Sivananda Yoga Intro to Jyotish

The term jyotiṣh in the sense of one of the Vedanga, the six auxiliary disciplines of Vedic religion, is used in the Mundaka Upanishad and thus likely dates to Mauryan times. The Vedanga Jyotisha redacted by Lagadha dates to the Mauryan period, with rules for tracking the motions of the Sun and the Moon.

The documented history of Jyotisha begins with the interaction of Indian and Hellenistic cultures in the Indo-Greek period. The oldest surviving treatises, such as the Yavanajataka or the Brihat-Samhita, date to the early centuries CE. The oldest astrological treatise in Sanskrit is the Yavanajataka ("Sayings of the Greeks"), a versification by Sphujidhvaja in 269/270 CE of a now lost translation of a Greek treatise by Yavanesvara during the 2nd century CE under the patronage of the Western Satrap Saka king Rudradaman I.[4]

The first named authors writing treatises on astronomy are from the 5th century CE, the date when the classical period of Indian astronomy can be said to begin. Besides the theories of Aryabhata in the Aryabhatiya and the lost Arya-siddhānta, there is the Pancha-Siddhāntika of Varahamihira.

The main texts upon which classical Indian astrology is based are early medieval compilations, notably the Bṛhat Parāśara Horāśāstra, and Sārāvalī by Kalyāṇavarman. The Horashastra is a composite work of 71 chapters, of which the first part (chapters 1-51) dates to the 7th to early 8th centuries and the second part (chapters 52-71) to the later 8th century. The Sārāvalī likewise dates to around 800 CE.[5] English translations of these texts were published by N.N. Krishna Rau and V.B. Choudhari in 1963 and 1961, respectively.

Parāśara is a Rigveda Mahārśi and author of many ancient Indian texts. Parāśara was the grandson of Vasishtha, the son of Shakti-muni, and the father of Vyasa.

Varga (Sanskrit: varga, 'part, division'.) There are sixteen varga, or divisional, charts used in Jyotish.

Varga Divisor Purpose

Rasi 1 Natal chartHora 2 Natal chart second Drekkana 3 SiblingsChaturtamsha 4 PropertiesTrimshamsha 5 ChildrenSaptamsha 7 Spouse, etc.Navamsha 9 DharmaDashamsha 10 Earning Career ,Parents, Dwadashamsha 12 Grandparents,Moksha

Chart stylesThere are two chart styles used in Jyotish:

North Indian South Indian

Grahas – the planets

Graha (ग्रह,) gráha, 'seizing, laying hold of, holding'

Nine grahas, or navagrahas, are used in Jyotish:

Sanskrit Name English Name Abbreviation Gender GunaSurya (सूर्य�) Sun Sy or Su M SattvaChandra (चंद्र) Moon Ch or Mo F SattvaMangala (मंगल) Mars Ma M TamasBudha (बुध) Mercury Bu or Me N RajasBrihaspati (बृहस्पति�) Jupiter Gu or Ju M SattvaShukra (शुक्र) Venus Sk or Ve F RajasShani (शति�) Saturn Sa M TamasRahu (राहु) North Lunar Node Ra M TamasKetu (के�ु) South Lunar Node Ke M Tamas

Planets in maximum exaltation, mooltrikona (own sign), and debilitation, are:

Graha Exaltation Mooltrikona Debilitation Sign RulershipSun 10° Aries 4°-20° Leo 10° Libra LeoMoon 3° Taurus 4°-20° Taurus 3° Scorpio CancerMars 28° Capricorn 0°-12° Aries 28° Cancer Aries, ScorpioMercury 15° Virgo 16°-20° Virgo 15° Pisces Gemini, VirgoJupiter 5° Cancer 0°-10° Sagittarius 5° Capricorn Sagittarius, PiscesVenus 27° Pisces 0°-15° Libra 27° Virgo Taurus, LibraSaturn 20° Libra 0°-20° Aquarius 20° Aries Capricorn, Aquarius

Rahu and Ketu are exalted in Taurus/Scorpio and debilitated in Scorpio/Taurus respectively. They are also exalted in Gemini and Virgo.

