Vedic Astrology
By Shyamasundara Das
An Introduction by Goravani Das
... Astrology is the science of the effects of the planets movements on our lives and all things. Astrology is based on astronomy
in that astrologers need to know the correct positions of the planets at any given time, as well as the correct positions of the
zodiacal fixed star signs in relation to any place on earth at any given time. ...
... Vedic astrology differs from Western or Tropical astrology mainly in that it uses the fixed zodiac as opposed to the moving
zodiac. Because of the gradual tilting of the earth in space on it's axis, the zodiac, if you calculate it from the Sun's relationship to
the Earth, appears to be moving at the rate of a little less than 1/60th of a degree per year. Currently, the relative or movable
zodiac is off or out of alignment with the fixed or real star-based zodiac by roughly 23 degrees, which is almost one whole sign
of the zodiac. ...
Lesson #1: What does Vedic mean?
Lesson #2: What's Astrology, what does "Vedic" imply?
Lesson #3: Ashvini Star or Nakshatra
Lesson #4: "Bharani" Star or Nakshatra
Lesson #5: Spiritualizing the Great Free Will Debate
Lesson #6: Overview of the Vedic Astrological Process
Lesson #7: Divinely understanding the roots of astrology
Lesson #8: Summary of the East Coast Conference (June 1995)
Lesson #9:
Amazing Psychic Astrologer from
Lesson #10: Developing the Ability to Predict
In the service of Sri Vishnu, I have been writing articles on Vedic Astrology and Spiritual
Philosophy to help the Western world become more acquainted with these primeval divine
concepts. These articles are included in the reference manual within my Vedic Astrology
Software program "Goravani Jyotish":
Lesson #11: Basics
Lesson #12: Components
Lesson #13: The Lords of Houses
Lesson #14: The Houses and Signs
Lesson #15: Going House to House
...
Glossary (searchable)
Request: I have a large amount of service to perform in this life for the divine will. If you can help, please contact me.
Speicifically, I want to write Vedic Astrology Research Software to help prove that the science most definately works. I have
the software planned, but lack funding to get it done. If you or someone you know can help, please contatct me. Thanking you
in advance. Full details and non-profit ID numbers available on request.
I hope these writings aid in your path. -Das Goravani (goravani@aol.com)
Consider to visit Das Goravani's own web-pages at www.goravani.com with further detailed information.
Das Goravani (goravani@aol.com)
541-485-8453
Vedic Astrology
Lesson #1
Copyright 1995 by Das Goravani (goravani@aol.com)
541-485-8453
Permission is granted to re-use these postings
if they remain intact and my name, phone and email are stated as here.
Greetings
Hello, my name is Das Goravani. I love Vedic astrology and I'm really honored and humbled by the fact that the Lord is
allowing me to be involved with his divine sciences. I offer
praise to the Lord Sri
Radharani/Laksmidevi/Bhavani for literally everything. I am trying to become their servitor. May they be pleased with this
program. Everything is but a mere spark of their splendor!
What does Vedic mean?
Veda means original knowledge and truth. Vedic means of the original knowledge and truth. The Lord, who ever resides in his
own blissful abode of Vaikuntha (means "free from anxiety"), the Spiritual World, creates Jiva souls, small souls, that's us, from
the light that shines forth from his divine body. Those spiritual sparks are at first undifferentiated from each other and are called
"tatasta shakti" or the marginal potency of the Lord.
At that stage we are like pencil rays of light all side by side floating in undifferentiated bliss, but inactive and not fully conscious.
In that blissful, peaceful state, an agitation can come which makes the Jiva soul want differentiation and action. Thus, we enter
this plane, known as the material world, where the external potency of the Lord surrounds us on all sides, as our own bodies
and as the environment, the universe.
The purpose of coming here is to play out parts in a drama and learn thereby- it is essentially a school. The lessons are hard,
and often painful. What we are learning is "our position" and our relationships, or "sambandha gyan", with everything. Nature,
being perfectly under the constant, perfect control of an absolutely benevolent divinity, is perfect in gradually raising our
consciousness through the process of "touch-burn-don't touch it again". Everything is working that way- there are easy lessons
and there are hard lessons. Ultimately, the soul must learn that she is prakrti, not purusa. This means that we are subordinate,
yet fully provided for, participants in a play which is for
the pleasure of the purusa, and that is God himself-
purush-uttama, or the Supreme Enjoyer.
When the Universe gets created by Lord Brahma under the instructions of Vishnu, at that time Brahma receives full knowledge
about basically everything. He receives, for example, complete information on how to create the material world. The best
scriptural resource we have that narrates to us the very primeval interaction between Vishnu and Brahma at the time of creation
is the Brahma Samhita. That great scripture, spoken by Lord Brahma, gives detailed information as to what were the main
points, the main knowledge was that was given to Brahma via the Gayatri Mantra.
