“What is Vedic Astrology? – Times of India

Vedic Astrology, also known as Jyotish, is an ancient system of astrology that originated in India thousands of years ago. The term ‘Vedic’ comes from the word ‘Vedas,’ which translates to the oldest sacred text of Hinduism and serves as the ultimate basis of the astrology system. The term ‘Jyotish’ is derived from Sanskrit, referring to the ‘science of light,’ highlighting its focus on the influence of celestial bodies on the lives of human beings.
The primary difference between Vedic astrology and Western astrology lies in how they track the planets’ locations.Vedic astrology uses the positions of stars or constellations to calculate the actual positions of planets, while Western astrology is based on the position of the Sun at the spring equinox.
The use of Vedic astrology is associated with various purposes, such as predicting the future, understanding personality, and making decisions. These aspects are facilitated by various key elements such as nakshatras, birth charts, planetary positions, yogas, and the dasha system.
Key Elements:
Nakshatras: The term ‘nakshatra’ represents 27 different lunar mansions, each associated with a specific constellation and impacting various aspects of an individual’s personality and life. The Moon’s position at the time of a person’s birth is essential for determining one’s Nakshatra.
Birth Chart: The concept of a birth chart represents the planetary positions at the time of one’s birth, revealing insights about destiny, personality, strengths, and weaknesses.
Planetary Positions: Similar to Western astrology, Vedic astrology also utilizes planetary positions to determine future aspects of one’s life.
Kundali Yogas: These are combinations of planetary positions that shape and define various aspects of an individual’s life. Yogas are formed by the conjunction, positioning, and retrogression of the planets in different houses of the Kundali and can have both positive and negative impacts on one’s life.
Dasha System: Dasha refers to specific periods associated with each of the nine celestial bodies, significantly impacting various aspects of human life. These planetary periods indicate times when celestial bodies can bring about positive or negative effects based on their zodiac signs, house placements, conjunctions, and aspects as per their positions in an individual’s horoscope.”