The natural planetary relationships are:

Graha Friends Neutral EnemiesSun Moon, Mars, Jupiter Mercury Venus, SaturnMoon Sun, Mercury Mars, Jupiter, Venus, Saturn Mercury, Venus, SaturnMars Sun, Moon, Jupiter Venus, Saturn MercuryMercury Sun, Venus Mars, Jupiter, Saturn MoonJupiter Sun, Moon, Mars Saturn Mercury, VenusVenus Mercury, Saturn Mars, Jupiter Sun, MoonSaturn Venus, Mercury Jupiter Sun, Moon, MarsRahu, Ketu Mercury, Venus, Saturn Mars Sun, Moon, Jupiter

Rāshis – the zodiac signs

Rāshi (Sanskrit: rāshi, 'part'.) In Jyotisha, the zodiac is called Bhachakara, the eternal time that has no beginning or end. In the Vedas, the ecliptic is referred to as the Sudarshan Chakra, the wheel in the hand of Lord Vishnu, the creator of the universe. The entire chakra is 360°, and is divided into 12 rāshis of 30° each, representing 12 constellations that are the zodiac signs. The

progression through the zodiac signs represents the cosmic evolution of the soul. Jyotisha uses the sidereal zodiac.[11]

Number Sanskrit Name Western/Greek Name Tattva

(Element) Quality Ruling Planet

1 Meṣa Aries ("ram") Tejas (Fire) Cara (Movable) Mars2 Vṛṣabha Taurus ( "bull") Prithivi (Earth) Sthira (Fixed) Venus

3 Mithuna Gemini ( "twins") Vayu (Air) Dvisvabhava (Dual) Mercury

4 Karka Cancer ( "crab") Jala (Water) Cara (Movable) Moon5 Siṃha Leo ( "lion") Tejas (Fire) Sthira (Fixed) Sun

6 Kanyā Virgo ( "virgin") Prithivi (Earth) Dvisvabhava (Dual) Mercury

7 Tula Libra ( "balance") Vayu (Air) Cara (Movable) Venus8 Vṛścika Scorpio ( "scorpion") Jala (Water) Sthira (Fixed) Mars

9 Dhanus Sagittarius ( "archer") Tejas (Fire) Dvisvabhava (Dual) Jupiter

10 Makara Capricorn "goat-hor Prithivi (Earth) Cara (Movable) Saturn

11 Kumbha Aquarius ("water-pourer") Vayu (Air) Sthira (Fixed) Saturn

12 Mīna Pisces ("fish") Jala (Water) Dvisvabhava (Dual) Jupiter

The zodiac signs in Jyotisha correspond to parts of the body:

Sign Part of BodyMesha (Aries) headVrisha (Taurus) mouthMithuna (Gemini) armsKarka (Cancer) two sidesSimha (Leo) heartKanya (Virgo) digestive systemTula (Libra) umbilical areaVrikchika (Scorpio) generative organsDhanu (Sagittarius) thighsMakara (Capricorn) kneesKumbha (Aquarius) Lower part of legsMeena (Pisces) feet

Bhāvas – the houses:

Bhāva (Sanskrit: bhāva, 'division'.) In Jyotisha, the natal chart is the bhava chakra (Sanskrit: chakra, 'wheel'.) The bhava chakra is the complete 360° circle of life, divided into houses, and represents our way of enacting the influences in the wheel. Each house has associated karaka (Sanskrit: karaka, 'significator') planets that can alter the interpretation of a particular house.

House Name Karakas Meanings

1 Lagna Sun destiny, physique, skeleton, hair, appearance, head, brains

2 Dhana Jupiter, Mercury, Venus, Sun, Moon

wealth, family relationships, speech, eyesight, death

3 Sahaja Mars mind, communication, environment, siblings, short journeys

4 Matru Moon inner life, emotions, home, past life karma, mother5 Putra Jupiter, Mercury creativity, children, spiritual practices

6 Ripu Mars, Saturn illness, injury, enemies, litigation, daily work, foreigners, service

7 Kalatra Venus, Jupiter business and personal relationships, marriage, spouse

8 Mritiyu Saturn length of life, physical death, serious illness, spiritual quest

9 Dharma Jupiter, Sun luck, fortune, spirituality, dharma, guru, father, soul

10 Karma Mercury, Jupiter, Sun, Saturn

dream fulfillment, current karmas, career, past lives

11 Labha Jupiter gains, profits from work, ability to earn money

12 Vyaya Saturn, Ketu, Rahu loss, intuition, sorrow, imprisonment, foreign travel, moksha

Nakshatras – the lunar mansions

Nakshatra (Devanagari: �क्षत्र, Sanskrit: nakshatra, 'star', from naksha, 'approach', and tra, 'guard') or lunar mansion is one of the 27 divisions of the sky, identified by the prominent star(s) in them, used in Jyotisha.[14]