Part of that was the knowledge of Astrology. Brahma actually creates the material world under the direction and authority of
Vishnu. Brahma directly knows the controlling systems put in place here because he put them there, even though the power
comes from Vishnu. So, Brahma gave Jyotish Vidya to his sons such as Narada Muni, the Four Kumaras, and so on, who in
turn gave it to their disciples, such as Vyasadeva.
That knowledge was passed down through disciplic succession until around the start of Kali Yuga because that is when books
become required because human memorization ability decreases to a large degree. Previously Brahmin children had to simply
memorize everything. So anyway, around the beginning of Kali Yuga sages such as Parasara and Vyasadeva created so many
books so that Vedic knowledge, the original knowledge, would not be lost in this Kali Yuga.
It is a big hassle to make books- even for great sages. It is not pleasant to sit and write and write and write. You just want to
give codes- to make sure the essential is not lost. However, what this means is that there is much detail that is not in the books.
However, the sincere seeker who has a natural insight into things Vedic will be able to discover that which is not literally given.
Because of possessing the proper mood of service and submission to the great truth many hidden things become revealed to the
heart of such a surrendered soul.
Please indulge me a few more points: I have been around this Vedic path for quite some time now and I have seen and heard it
correctly and incorrectly perceived and reflected by others. For example...
Vedic scripture is NOT myth. While there may be interpolations and exaggerations and the like, the basic punch of it all is true.
There is a personal God, there is a creator, the Vedic times
did happen, the battle of Kurukshetra took place,
lived, as did Lord Ramachandra, etc. Lord Ganesh is not an energy nor a myth, he is a real being who can stand in front of you
and chew you out for insubordination should he so desire!
Why not believe? Look at yourself in the mirror- do you not see an amazing creation- isn't it weird and wonderful- two eyes
that roll around, one nose- a mouth, a genital- the whole thing is so strange and bizarre- why can't there also be a human with
what we call an elephants head? Is it impossible to you? Have you ever seen a hammer head shark? Can you believe how
shocking that must have been for persons to see those weird creatures for the first time having never heard that they existed?
When it is foggy we forget that the Sun is shining above the clouds. On mountain tops it is often sunny when the valley is fogged
oversimilarly, just because the coverings of this Universe obstruct and limit our vision doesn't mean there is nothing beyond. So,
why not believewhy can't a benevolent God and cast of demigods such as Lord Ganesh existis there something that says we
must be the only great things around?
It is rather sane to believe in the Vedic version, and rather insane to not believe- that is my carefully considered opinion. That
we are in school learning to become fully trained, willing and detached players in the Lord's eternal pastimes or Lila is wholly
believable, whereas the dialectical materialist or "scientific" atheism is rather unbelievable to me. (where did it all begin- they can
NEVER answer that- Big Bang? Ridiculous!)
The other thing I wish to say is that the correct Vedic understanding is never sectarian, dogmatic or fixed, and, any follower of
the Vedas must be loving and kind. Ahimsa, or non-violence is a primary principle. If you want to be happy, definitely spread
happiness, give protection, serve more than you receive. Definitely be vegetarian. You cannot feel God in yourself in you kill to
eat unless absolutely necessary for survival. Give up being a party to the killing of innocent animals. Learn how to cook enough
variety of vegetarian dishes that you don't miss meat- that is possible, and you need to do it. To be a truly great soul who can
read karma and help others, you can't be involved in such base karma yourselfit will definitely block your vision.
In the beginning of the Parasara Hora Sastra and other classics there are always verses describing who can and cannot be
taught astrology. Astrologers are advised by the great sages, who must be followed, NOT to teach this divine science to those
who are faithless, who do not love and follow the Vedic path, or who are not surrendered, or who are simply not qualified with
the requisite intelligence in the areas of math, calculation, space and time, etc. In the West, these admonitions are not being
followed- and anyone can buy the books, buy the programs, go to the seminars, and learn Jyotish. This is not good, and yet
from another angle, we can say that at least it is spreading- there must be mercy before law is applied. If the Vedas are not
allowed to come to the West freely, they may never come at all, and that would be worse than misuseI agree.
However, if you are sincere and serious about being granted entrance into the deeper truths, then you should not apply such
leniency to yourself. That is for rationalizing the misuse by other beginners- but do you forever count yourself in that group?
Don't. Move on- take responsibility- become a member of the more sincere group who actually want for themselves to become
pleasing to the hidden, yet very real and seeing, Guru Varga (which means the Great Masters of truth and religion as one entity).
