(Devanagari: ज्योतिष, Sanskrit: , from , 'light, heavenly body', English: Jyotish, Jyotisha) is the Vedic system of astrology. Jyotisha is also known as Indian astrology, Hindu astrology, and Vedic astrology.Sutton, Komilla (1999). The Essentials of Vedic Astrology, The Wessex Astrologer Ltd, England, p.1.

Introduction

Jyotisha is the study of the planets, the stars, and the horizon. 'Jyoti' means 'light' that shines down from the heavens as the divine principle of life, and the suffix 'sh' means 'best, wisest'; therefore, the word 'Jyotisha' can be translated as 'the science of light', or 'the wisdom of the heavens'.

Each time a soul reincarnates, consciousness is brought into that lifetime. By observing the movements of the celestial bodies through time and space, the wisdom of the heavens can be applied to each incarnation to encourage the soul to develop to its fullest potential.

Vedanga

Vedanga (Sanskrit: , from , 'scripture', and , 'limb'.) Vedic astrology is called vedanga, the limbs that are designed to assist the body in time and space, and to assist in the interpretation of the Vedas. Vedic astrology is the understanding of time and its relationship with human life. There are six vedangas.

Elements

Vargas - the divisional charts

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

Chart styles

There are two chart styles used in Jyotisha:

Grahas – the planets

Graha (Devanagari: ग्रह, Sanskrit: , 'seizing, laying hold of, holding'.)

Nine grahas, or navagrahas, are used in Jyotisha:

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

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:

Rāshis – the zodiac signs

Rāshi (Sanskrit: , 'part'.) In Jyotisha, the zodiac is called kalpurusha, 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.

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

Bhāvas – the houses

Bhāva (Sanskrit: , 'division'.) In Jyotisha, the natal chart is the bhava chakra (Sanskrit: , '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: , 'significator') planets that can alter the interpretation of a particular house.

Nakshatras – the lunar mansions

Nakshatra (Devanagari: नक्षत्र, Sanskrit: , 'star', from , 'approach', and , 'guard') or lunar mansion is one of the 27 divisions of the sky, identified by the prominent star(s) in them, used in Jyotisha.

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

Dashas - the planetary periods

Dasha (Devanagari: दशा, Sanskrit,, '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:

Drishtis - the planetary aspects

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

Gocharas - the transits

Gochara (Sanskrit: , '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.

Yogas - the planetary combinations

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

Dik bala - the directional strength

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

Horoscopy

Lagna – the ascendant

Lagna (Sanskrit: , '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: , from , 'soul', and , 'significator' .) Atmakaraka is the significator of the soul's desire in Jyotisha.

Gandanta - the karmic knot

Gandanta (Sanskrit: , from , 'knot', and , 'end'.) Gandanta is a spiritual or karmic knot in Jyotisha. 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: , from , 'movement', and , 'component') is the longitudinal difference between the Tropical (Sayana) and Sidereal (Nirayana) zodiacs.

Moudhya - the combustion

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

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.

Panchangam

Panchangam (Sanskrit: , from , 'five' and , 'limbs'.) The panchangam is a Hindu astrological almanac that follows traditional Indian cosmology, and presents important astronomical data in tabulated form. Panchangam'' means five limbs, or five lights that influence every day.