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Vedic Astrology

What is Vedic Astrology?
For those of you unfamiliar with Vedic astrology, it is a system for analyzing behavior and for forecasting events. This form of astrology comes from an ancient wisdom system called the Veda (hence Vedic astrology). Veda means pure knowledge or the source of all knowing. The system of Vedic knowledge is divided into 6 major branches called "Vedangas", of which Vedic astrology is a major limb. In fact the Sanskrit term for the astrology from the Vedas of India is called "Jyotish".

The roots of the word Jyotish come from "jyortir" or light and from "ishwara" which is god or nature. So Jyotish is sometimes called the eye or light of the Veda and represents that level of consciousness, as well as technology, used by astrologers to gain insight into the workings of nature, human behavior and time. Perhaps one of the earliest, if not most famous, written works on Vedic astrology is the "Brihat Hora Shastra", authored by Maharishi Parasara. Some regard Parasara as the founder of astrology. Modern researchers, impressed by the antiquity of Vedic astrology, have conjectured that this Vedic system of forecasting and behavior analysis is most likely the origin of the majority of astrological systems used today around the world.

The great age and records of good results from astrological systems, has sustained Jyotish as a significant tool for determining correct matches in marriage. In fact these systems are useful for indicating the value of any form of relationship, be it family, mate, co-worker, boss, pet, business partner, or potential date.

Marriage: A Vedic Stage of Life

The approach to marriage in the culture of India is quite different from that of the West. Marriage in the traditions of India is not just a sacrament but a one of several specific steps (ashramas) in the evolution of a person here on earth. It is one of the stations in life and is considered a major factor in keeping the society stable.

The first stage of life is that of a student. The next step is that of a householder or married person. The last step is that of a recluse or a person who has met all their earthly obligations and goes to the forest to live out the remainder of their life in quiet meditation. To many observers of dharma or right action in India, the life of a householder or married person holds the promise for the greatest level of personal development.

The Four Vedic Goals of Life

The journey of marriage helps the couple achieve what is believed to be the four major goals of a successful life. These four destinations of a soul's journey through life are called the purusharthas, and are comprised of:

1. Dharma: Correct action in life seen by maximum results with minimal effort.
2. Artha: Fulfillment of material needs, where one satisfies their desire with minimal debt.
3. Kama: Motivation towards happiness and pleasure or the drive to accomplish things in life.
4. Moksha: Attainment of a state of peace and inner fulfillment.

The Top Seven Vedic Marriage Goals

The state of marriage is also said to provide the couple with the ability to fulfill seven important activities in life.

1. Obtaining a nourishing and healthy diet for the maximum level of physical well being.
2. Fully developing their physical, mental and spiritual capacity.
3. Becoming true friends, mutually supporting one another throughout their life together.
4. Enriching their wisdom, joy, fun, and harmony by constantly giving the security of love and support to each other.
5. Spreading the blessings of their love out to all of life and its various creatures.
6. Continuing the expansion of life through the blessings of healthy and happy children.
7. Helping each other remain in touch with the spiritual essence of their lives.

Marriage: The Stronghold of Indian Culture

Marriage and the home is the stronghold of the enduring Hindu culture. The traditions of India teach that marriage is not only a uniting of the young woman and man, but of their respective extended families. The family unit is a critical part of Indian culture and in many cases all the family members contribute in some way in locating the most appropriate partner for the eligible man and woman. Everyone focuses on helping to ensure the mates are compatible in social class, age, physical requirements, education, stability of profession, similar religious beliefs and practices, quality of character and personality and in capacity to generate good finances. Lastly it is ascertained that there is mutual attraction and consent from both the man and the woman to join together in marriage. The Vedas of India have the couple speaking sweetly to each other saying, "Enshrine me in your heart and let one spirit move within us".

Marriage and the Planets: The Key to Success

The marriage union is not just the commitment of two souls to live together, but symbolizes the joining of all the elements in nature within the united spirit of the couple. A key to identifying the most successful union is accomplished through examining a very specific set of elements in nature…that is the planets. This is where the practice of Vedic astrology begins to assume its role in identifying the correct match to help ensure the best life together for the couple. While not all marriages in India today are arranged through astrologers, many people still seek to follow the tradition of examining birth charts prior to a wedding. The qualified astrologer is asked to look for those critical factors that will help the proposed relationship endure over the years, especially after the early stages of infatuation play their natural course.

Nakshatras: Signs of the Moon

The key to many Vedic marriage matching techniques is in the use of system of Moon signs called "nakshatras" Each of the 12 signs of the zodiac, from Aries through Pisces are subdivided into four sections of three degrees and twenty seconds of arc each called "padas". Each moon sign or nakshatra is comprised of nine of these padas, totaling 13 degrees and twenty seconds. There are a total of 108 nakshatra padas in the entire zodiac and a total of 27 nakshatras. The location of the Moon in one of these specific nakshatra padas allows the Vedic astrologer to closely match or link each couple's moon to a specific number of points and finally to an overall conclusion.

Kuta Agreements: Marriage Matching Techniques in Vedic Astrology

The technique of marriage matching through the planets or through Vedic astrology goes back over 5000 years. One of the most fascinating Vedic methods for matching is called the "Kuta Agreements", also called the "Purothams" by some. In these techniques the astrologer identifies which nakshatra is occupied by the Moon. This becomes the "janma nakshatra", or birth star. In India, many people are aware of the location of their Moon in their astrological chart and which nakshatra it occupies. This knowledge about the Moon's location in nashatras is as common as it is for westerners who know what sign is occupied by the Sun in their western charts, i.e. "What's your sign?"

The source of this astrological technique can be found in ancient works such as the southern India classic from Kerala called "Prasna Marga", from a major work called "Kalaprakasika" and from another classic called "Muhurtha Chintamani".

It is important to learn the location of your janma nakshatra or birth star, in order to do most kuta calculations. To do this you will need to have your birth chart or horoscope done in the Vedic astrology format.

The Kutas: North and South in India

The system of Kuta agreements is used differently in some parts of India, most notably there is a difference in the number of techniques or agreements used by astrologers from the north of India as compared to those in the south. Some observers of Vedic astrology tend to give preference to the techniques that come from the south of India. Southern India is held to have the most culturally unadulterated forms of astrology. Areas, such as Kerala and Karnataka are isolated geographically from the North of India and have not been influenced as heavily by foreign occupations as has the north, with its centuries of visits by Greeks, Muslims, and Buddhists.