I encourage you to read the Srimad Bhagavatam (which is also known as the Bhagavat Purana) as translated by Bhaktivedanta
Swami. It is, as a presentation of this most important Purana, very good at getting across the correct mood of submission and
surrender to the Lord, and the whole Vedic truth and path. Therefore, I recommend reading it and trying to understand deeply,
and follow. Please do that for the perfection of your life.
Try to live cleanly, free from drugs, meat and gross engagements of all kinds. Become a Brahmin in action- clean, merciful,
tolerant, ever learning good things, helpful to all, and devoted to truth. The four pillars of religion or dharma are: Truthfulness,
Mercifulness, Cleanliness, and Austerity. Practice these.
Don't try to get everything you desire (austerity). You will simply become a materialist who is too overwhelmed by their
temporary body and it's temporary desires. Be satisfied with what comes without too much endeavor.
Be merciful to all living beings. Ask much of yourself, but be kind to others while gently encouraging them to raise their own
standards.
Be clean in as many ways as you can- health, bodily, eating, thinking, speaking. Associating with the Tamasic Guna is dirty, so
avoid it. The lower you associate, the lower you are- so associate with cleanliness.
Be honest and truthful- that is said by scripture to be the last leg of dharma left in this Kali Yuga.
If I can be of any help to you in your path do not hesitate to call on me. I hope this introduction has not been offensive to you- it
is quite standard Vedic teaching. You may find it surprising that I have the audacity to "preach" herein, but after all, begging your
indulgence, it is a Vedic science we are talking about here - it is my divine and good duty to tell you these things as hearing these
things is part of the price you must pay to receive this Vedanga, if you are to actually get the real thing and not just the shell or
mirage. Just because I am doing some speaking, Vedic etiquette dictates that it is my duty to say something high and divine at
that time of transfer, lest either of us fall prey to lower conceptions of what we are, where we are, and what really matters. That
is my duty. If in doing my duty I have offended your sentiments in any way, please forgive me.
May your attention be on Sri Krishna, and may you have a life full of spiritual emotion. Please think of me kindly, as I need the
good wishes of all my brothers and sisters. If in any way, at any time, I offend your soul on the path, please forgive me.
End of lesson One.
Your ever well wishing friend and servant,
Das Goravani
Vedic Astrology
Lesson #2
Copyright 1995 by Das Goravani (goravani@aol.com)
541-485-8453
Permission is granted to re-use these postings
if they remain intact and my name, phone and email are stated as here.
Basically, what is astrology?
Astrology is the science of the effects of the planets movements on our lives and all things. Astrology is based on astronomy in
that astrologers need to know the correct positions of the planets at any given time, as well as the correct positions of the
zodiacal fixed star signs in relation to any place on earth at any given time. Once the correct positions of the signs and planets
are known, the astrologer then constructs charts representing these positions, and using the astrological science, studies the
charts and can make quite a wide range of conclusions about the moment the chart was cast for.
Charts are cast based on an exact moment at an exact place on Earth. Therefore, the moment you were born and the place you
were born has a chart, or can have a chart, and that is called your "birth chart" or "natal chart". By reading the chart of the
heavens for the time and place ofyour birth, we can know much about you. That is the claim of astrology. It can be used for
other things such as the chart of a question asked (called "Prasna" astrology) or for planning when to do some certain action
(called "Muhurtha" or "Electional" astrology).
Primarily, astrology is used to understand ourselves, or our karma for this life.
What does the word "Vedic" imply about this type of astrology?
Vedic astrology differs from Western or Tropical astrology mainly in that it uses the fixed zodiac as opposed to the moving
zodiac. Because of the gradual tilting of the earth in space on it's axis, the zodiac, if you calculate it from the Sun's relationship to
the Earth, appears to be moving at the rate of a little less than 1/60th of a degree per year. Currently, the relative or movable
zodiac is off or out of alignment with the fixed or real star-based zodiac by roughly 23 degrees, which is almost one whole sign
of the zodiac.
So, first and foremost you should know that Vedic astrology sticks with that original, star-based zodiac and thus another term to
describe Vedic astrology is that it is "siderial astrology", which simply means that the real zodiac is used to locate WHICH
SIGNS THE PLANETS ARE CURRENTLY LOCATED IN.
The signs the planets are in is one important part of astrology. Because the two systems are skewed from each other by nearly
one whole sign, most people's "Sun Sign", that which you can get from the paper each day, is usually one sign back when the
chart is refigured using Vedic astrology.
