What is Vedic astrology or Jyotish ?
Vedic Astrology or Jyotish is the traditional system of Indian Astrology, recognized as the most ancient astrological system in the world. It is not a mere fortune telling, but also a mean to put the life of an individual more in harmony with cosmic laws.
It can reveal many things about our future, helping us to choose our best way for avoiding problems as much as possible. We can for example choose the best studies and profession suitable. It also sheds light on our compatibility with a partner for marriage or business and indicates the best time to marry or to undertake an important action.
The word Jyotish means in Sanskrit "the best vision". We can say, it is a discipline that allows us "to see" in space and time, in all directions and all levels. This can be done from a starting point, origin of the coordinates of space and time: the birth of a human being or it may be the origin of any event.
The discipline of Jyotish is at a time a science and an art.
A science, because it is grounded on an objectively calculated celestial configuration according to astronomical data. It is also an art, because it uses all the faculties of synthesis of the human mind to draw a judgment and a correct interpretation. We may also say, it is a science as objective as the other exact sciences, because it is based on experimental results thousands of times verified.
What differences between western astrology and Jyotish?
There are five main differences:
1 - Indian astrology (Jyotish) takes into account in the calculation of the astral chart, the precession of equinoxes called "ayanamsa". It is an astronomical parameter related to the rotating shaft of the Earth on itself, or libration. Few western astrologers make use of it; this distorts the calculations of the true positions of planets and houses.
2 - Indian astrology uses only the visible material bodies to a naked eye, in the solar system: Sun, Moon, Mercury, Venus, Mars, Jupiter and Saturn. It is due to the fact that in ancient times, the Rishis (great sages of the ancient India), like Parashara for example, laid the foundations of Jyotish, there was no telescopes! In Jyotish we also take into account two mathematical points (non material) related to the orbit of the Moon. These are Rahu and Ketu, they are treated like "virtual" planets in calculations and interpretations. Few western astrologers are making use of them. In western astrology, there names are "Head of the dragon" and "Tail of the dragon". Later on, the western astrologers added the planets that have been discovered because of the progress of astronomy: Uranus, Neptune and Pluto. But the interpretations about them stay controversial.
3 - An astral chart drawn according to Jyotish, is grounded on the ascendant. That is to say, on the sign of the zodiac that is rising up (that is in ascension) on the horizon at the moment and place of birth. For this reason, the birth time is very important. The western astrology is rather based on the zodiacal sign of the Sun.
4 - In Jyotish, one gives a significant importance to the position of Moon which is taken into account like a secondary ascendant. The western astrology is rather based on the position of the Sun.
5 - Jyotish, uses secondary and specialized birth charts, called Vargas. Each one of them gives some details on a particular aspect of life: spouse (or husband), siblings, parents, children, success, family happiness, etc.
How do we look on the astrological sky?
In Indian astrology, the planets has "Grahas" for common name, this means body or entity. Indeed, under the name of "planets", we mean the following bodies: Sun, Moon, Mercury, Venus, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn and the two lunar nodes.
Thus, only Mercury, Venus, Mars, Jupiter and Saturn are true planets of the solar system. The Sun and the Moon are qualified as "luminaries" and are considered like planets in the astrological system that is centred on the Earth, because of their apparent movement around our planet.
The ascending and descending nodes of the Moon are not material bodies but only mathematical points. Nevertheless, they have an astrological significance and are considered like "virtual planets". We may also add that, in Jyotish, the interpretations follow what the observer apparently sees on the celestial vault in relation to his own position on the Earth, but not the astronomical reality.