points again to the
basic qualification of a Jyotisha: - Accepting an authentic guru and receiving
the guru- (or Siddha-) mantra from him. This proves that astrology is not a mundane
science subject to enquiry and logic, but a transcendental science understood
by the grace of the Guru. Seeing nowadays the state of Jyotish where it is, I
aimed at pointing out the importance of this feature and the other
qualifications that all aspiring Vedic astrologers should develop if they want
to be faithful to the tradition and qualified to understand this great mastery
of Jyotish. As Jyotish is a Vedic science, we should adopt the Vedic process of
learning enunciated even by Lord Krishna Himself in the Bhagavad-Gita:
tad viddhi pranipaatena pariprashnena
sevayaa upadekshyaanti te jnaanam jnaaniinas tattva-darshinah " Just try
to learn the truth by approaching a spiritual master. Inquire from him
submissively and render service unto him. The self-realized souls can impart
knowledge unto you because they have seen the truth." (Bg.4.34. transl. by
A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada).
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