So, the first surprise using Vedic is that you are no longer the Sun Sign you always thought you were. This happens with many
charts. However, if you were born in the last 5 days or so of the Western Sign month, then you will probably still be that sign in
Vedic since the difference is 23 degrees currently, and signs are 30 degrees long in space (12 signs times 30 degrees each each
a 360 degree circle surrounding the Earth).
Vedic astrology also has a great number of techniques for studying the charts once they are cast which give Vedic a predictive
edge. For example, the "dashas" or "planetary ruling periods" system which is a part of the Vedic system give Vedic astrologers
a tool for quite accurately predicting the trends, changes and events in your life with good accuracy regarding dating when things
will take place. Therefore, Vedic astrologers are lesslimited to talking about your general overall self and can get more deeply
into what's going to happen in your life.
These two things are the primary, immediate things you should know about Vedic astrology.
The Signs
Signs are called "Rashis" (raw-shees) in Sanskrit. This table shows the signs with their rulers, sanskrit names and symbols etc. If
you open this table using a monospaced font such as
set your ruler in your word processor to about 7.25 inches wide.
Sign Name
Sanskrit Name
Meaning of
Sanskrit Name
Type
Sex
Mobility
Lord
Aries
Mesha
Ram
Fire
M
Movable
Mars
Taurus
Vrishaba
Bull
Earth
F
Fixed
Venus
Gemini
Mithuna
Couple (embracing)
Air
M
Common
Mercury
Cancer
Karkata
Crab or Circle
Water
F
Movable
Moon
Leo
Simha
Lion
Fire
M
Fixed
Sun
Virgo
Kanya
Virgin or Daughter
Earth
F
Common
Mercury
Libra
Thula
Balance or Weight
Air
M
Movable
Venus
Scorpio
Vrishchika
Scorpion
Water
F
Fixed
Mars
Sagittarius
Dhanus
Bow (the weapon)
Fire
M
Common
Jupiter
Capricorn
Makara
Alligator & Shark
Earth
F
Movable
Saturn
Aquarius
Kumbha
Pot or Jug
Air
M
Fixed
Saturn
Pisces
Meena
Fishes
Water
F
Common
Jupiter
As you can see, the signs are the same ones used in Western Astrology. However, as you go on, you will see that the
understanding of what the signs do, and the demigods behind them, who control them, vary and are greatly augmented in Vedic
astrology.
These tables cover Nakshatras, or the 27 fixed stars of Vedic Astrology. The stars with two signs (such as Kritika) are the ones
whose domain crosses the border between the two signs listed.
#
Name
Lord
Sign(s)
Guna
Gana
Type
Symbol
1
Ashvini
Ketu
Ari
Tama
Deva
Dharma
Horse Head
2
Bharani
Venus
Ari
Raja
Manushya
Artha
Vagina
3
Kritika
Sun
Ari/Tau
Raja
Rakshasa
Razor
4
Rohini
Moon
Tau
Raja
Manushya
Moksha
Chariot
5
Mrigashira
Mars
Tau/Gem
Tama
Deva
Moksha
Deer Head
6
Ardra
Rahu
Gem
Tama
Manushya
Head
7
Punarvasu
Jupi
Gem/Can
Satva
Deva
Artha
Bow
8
Pushya
Sat
Can
Tama
Deva
Dharma
Flower
9
Ashlesha
Merc
Can
Satva
Rakshasa
Dharma
Serpent
10
Magha
Ketu
Leo
Tama
Rakshasa
Artha
Palanquin
11
Purva Phalguni
Venus
Leo
Raja
Manushya
Front Legs of Cot
12
Uttara Phalguni
Sun
Leo/Vir
Raja
Manushya
Moksha
Back legs of Cot
13
Hasta
Moon
Vir
Raja
Deva
Moksha
Palm
14
Chitra
Mars
Vir/Lib
Tama
Rakshasa
15
Swati
Rahu
Lib
Tama
Deva
Artha
Sapphire
16
Vishakha
Jupi
Lib/Sco
Satva
Rakshasa
Dharma
Potters Wheel
17
Anuradha
Sat
Sco
Tama
Deva
Dharma
Umbrella
18
Jyeshtha
Merc
Sco
Satva
Rakshasa
Artha
Umbrella
19
Mula
Ketu
Sag
Tama
Rakshasa
Crouching Lion
20
Purva Ashadha
Venus
Sag
Raja
Manushya
Moksha
Front of square
21
Uttara Ashadha
Sun
Sag/Cap
Raja
Manushya
Moksha
Back of square
22
Shravan
Moon
Cap
Raja
Deva
Artha
Arrow
23
Dhanistha
Mars
Cap/Aqu
Tama
Rakshasa
Dharma
Drum
24
Satabishak
Rahu
Aqu
Tama
&nb