The 27 nakshatras cover 13°20’ of the ecliptic each. Each nakshatra is divided into quarters or padas of 3°20’:

# Name Location Ruler Pada 1 Pada 2 Pada 3 Pada 41 Ashvinī (अश्वि ति�) 0 - 13°20' Aries Ketu चु Chu चे Che चो Cho ला La2 Bharanī (भरणी) 13°20' - 26°40' Aries Venus ली Li लू Lu ले Le पो Lo

3 Krittikā (कृश्वि&का) 26°40' Aries - 10°00' Taurus Sun अ A ई I उ U ए E

4 Rohini (रोतिहणी) 10°00' - 23°20' Taurus Moon ओ O वा

Va/Ba वी Vi/Bi वु Vu/Bu

5 Mrigashīrsha (म्रृगशीर्षाा�) 23°20' Taurus - 6°40' Gemini Mars वे Ve/Beवो Vo/Bo का Ka की Ke

6 Ārdrā (आद्रा�) 6°40' - 20°00' Gemini Rahu कु Ku घ Gha ङ Ng/Na छ Chha

7 Punarvasu (पु�व�सु) 20°00' Gemini - 3°20' Cancer Jupiter के Ke को Ko हा Ha ही Hi

8 Pushya (पुष्र्य) 3°20' - 16°20' Cancer Saturn हु Hu हे He हो Ho ड Da

9 Āshleshā (आशे्लर्षाा) 16°40' Cancer - 0°00' Leo Mercuryडी Di डू Du डे De डो Do

10 Maghā (मघा) 0°00' - 13°20' Leo Ketu मा Ma मी Mi मू Mu मे Me

11 Pūrva or Pūrva Phalgunī (पूव� फाल्गु�ी) 13°20' - 26°40' Leo Venus �ो Mo टा Ta टी Ti टू Tu

12 Uttara or Uttara Phalgunī (उ&र फाल्गु�ी)

26°40' Leo - 10°00' Virgo Sun टे Te टो To पा Pa पी Pi

13 Hasta (हस्�) 10°00' - 23°20' Virgo Moon पू Pu र्षा Sha ण Na ठ Tha

14 Chitrā (चिचत्रा) 23°20' Virgo - 6°40' Libra Mars पे Pe पो Po रा Ra री Ri

15 Svātī (स्वाति�) 6°40' - 20°00 Libra Rahu रू Ru रे Re रो Ro �ा Ta

16 Vishākhā (तिवशाखा) 20°00' Libra - 3°20' Scorpio Jupiter �ी Ti �ू Tu �े Te �ो To

17 Anurādhā (अ�ुराधा) 3°20' - 16°40' ScorpioSaturn �ा Na �ी Ni �ू Nu �े Ne

18 Jyeshtha (ज्रे्यष्ठा) 16°40' Scorpio - 0°00' Sagittarius Mercury�ो No र्या Ya र्यी Yi रू्य Yu

19 Mūla (मूल) 0°00' - 13°20' Sagittarius Ketu रे्य Ye र्यो Yo भा Bha भी Bhi

20 Pūrva Ashādhā (पूवा�र्षााढ़ा) 13°20' - 26°40' Sagittarius Venus भू Bhu धा Dha फा

Bha/Pha ढा Dha

21 Uttara Ashādhā (उ&रार्षााढ़ा)

26°40' Sagittarius - 10°00' Capricorn Sun भे Bhe भो Bho जा Ja जी Ji

22 Shravana (श्रवण) 10°00' - 23°20' Capricorn Moon खी

Ju/Khiखू Je/Khu खे Jo/Kheखो Gha/Kho

23 Shravishthā (श्रतिवष्ठा) or Dhanistā

23°20' Capricorn - 6°40' Aquarius Mars गा Ga गी Gi गु Gu गे Ge

24 Shatabhishā (श�श्विभर्षाा)or Shatataraka

6°40' - 20°00' Aquarius Rahu गो Go सा Sa सी Si सू Su

25 Pūrva Bhādrapadā (पूव�भाद्रपदा)

20°00' Aquarius - 3°20' Pisces Jupiter से Se सो So दा Da दी Di

26 Uttara Bhādrapadā (उ&रभाद्रपदा) 3°20' - 16°40' Pisces Saturn दू Du थ Tha झ Jha ञ Da/Tra

27 Revatī (रेव�ी) 16°40' - 30°00' Pisces Mercury दे De दो Do च Cha ची Chi

Dashas - the planetary periods

Dasha (Devanagari: दशा, Sanskrit,daśā, 'planetary period'.) The dasha system shows which planets will be ruling at particular times in Jyotisha. There are several dasha systems; however, the primary system used by astrologers is the Vimshottari dasha system. The first maha dasha is determined by the position of the natal Moon. Each maha dasha is divided into subperiods called bhuktis. Vimshottari dasha lengths are:

