Learning Vedic Astrology

The traditional Hindu astrology is known as Vedic Astrology. It is an intellectual science or divine science. The traces of Astrology can be found in Vedas, Puranas, Mahabharata & Ramayana. Some of the greatest name in Astrology are – Maharishi Parasara, Varaha Mihira, Mantreswara etc.

Vedic Astrology is one of the greatest and largest science in the world and it is stated that it is not possible to learn the entire science of Vedic Astrology by heart in one birth. However, if we want to segregate the five basic steps in the way of learning Vedic Astrology, these are broadly as under –

1. Knowledge of Planets and their Characteristics.
2. Knowledge of Rashi or sign and their Characteristics.
3. Knowledge of Houses in a Horoscope and their Characteristics.
4. Knowledge of Nakshatra.
5. Knowledge of Dasha and Transit.

Planets 

In Vedic Astrology Seven (7) Planets of our Solar System is considered. These are Sun, Moon, Mars, Mercury, Jupiter, Venus and Saturn. Although Sun is a star according to astronomy, it is taken is planet in Astrology. Apart from these there are two shadow planets are called Rahu and Ketu. The planets like Uranus, Neptune and Pluto are not considered in Vedic Astrology as these planets are far away from the earth and have very little influence on earth. In brief the characteristics of planets are as under –

Sun – It is karaka for soul, father, king etc.

Moon - It is karaka for Moon, Mother etc.

Mars – It is karaka for Brother, Land, Aggression, Fight etc.

Mercury – It is karaka for intelligence, calculation, commerce & banking etc.

Jupiter - It is karaka for Astrology, Guru or Teacher, progeny, spirituality etc.

Venus – It is karaka for wife, music, fragrance, artistic quality etc.

Saturn – It is karaka for downtrodden people, sacrifice, delay, hard labour, justice etc.   

RASHI or SIGN

In geocentric system all planets are moving around 5 Degree north and south belt of equator circling the earth – this circle band of 10 Degree is called Zodiac. The entire 360 Degree of the Zodiac has been divided into 12 compartments of 30 degree each. The each 12 compartments are called Rashi or sign. The brief details of the Rashis are as under –

1. Aries(0⁰ -30⁰) – Fiery, Male, Aggressive Rashi of Mars.
2. Taraus(30⁰ -60⁰)  - Earth, Female and rashi  of Venus.
3. Gemini(60⁰ -90⁰) – Airy sign, male and  rashi of Mercury.
4. Cancer(90⁰ -120⁰) – Watery sign, female and rashi  if Moon.
5. Leo(120⁰ -150⁰) – Fiery, Male, Rashi if Sun.
6. Virgo(150⁰ -180⁰) – Earth, Female and Sign of Mercury.
7. Libra(180⁰ -210⁰) – Airy sing, male and sing of Venus.
8. Scorpio(210⁰ -240⁰) – Watery, female and sign of Mars.
9. Sagittarious (240⁰ -270⁰) – Fiery, male and sign of Jupiter.
10. Capricorn (270⁰ -300⁰) – Earth, female and sing of Saturn.
11. Aquarious(300⁰ -330⁰) – Airy, male and sign of Saturn.
12. Pisces(330⁰ -360⁰) – Watery, female and sign of Jupiter.

HOUSES

The rising sign at the time of birth is called Ascendant or 1^st House and like-wise 12 sign occupy the 12 Houses. Each house has its own significance – these are as under –

1^st House – Body, Personality, Head, Hair, complexion etc.

2^nd House – Family, Wealth, Food, Eye etc.

3^rd House – Valour, Courage, Short Journey, Ear etc.

4^th House – Home, Mother, Land, Joy etc.

5^th House – Education, Child, Share Market, Puva Janma etc.

6^th House – Rog, Rin and Ripu, Enemy, Debt etc.

7^th House – Marriage, Spouse, Business, Partnership, Other people etc.

8^th House – Longevity, Secrecy, underground, sudden events etc.

9^th House – Father, Guru or Teacher, Long journey, Higher Education etc.

10^th House – Profession, Fame etc.

11^th House – House of Gain, Elder brother etc.

12^th House – Foreign country, Prison, Hospital, expenditure, Mokshya etc.

Nakshatra

The entire Zodiac of 360 degree has been divided into 27 equal parts of 13 degree 20 minutes of each. Each part designated as one Nakshatra. Apart from these 27 Nakshatras there is one special Nakshatra  situated  in between Uttar Ashada and Shravana. These 27 Nakshatra belongs to 9 planets. Therefore, each planet is having 3 Nakshatra. The details are as under –

Dasha & Transit

At the time of birth of a native, the placement of moon in a particular Nakshtra is called Janma Nakshatra. Suppose, at the time of birth Moon is transiting through Shravana Nakshatra; therefore, the Janma Nakshatra of the native is Shravana – which is a Nakshatra of Moon. This Janma Nakshatra decides the Dasha of the particular planet through which the native is going. In the present case it is of dasha of Moon and followed by Mars-Rahu-Jupiter-Saturn-Mercury-Venus-Sun. The length of Dasha of each planets are different. These are as under –

Sun – 6 years; Moon – 10 years; Mars – 7 years; Rahu – 18 years; Jupiter – 16 years; Saturn – 19 years; Mercury – 17 years; Ketu – 7 years; Venus – 20 years.

These Dahsa period is called Mahadasha which are further divided into smaller parts like Antar Dasha, Pratantar Dasha etc. A planets gives results according to its lordship of house in their Dasha/Anter Dasha period.

Dasha is related to snapshot of planetary position in the zodiac during the birth of a native whereas the planets are always moving. When these moving planets come to a particular position w.r.t. their snapshot position the actual events take place in ones life. These continuous movement of planets w.r.t. their original native placement is called transit. Transit does have the power to fructify any results but it only act as catalyst for initiation of the events which is already destined in one’s life as per their natal planetary position. Therefore, it can be concluded that the results of a dasha take place when proper transit happens in the haven.

So, these are first five steps for learning Vedic Astrology.