Maha Dasha Length BhuktisKetu 7 Years Ketu, Venus, Sun, Moon, Mars, Rahu, Jupiter, Saturn, MercuryVenus 20 Years Venus, Sun, Moon, Mars, Rahu, Jupiter, Saturn, Mercury, KetuSun 6 Years Sun, Moon, Mars, Rahu, Jupiter, Saturn, Mercury, Ketu, VenusMoon 10 Years Moon, Mars, Rahu, Jupiter, Saturn, Mercury, Ketu, Venus, SunMars 7 Years Mars, Rahu, Jupiter, Saturn, Mercury, Ketu, Venus, Sun, MoonRahu 18 Years Rahu, Jupiter, Saturn, Mercury, Ketu, Venus, Sun, Moon, MarsJupiter 16 Years Jupiter, Saturn, Mercury, Ketu, Venus, Sun, Moon, Mars, RahuSaturn 19 Years Saturn, Mercury, Ketu, Venus, Sun, Moon, Mars, Rahu, JupiterMercury 17 Years Mercury, Ketu, Venus, Sun, Moon, Mars, Rahu, Jupiter, Saturn

Drishtis - the planetary aspects

Drishti (Sanskrit: drishti, 'sight'.) In Jyotisha, the aspect is to an entire sign, and grahas only cast forward aspects:

Graha HousesSun 7thMoon 7thMercury 7thVenus 7thMars 4th, 7th, 8thJupiter 5th, 7th, 9thSaturn 3rd, 7th, 10th

Rahu and Ketu 5th, 7th, 9th

Gocharas - the transits:

Gochara (Sanskrit: gochara, 'transit'.) In Jyotisha, a natal chart shows the actual positions of the grahas at the moment of birth. Since that moment, the grahas have continued to move around the zodiac, interacting with the natal chart grahas. This period of interaction is called gochara.[17]

Yogas - the planetary combinations

Yoga (Sanskrit: yoga, 'union'.) In Jyotisha, yogas are planetary combinations placed in specific relationships to each other.[18]

Dik bala - the directional strength

Dik bala (Sanskrit: dik bala, 'directional strength'.) Grahas gain strength when they are placed in specific cardinal houses:

House Grahas Direction1st Jupiter, Mercury East4th Venus, Moon North7th Saturn West10th Sun, Mars South

Horoscopy

Lagna – the ascendant

Lagna (Sanskrit: lagna, 'ascendant'.) Lagna is the first moment of contact between the soul and its new life on earth in Jyotisha.

Atmakaraka - the soul significator

Atmakaraka (Sanskrit: atmakaraka, from atma, 'soul', and karaka, 'significator' .) Atmakaraka is the significator of the soul's desire in Jyotish.

Gandanta - the karmic knot

Gandanta (Sanskrit: gandanta, from gand, 'knot', and anta, 'end'.) Gandanta is a spiritual or karmic knot in Jyotish. Gandanta describes the junction points in the natal chart where the solar and lunar zodiacs meet, and are directly associated with times of soul growth.

Ayanamsa - the zodiac conversion

Ayanamsa (Sanskrit: ayanāṃsa , from ayana, 'movement', and aṃsa, 'component') is the longitudinal difference between the Tropical (Sayana) and Sidereal (Nirayana) zodiacs.

Moudhya - the combustion

Moudhya (Sanskrit: moudhya, 'combustion') is a planet that is in conjunction with the Sun. The degrees the planets are considered combust are:

Graha DegreeMoon 12Mercury 13Venus 9Mars 17Jupiter 11Saturn 15

Sade sati - the critical transit

Sadi sati, the transit of Saturn over the natal Moon, is the most important transit in a birth chart and takes approximately 7.5 years to complete. The transit begins when Saturn enters the house before the Moon, and ends when Saturn departs the house after the Moon. The most intense phase is when Saturn is 2-3° on either side of the Moon. The beginning of the transit will give an indication of the issues to be addressed. Sade sati results in a complete transformation, usually with a change in career or life direction.

REMEDIAL MEASURE IN JYOTISH FOR RETROGRADE PLANETS.

Upaya Graha Shanti OR GANESHA PUJA